Over 100 acre Newtown land transfer complete

After years of planning and negotiations, over 100 acres of open spaces in Newtown, ranging from parks to football pitches, have been transferred from the hands of Powys County Council to the town council and the organisation Open Newtown.

Last year a £1.1 million big lottery grant was secured by Open Newtown, which involves a range of community groups, and the town council. The funding will go to develop facilities on land on both sides of the River Severn, including Dolerw Park, the riverside sports pitches and Trehafren Hill.

Talks have been ongoing for years to make the project happen, and the deal is one of the largest land transfers in the history of Powys Council.

Cabinet member for property, Phyl Davies said: "The county and town council have been talking about the future of a number of green spaces in the town for some considerable time. I am delighted we have finally transferred them to local control paving the way for an exciting ‘green-space’ project in the town.

“As a council we are taking an imaginative and innovative approach to managing property and land with the aim of turning a financial liability into a community focussed asset.

"Community organisations are frequently in a better position to take projects on because of their ability to obtain grant funding.”

Town councillor Richard Edwards, and who is also chair of the town council's economy and environment committee was one of the people with an initial vision for project, and he worked alongside a host of groups and organisations to make it happen.

He said: "Although it has taken some time to get here, the agreement will release the £1.1 million of funds won by Open Newtown from the Big Lottery and the maintenance grant from the town council ensuring the ongoing protection and access of the parks for all users, with the opportunity to develop the amenities further, attracting greater use from residents and establishing an opportunity for tourism in the town which will help towards the regeneration of the town centre.”

The land is now in the hands of Open Newtown and the town council on a 99 year lease, and Open Newtown's chair, Stuart Owen, believes the deal will help make Newtown an 'economic driving force for Mid Wales',

Open Newtown’s Chair, Stuart Owen, said: “We are delighted to have signed the 99-year lease, so that Open Newtown can proceed with the Big Lottery funded £1.1 million project and finally put into action our exciting plans for Newtown, which we have been working towards this past two years.

"Open Newtown’s plan is quite simple - we will enhance the natural asset base and enable new enterprise developments, private and social, to build businesses around local food, events and tourism, sports and recreation."