Achievements praised by Baroness during visit to Newtown

Baroness Bloomfield, Wales Office spokesperson in the House of Lords, praised the achievements of a community-focused group during a visit to Newtown.

Craig Williams, Baroness Olivia Bloomfield and Welsh comedian Max Boyce MBE. Picture by Phil Blagg Photography.

Accompanied by Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams, Baroness Sater and Russell George, MS for Montgomery, she met Open Newtown’s chief executive Stuart Owen and Mollie George, building manager of Hafan yr Afon, the town’s new riverside community and visitor centre.

In 2019, 130 acres of green space and river in Newtown were transferred from Powys County Council to the Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council and sublet to Open Newtown, which secured £1.1 million funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Wales to support projects.

Open Newtown must invest this money by December this year to establish the town as a destination to benefit businesses, local people and the wider community.

Pictured on a tour of the theatre from left, Craig Williams MP, Sara Clutton (Theatre Manager) Baroness Olivia Bloomfield and Steve Cass (Campus Manager). Picture by Phil Blagg Photography.

To unlock the economic potential of the green spaces and river, opportunities are being created for sports, recreation, events, wellbeing, tourism and the local economy and community.

One of Open Newtown’s successful projects is Hafan yr Afon, described by Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford as a “striking, landmark building” on the banks of the River Severn.

Hafan yr Afon received funding support from the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government, the National Lottery Community Fund Wales, the town council and Powys County Council.

Baroness Bloomfield with Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams and Open Newtown chief executive Stuart Owen at Hafan yr Afon

Mr Owen listed an extensive programme of both indoor and outdoor events planned for Newtown in 2023, including a 10K run on May 21.

“I am really impressed by what Open Newtown has achieved,” said Baroness Bloomfield, making her first visit to the town.

“This is an example of what you can do when you get the local council on side and everybody pulls together. If you don’t get that, nothing happens.”

Pictured on a tour of The Hafren Theatre is Catherine Lewis (Deputy Chief Executive Officer) Baroness Olivia Bloomfield and Craig Williams MP. Photo: Phil Blagg Photography.

Baroness Bloomfield was visiting through her role as Wales Office spokesperson in the House of Lords, as part of a tour of Wales.

During her stay in Montgomeryshire, she also visited Gregynog Hall, Newtown Tennis Club and Theatr Hafren, as one of Wales’ most thriving facilities in delivering arts, activities and workshops to surrounding communities, in conjunction with Newtown College.

Baroness Bloomfield and the MP were given a full backstage tour – as well as meeting the legendary Max Boyce who was performing that night.

Baroness Olivia Bloomfield and Craig Williams MP for Montgomeryshire visited The Hafren, Newtown. Picture by Phil Blagg Photography.

Mr Williams said: “It was great to bring my colleagues to Open Newtown to show them what happens when you bring the community and funding together. It was good to talk about what’s next for Newtown because the job is not done yet and Open Newtown has my full support.”

Mr Owen said it was encouraging to receive positive comments from the politicians about Open Newtown’s achievement and future plans.

“The feedback we are receiving about Hafan yr Afon and our other projects is fantastic,” he added.

“People have such a great experience when they visit Newtown and they take that away with them. Open Newtown has even been described as ‘inspirational’ by community leaders from other parts of Wales, which is lovely to hear.”