POWYS County Council has agreed to put the running of Llandrindod’s Lakeside Restaurant up for tender.

The popular restaurant, which faces a £50,000 deficit, will now be subject to a formal tendering process which would enable someone to step in and take over the running of the business.

The council’s board met on Tuesday, February 16, to discuss a report on how the authority could go about plugging the financial deficit, while ensuring the restaurant can remain open.

A ‘soft-tendering’ process was carried out last year. This involved appealing for external bodies to register their interest in taking over the running of the restaurant, and carrying out a survey of restaurant users to gauge public opinion.

The council received seven declarations of interest.

Councillor Sarah Millington, Llandrindod South, said: “I have been very enthused by the level of interest from the private sector.

“What is important is that we need to allow the Lake Park Steering Group to have an input in how things proceed with the Lakeside Restaurant.

“A lot of money has been spent on developing the lake, and plans for Powys’ first Local Nature Reserve are picking up steam, so it makes sense the steering group should be allowed to contribute.”

The survey, carried out September and October last year, seems to confirm the council’s original concerns that the restaurant’s current clientele do not spend enough to keep the restaurant open in its current format.

95 per cent of those who completed the survey were aged 50 or over, and 88 per cent of those questioned were from the local area, suggesting the restaurant struggles to make the most of tourists.

Peter Speake, resident of the town, said: “The restaurant is part of the main attraction of Llandrindod Wells Spa Town’s Lake Park – and what a shame it cannot be subsidised as a contribution to the local economy.”

The council agreed to proceed with a full tender process, offering a five-year business lease.