THE petition to save Welshpool Library now has over 2,500 signatures, it was announced at a town council meeting last week.

This impressive figure makes up over a third of the town’s population.

Brian Timmis, who created the paper petition, announced the updated total at Welshpool Town Council on Wednesday, October 31.

Mr Timmis and around 15 other library campaigners attended the full council meeting to submit questions to the council; prior to a motion being put forward for the council to oppose Powys County Council’s plans to relocate the library within the museum.

The campaigners behind the petition ultimately want to save the library, but are also unhappy with the way in which the county council has dealt with the matter – making decisions behind closed doors and not consulting the people of Welshpool first.

After the campaigners had spoken, it was decided by the town clerk that the motion relating to the library would be brought forward.

After a well-received speech from Councillor Richard Church, who submitted the proposal with fellow Liberal Democrat Councillor Folkert Veenstra, the motion was passed.

Cllr Church said: “I think we now know what the people of Welshpool think about what Powys County Council are trying to do.

“A big chunk of Welshpool have signed the petition.”

There is also an online petition to save the library on the website Change.org, which currently has 586 signatures. However, it is unclear how many people will have signed both the digital and paper petition.