Hundreds of people of all ages took to the streets of Welshpool on Saturday in a march to ‘Save Welshpool’s Library and Museum’.


In just over a week, work will begin on the controversial merger of Welshpool Library with the Powysland Museum.


However, the residents of Welshpool came out in full force to show their opposition to the plans, with 400 to 500 people marching together from the library to the museum; which the library is set to move into the ground floor of.


Brian Timmis, from the Save Welshpool Library group who has been involved in the campaign from the beginning, could not believe the amount of people who showed up for the March.


“I’m totally gobsmacked. Amazed, thrilled,” he said.


When he created the petition to save the library in October last year, he expected 500 signatures at the very most. He got more than 4,000.


At a public meeting held at the town hall, he expected around 20 people to turn up. However, there were so many people that they almost could not fit in the room: more than 100. And now, with the amount of people having showed up at the march, the campaign has gone well beyond expectations. 


“It showed the maximum amount of community spirit,” Brian said. “The streets were packed. There were people with pushchairs, people on mobility scooters. It was great.”

Another campaigner, Kevin Hardy, said that the march went “brilliantly”. “I think we’re holding them (the county council) to account,” he said.


Marching alongside the Welshpool residents, AM Russell George said: “It is clear that the hundreds of residents who attended the march really value the library service. I joined the march as I believe that such services hold great importance in our communities. People in Welshpool have just felt that the consultation carried out last year was a futile exercise. 


“I fully realise that the council is under significant financial pressures and that once again, the Welsh Government Settlement means that Powys Council received the joint worst local government funding settlements of all 22 local authorities in Wales. I understand that because of this, difficult decisions need to be made. Nonetheless, that does not negate the importance of transparency when making such decisions and these decisions should take into account how residents value key services. 


“I had the opportunity last week to speak in an Assembly debate on local government funding, and was able to use Welshpool library as an example of a valued service that is being effected due to unfair funding allocations to Mid and North Wales councils who are seeing cuts to their budgets, whilst South Wales councils are getting funding increases.”


Despite Powysland Museum closing from the week beginning Monday, April 15, in preparation for the co-location, the campaigners aren’t giving up. “There are other things planned. The march is not the end,” said Brian.


When the decision was made in February, Cllr Phyl Davies said: “We know the decision will be disappointing to some but we hope that service users and residents understand that we have to make the very best use of precious resources and that means taking difficult decisions.


“The financial pressures facing the council meant that the status quo was not viable and we believe that, having considered all options, co-location is the best option to maintain services and make the best use of the county council’s property.”