A PUBLIC meeting is set to be held in Brecon later this month, to discuss the new plans for Powys County Council’s (PCC) flagship £14 million scheme, Y Gaer.

Organised by Labour county councillors in Brecon, Cllr Mathew Dorrance (St John) and Cllr David Meredith (St David Within), cabinet members will be there to explain why radical alterations to the plans have now taken place.

In July, PCC revealed that Y Gaer could become a campus for NPTC (Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys) colleges.

Brecon’s Y Gaer (Welsh for Fortress) cultural hub is the redevelopment of the Grade II* listed Shire Hall and construction of a new modern library which was supposed to open this spring.

The escalating costs of the project has seen it rise from £9 million to £14 million.

PCC Labour group leader, Cllr Mathew Dorrance, said:  “This public meeting is Brecon’s opportunity to listen to PCC Cabinet Members about their proposals to change the way Y Gaer, will run when it opens.

“It will also give members of the public the chance to question the Cabinet Members about what the plans mean for our museum, our library and cultural services in our community.

“Y Gaer is an important project which has been delivered through both local and national partnerships to secure funding.

“It’s important that our community is heard by decision makers and I hope residents will be able to attend.”

It is expected that portfolio holder for highways, recycling and assets, Cllr Phyl Davies (Conservative- Blaen Hafren) and  portfolio holder for young people and culture, Cllr Rachel Powell (Independent – Beguildy), will be at the meeting.

The residents of Brecon – were asked for a “bit more” patience by PCC as they “explored” opportunities of partnering up with Brecon Beacons College, part of NPTC group of colleges.

The meeting is set to take place at The Castle, of Brecon Hotel, on Tuesday, August 20 at 7pm.