A New Year Message from Cllr Trevor Owens, Mayor of Presteigne and Norton Town Council.

As we reach the turn of the year it’s naturally a time for reflecting on what has gone on during 2019, while also looking ahead to the likely challenges in 2020.

A host of people have put in a lot of hard work to ensure Presteigne and Norton continues to benefit from improved amenities. I am deliberately not going to mention individual names as I would probably miss out key people were I to do so.

Among the major developments has been the building of The Barn on Wents Meadow where seemingly endless hours of voluntary work went in to create a permanent structure that should benefit the arts scene in the town for generations to come. Well done to all involved with this as it’s been a labour of love for many people.

Lots of us enjoy walks on The Warden and we should pay tribute to the efforts of the Warden Guardians who have further improved the accessibility in the area with the installation of pathways and information boards around the old reservoir.

The work they do perhaps goes unseen by many but it is much appreciated and was quite rightly recognised with a Green Flag Community Award.

The challenges ahead include the fight to save the library and that work will continue. The Town Council, in conjunction with County Councillor Beverley Baynham, have fought hard to maintain the library service in the town but we are far from out of the woods.

The ongoing closure of the Radnorshire Arms continues to vex many but, while the issue is still high on the agenda, the Town Council is limited in what it can do given the hotel is privately-owned.

Happy New Year to all in Presteigne and Norton.