WELSHPOOL Town Council insists their hand was forced after taking the “regretful” decision to close the Ann Holloway Day Care Centre.

The decision was made at their full council meeting and will take effect from November 30 – leading to five redundancies.

Mayor Steve Kaye said the tough decision was emblematic of a funding dearth in the town council’s budget, as well as the centre’s temporary closure during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Making people redundant is not nice and is obviously news that will get around. We regret it but the county council is withdrawing funding and so we’re essentially paying people to sit around and do nothing,” said Councillor Kaye.

The centre is a hub for Welshpool’s elderly, where they can meet and have lunch and take part in activities such as bingo and go on boat trips, with meals freshly prepared on site. But it has been closed since the outbreak of Covid-19 and was announced by Powys County Council in August that day centres in Powys are not expected to reopen until at least February 2021.

“It’s frightening and I’m worried about people in Welshpool,” added the concerned mayor.

“This virus is obviously very dangerous but it’s mainly being kept to big cities and yet the government is closing everything.

“It’s hitting all areas but here in small, rural communities, we feel it that little bit harder. The Welsh Government as usual is ignoring Mid Wales. How far do we have to go until we lose everything?”

The town council leader insists that should life return to normal once the pandemic is over, or if additional funds become available, the town council will revisit its decision, but he said their hand has been forced.

In addition, it is believed a boiler at the day centre was in need of repair and would cost upwards of £20,000.

“The town council has a very small budget and we’re trying to fight back against so many cutbacks made by the county council, we don’t know when it will end,” said Councillor Kaye.

“We keep running the town hall, which is draining our funds, but we have to because it’s a listed building. We’re trying to keep on top of it and keep other services going as much as we can, like the Street Scene, but it’s just not viable. The cuts above us are forcing our hand.”

The day centre’s Meals on Wheels Service will continue from the kitchen at the Town Hall. The kitchen will receive a deep clean and environmental health will be invited to carry out an inspection.

The town council also announced that Welshpool’s skate park is to temporarily close due to health and safety concerns and an inability to maintain it during coronavirus.