COUNCILLORS in Llanfyllin have been doing their bit to help businesses get ready to reopen their doors on Monday.

After a successful grant application for the Transforming Town Grant scheme, Llanfyllin Town Council has been working alongside businesses preparing to open on Monday, April 26.

Hospitality businesses were able to contact the council to access a portion of the £13,000 won by Llanfyllin Town Council, to help make their businesses more suited to outdoor service when restrictions are lifted.

Councillor Peter Lewis believes the money has already shown itself to be a boost to businesses in the area.

He said: “It’s been fantastic and the people really appreciate it.

“The grant has helped them with different ideas. Some have had benches, others have had awnings and others have thought up other ideas to accommodate customers outdoors.

“It’s the climate we’re in at the moment. The town square has more seating available now, and on market day this week it was heaving there.

“It’s a lot of money for a town the size of Llanfyllin.”

Cllr Lewis and Cllr Jane Carrington successfully applied for the grants and both hope it will play a part in helping businesses recover from the impact of Covid-19.

Cllr Carrington said: “When we first heard of the opportunity of the Grant scheme we jumped on it straight away, it’s been a long time in the planning, but we felt it was necessary in Llanfyllin’s recovery post pandemic.”

Benches bought with the grant money have been placed on the square for community use.

These benches are there to maintain bubbles while shopping, eating and drinking and generally enjoying the town.

Cllr Lewis has also helped businesses to use extra outside space for use of customers.

Part of that scheme is dropping the curb by the town’s chip shop, in the high street.

Cllr Lewis said: “It is important that we made these changes to allow businesses to continue under the new guild lines, Llanfyllin has a thriving hostelry business especially with passing trade to the coast and Tanat Valley runs and we wanted to welcome trade back into our town”

Each business that applied for the money have put plans to Llanfyllin Town Council and now well underway with their spend which included buying and building adaptations to allow trading within new Covid-19 guidelines.