A Town Councillor in Welshpool has suggested housing Ukrainian refugees in a former day care centre that closed last year.

At a meeting of Welshpool Town Council held on Monday, March 14, Councillor Phil Pritchard suggested using the Anne Holloway Day Centre to house refugees arriving in Welshpool.

According to Councillor Pritchard, the building is currently only used 15 per cent of the time.

Welshpool Town Council is now to look at the reality of the plans, to establish whether it is a legal use for the building, and how it would affect existing operations from the site.

Councillor Pritchard said: “The idea came to me while I was driving and listening to a news report about Ukrainian refugees, and I started thinking of ways that Welshpool could help.

“Then it dawned on me that the town has a big building currently going mostly unused.

“The day centre could be a wonderful building to house refugees for a period to give them a safe, and settling down opportunity, with a wonderful opportunity also for the refugee children to escape their current traumatic experiences.”

The proposal sparked a discussion among town council members.

Welshpool Town Council, said in response: “Concern was raised at the Town Council meeting about the plight of Ukrainian Refugees. The Town Clerk was asked to look into whether the Day Centre could be used to house Ukrainian Refugees.

“The Town Clerk stated that she would need to look into whether it was legal for council funds to be used for this purpose.

“The Day Centre currently has tenants in part of it and is the base for Meals on Wheels, the remainder currently not being used.

“The Town Council resolved at its Full Council meeting of the 23rd February 2022 that all options be looked at for the future of the Day Centre in terms of longer term tenants or daily usage for the benefit of the community.”

The Town Council did not say when a decision would be made regarding the proposal.