Powys: Welshpool Town Hall set to be used as a "warm hub"

With rising energy bills contributing to the cost of living crisis, people across the country are expected to face struggles to heat their homes this winter.

As a way to help those in need, at a services and property committee meeting on September 7, members of Welshpool Town Council were asked to move ahead with a proposal to use the Town Hall as a space for members of the public to gather for warmth.

Welshpool Town hall has an old system that does not allow the heating in individual rooms to be turned off, meaning rooms unoccupied are still being heated.

The proposal for the ‘warm hub’ is to allow these unused rooms to be open to the public for anyone in need of warmth over the coming months.

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The scheme would need to be monitored by volunteers or local groups and organisations as the town council is purely offering the space as an option.

Cllr Julie Arnold said: “Taxpayer money pays for this Town Hall, therefore we have a duty of care to anyone who walks in those doors, especially if they’re simply looking for a place to stay warm.

“I don’t want to see people dying this winter due to poverty, if we can provide a warm space or even a hot drink we should absolutely provide that space for anyone who needs it.

“The Town Hall is a big, heated space that could accommodate many people. Let’s get it open and let’s provide for people who are crying out for help.”

Cllr Alison Davies also supported the proposal, adding: “The building that will already be heated at the time can be available to the people of the town to take advantage of the warmth and advantage of the group, it will come at no extra cost to us except for the cleaning which will be minimal.

“It’s a case of something we already have that’s already available, and all we’re doing is opening the doors. It’s a very simple proposal.”

There was some discussion regarding the logistics in organising such a scheme, and whether the Day Centre might serve the same function if it could be re-opened.

The council eventually voted in favour of using the Town Hall to provide warmth for people in need while looking into separate issues for Day Centres and volunteering.