Councillors have recommended that the organisers of Welshpool’s 1940s Weekend by given use of the town hall for free during the event.

At a meeting of Welshpool Town Council’s events and tourism committee, organisers of the town’s 1940s Weekend met with councillors to discuss ways in which the council could support the annual event.

Welshpool 1940s committee chairman Alan Crowe spoke before the council, saying: “Last year’s event cost £25,000 to stage, and to do so we need to have everything in place before September.

"That means have to raise at least £2,000 each month for 11 months each year for the 1940s Weekend, with the expectation being that each year we want to make it bigger and better.

“It’s always been an uphill task. But now we feel we have reached the pinnacle of what we can physically raise. We are now coming to this council to see what we can do together.”

The most recent 1940s Weekend, held from September 29 to October 1, 2023. Attractions included historical re-enactors, vintage vehicles and a 1940s themed funfair, as well as a visit from cast members of the BBC sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo.

At the time Mr Crowe said: “The 2023 1940s Weekend went very well, an excellent event that I can safely say was our biggest and best event yet.”

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Welshpool councillors confirmed that they were not in a position to offer any direct financial support for any event outside of the council’s jurisdiction, but were keen to offer any support in accommodating the 1940s Weekend.

Cllr Geoffrey Lanagan said: “I am a hundred percent in support of the weekend, which I believe is good for the people of Welshpool and visitors to the town.

"Anything we can do to support it short of emptying our bank accounts, I’m all in favour of. The last weekend was such a well organised event, and I’d like to give full credit to the committee for what they’ve done with very little support.”

The committee proposed that one of the ways it could support the festival would be to provide it with the use of Welshpool Town Hall, free of charge for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday during which the event is held. The tourism and events committee voted in favour of this recommendation, which will be voted on during a full Town Council meeting at a later date.

The 2024 Welshpool 1940s Weekend is scheduled to be held from September 27 to September 29.