DELAYS in completing a flagship Powys council project in Welshpool were down to staff shortages, it has been revealed.
Last month, Cllr Graham Breeze (Powys Independents – Welshpool Llanerchydol) asked a number of questions around the delays in re-opening Welshpool Library and Powysland Museum.
Known collectively as Y Lanfa/The Wharf in Welshpool, the £1 million refurbishment of the building is part of a wider scheme to restore the Montgomery Canal, which received £14 million in UK Government Levelling Up funding.
Building work was supposed to be completed last summer, and with the expectation of reopening in autumn 2025.
The library was relocated to the nearby canal cottages to maintain a temporary service.
Cllr Breeze, who is also chairman of Powysland Museum Trust, was worried at the growing delays.
Cabinet member for customers, digital and community services Cllr Raiff Devlin (Liberal Democrat – Talybont-on-Usk) has now responded to the questions.
Cllr Devlin said: “The delays experienced relate to issues concerning building control approval, which is required before the facility can reopen.
“The previous officer assigned to the project left the authority and this placed additional pressure on resources within property services.”
Cllr Devlin explained that during building control’s first visit to the site it was found that extra window safety markings and the installation of a handrail were needed.
Once these had been completed in late autumn of 2025, Cllr Devlin said that the council had hoped to then open shortly after.
But a second visit building control visit then resulted in changes being required to the layout of the first-floor office, which was then completed by the contractor.
Cllr Devlin continued: “Although this was delayed due to labour shortages.
“This delayed reopening by several months.
“I am very pleased to inform you that all issues have now been resolved, and the reopening of Y Lanfa is scheduled for Friday, March 20.”
But this will be only for the library and not the museum.
The museum layout needs to be remodelled which will put its opening back to potentially the end of May.
Cllr Devlin said that the museum is scheduled to be reopen in “late spring” and an official reopening event will be scheduled in the “near future.’
Cllr Breeze had also asked when the canal-side cottage would be available for letting once the library has left.
Cllr Devlin said: “The canal-side cottages have been on the market for some months, and we understand that a prospective tenant has been identified.”
