Restoration of Long Bridge hits a bump

It has been revealed that Powys County Council or Welsh Government does not have additional funding for the repair and renovation of Long Bridge and that alternative funding should be explored by community groups.

In a recent meeting of the Strategy and Corporate Projects Committee of the Town Council, Cllr Pete Lewington provided an update on their project to repair and renovate the iconic Long Bridge.

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He informed the committee that Powys County Council had been approached to assist with maintenance tasks, such as weeding. However, disappointing news followed, as Powys CC stated that additional funding for the repair and renovation of Long Bridge was unlikely to be available from the Council or the Welsh Government.

Despite this setback, Powys CC did suggest the exploration of alternative funding options from heritage-based funds available to community groups. Following initial research conducted by the Town Clerk, it was suggested that a voluntary sector group may be better suited to applying for such funding, with the support of the Town Council.

To facilitate the investigation into potential funding sources, Councillor Lewington volunteered to collaborate with the Civic Society, a local organization focused on preserving and promoting the town's heritage.

He will report back at the next meeting.

Built in 1827 by Thomas Person, the Long Bridge replaced an existing bridge and was widened in 1857 due to increased traffic and the growth of the Penygloddfa area. The bridge is an iconic part of Newtown's heritage.