More work is expected to fix one of Powys’ most iconic buildings after one of the wooden beams was found to be in a “terrible state” and “completely rotten”.

The Grade I-listed Old Market Hall in Llanidloes has undergone repair work since January 2023.

Powys County Council has been overseeing repair works on the Grade I-listed building in the town centre which was planned for completion at the beginning of May this year.

Gareth Morgan, Powys County Councillor for Llanidloes, told a recent full town council meeting that the archway on the China Street side seems to need repairing, with fears further delays could mean the building could reopen by “this time next year”.

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The Old Market Hall in Llanidloes is one of the most famous buildings in Powys and one of Wales’s oldest timber-framed market halls.

In an update about the Old Market Hall, Cllr Morgan told councillors: “I unfortunately wasn’t around the Market Hall when the Sanhedrin were there - the ‘officials’.

“Nevertheless, somebody who had a shop nearby had seen them. Fortunately, that person I met told me about the encounter.

“So, I walked straight up, and I heard somebody walking upstairs [inside the Market Hall]. I went to the door and out comes representatives of builders.

“I was intrigued about how many years of work were left to complete this absolutely amazing restoration. I’ve seen a few restorations in my time, but I have never seen a restoration that has taken so long and caused so much aggro.

“What appears left to be done is the archway on the China Street side, presumable south side.

“The wooden arch is completely rotten and in a terrible state. 80 per cent, if not more, is rotten.

“What has happened is that the builder who did the work years ago had inserted some waterproof membrane in the wall behind the plaster and this has caused water to come through the wall and rip down onto the beam that had been there for hundreds of years causing it to rot.

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“I gather there is a talk about putting steel plates rather than replacing the original beam with a new one, provided exactly to specification. No, it’s not going. They’re going to leave the rotten beam and place steel beams to sustain the wall. How long will that take? Do they need to go to Cadw? The mind boggles. It could be this time next year.

“I’m so sceptical about everything. We are rarely informed even though the Town Council owns it. What are the costs? How long is it going to take? That criticism relates to local elected members as well.

“We’ve been totally ignored which is not good enough. It’s appalling for a major landmark, only one of the few Grade I-listed buildings. It is a building so treasured by the people of this town and way beyond Llanidloes.”