Welshpool Town Council hopes to formally adopt a rebuilt canal bridge in the town, and organise an official opening as its financier is “extremely happy” with it.

After months of concerns, disputes over ownership and searches for funding, Welshpool’s footbridge over the canal has been opened to the public, with the council now interested in taking ownership of the new structure.

During a meeting of the council’s services and property committee on Wednesday, September 18, an update on the bridge revealed that its financier, Welshpool businessman James Potter, had visited the finished bridge for the first time.

READ MORE: Powys footbridge re-opens to public after repair work

Cllr Nick Howells said: “James has been to see it and is extremely happy with it. He commented that the timber palings on either end of the bridge are pretty shabby and said he’d look at that as well.

"But Paul our operations manager had it in hand and all the timber has been bought to replace them. It will be done as soon as they have the opportunity to do it.”

Cllr Howells noted that once the palings have been refurbished, the council will be ready to organise an official opening.

OTHER NEWS:

He also addressed the issue of ownership, as a dispute between the town council, Canal and Rivers Trust and Powys County Council, over which organisation was responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the bridge was cited as a reason for the delay in getting the project going.

He added: “I said that if we got it sorted we’d ‘adopt’ it and I’ve heard nothing to the contrary from any other organisation.

(Image: Josh Price)

“Having refused any ownership of the bridge and not wanting to do anything with it a fortnight before it started, the Canal and Rivers Trust were as awkward as they possibly could be.

“I spent three days trying to satisfy them with environmental health and safety and paperwork, but they did not help in any way whatsoever.

“Now that it’s completed, I don’t think other organisations will rush forward to take it over.”