Presteigne

APPOINTMENT - Liz Bickerton, of Powys County Council leisure and recreation, told town councillors at their recent meeting that the post of the town's new community development worker had been filled by Lisa Bedford. A young graduate, she already had some local experience while working with the Teme Valley Community Project. Liz Bickerton explained that the community worker would have a very broad brief, and high among the priorities would be youth issues, which were important socially and economically. She would be looking for an office, and it was understood the former community development office might be available; it was used only by the Credit Union on Saturday mornings. Lisa Bedford's work programme needed to be prepared and the town council's views would be helpful. The Mayor, Councillor Colin Kirkby, said the town council was pleased at the appointment and the town would look forward to welcoming Lisa Bedford. Since she would be starting work in the second week in May, it was agreed an informal meeting to welcome her should be held at the Memorial Hall on May 11 at 8pm, to which representatives of local organisations would be invited.

NORTON PARISH ROOM - The mayor, Councillor Colin Kirkby, judged that the controversy in Norton regarding the imminent sale of the parish room was a matter for the village people to decide. The town council would continue to take an interest in the outcome for the sake of the residents. Some of the councillors believed the villagers were justified in wanting a community meeting room which was not, as now proposed, part of the parish church. If the sale could be delayed it would give time for wider consultations.

WENTS MEADOW - Councillor Colin Kirkby, as chairman of the town's Millennium project on Wents Meadow, showed the design drawing with the revised layout. It included the refurbished barn, the formal garden with some stone paving beside the barn, the skateboard area and mountain bike trail. He said the estimated cost would be £25,000, of which 39 per cent was the contribution of the town. Allowing for the town council's contribution, the mayor's charity event and other pledged monies, the amount to be fund-raised by the community would be £2,140.

DEAKINS MEMORIAL - On behalf of all the councillors, the mayor expressed sympathy to Councillor Roy Deakins on his recent double bereavement -- the death of his father, Councillor Joe Deakins, followed two weeks later by the death of his wife Gaye. All agreed it would be appropriate to commemorate the great achievement of the late Joe Deakins in some way. He had done so much for the whole community in his lifetime and deserved a fitting memorial. Two suggestions were made -- to name the bypass road between Station Road and Wilson Terrace after him, and to commission a piece of sculpture for the Wents Meadow garden.

PLAY AREAS - Recent inspection by the county's department had shown that the seniors' slide in the Memorial Hall play area was extremely dangerous, and it was being removed at once. Officials hoped to put another apparatus in its place, but to replace the slide would have cost £4,000. They had a budget of only £6,000 a year for repairs on all 30 play areas in Radnorshire.