Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn (Welsh: Y Drenewydd a Llanllwchaearn) is a local government community in mid Powys, Wales. It includes the town of Newtown and the small neighbouring village of Llanllwchaiarn. At the time of the 2011 census the population of the community was 11,357.[1] The community council is called Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council, often abbreviated to Newtown Town Council.[2]

Location of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn within Powys

History

The community has its origins in the Newtown Local Government District, which was established on 25 July 1866. The district was governed by a local board, and from the outset its territory covered parts of the two parishes of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn.[3] By 1871 the district had become known as the Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn district.[4] Under the Local Government Act 1894 such local government districts were reconstituted as urban districts with effect from 31 December 1894. The Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Urban District Council held its first meeting on 4 January 1895 when Alfred Ford, a Liberal, was appointed the first chairman of the council.[5][6] Llanllwchaiarn and Newtown remained separate civil parishes, but were classed as "urban parishes" and so did not have parish councils of their own, with the Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Urban District Council being the lowest level representative body.[7]

Former Urban District Council Offices in Newtown Hall Park, now an area office for Powys County Council

In the 1968 the urban district council and its neighbour, Newtown and Llanidloes Rural District Council, built a shared headquarters building in Newtown Hall Park, on the site of a large Victorian house called Newtown Hall (which was itself a replacement for an earlier house on the site). The building cost £86,000 and was initially known as "Town Hall".[8][9][10][11]

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Urban District was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, becoming part of the Montgomery district of Powys on 1 April 1974. A new community was created covering the former urban district, with its council taking the name Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council, also known as Newtown Town Council.[12] The former Town Hall in Newtown Hall Park was used as an area office by Montgomery District Council and then became an area office for Powys County Council, called the Park Office.[13]

Town council
Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn
Town Council
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1974 (1974-04-01)
Leadership
Mayor
John Byrne (2022-)
Seats16
Elections
Last election
2022 Welsh local elections
Next election
2027 Welsh local elections
Meeting place
Brisco House, Broad Street, Newtown
Website
newtown.org.uk/town-council-home-page

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council (commonly called Newtown Town Council) was established in 1974. The community elects up to sixteen members to the town council,[14] from five wards of Llanllwchaiarn North, Llanllwchaiarn West, Newtown Central, Newtown East, Newtown South.[15]

The town has an annual 'mayor making' event where the new town mayor takes their oath of office and gives out awards.[16]

The council's headquarters are at Brisco House in Broad Street. The building dates from 1902 and also houses Newtown's Robert Owen Museum.[17][18][19]

In May 2018 the town council backed a proposal to name the town's by-pass after social reformer Robert Owen. The following month it backed plans to place statues on the town's roundabouts, of 'Powys Pioneers'.[20]

In May 2021 the town council elected its youngest mayor, Richard Williams, who was aged 26 at the time of his appointment.[21]

Elections

At the May 2017 town council elections only the Llanllwchaiarn West ward held a contest, with four candidates competing for the three seats.[22]

At the May 2022 town council elections, no seats were required to have an election and all councillors were elected unopposed. There were 6 vacancies following the election.[23]

References
  1. "Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Parish [Community]". NOMIS. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. "Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council". Retrieved 30 September 2022. Newtown Town Council
  3. "No. 23137". The London Gazette. 13 July 1866. p. 3986.
  4. "Local Board Election". Cambrian News. 11 August 1871. p. 3. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  5. "Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn District Council". Montgomery County Times. Welshpool: National Library of Wales. 5 January 1895. p. 8. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  6. "Welsh local elections: Liberal returns". Cardiff Times. National Library of Wales. 12 January 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  7. "Local Government Act 1894: Section 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1894 c. 73 (s. 1), retrieved 11 September 2022
  8. "Town Hall". Birmingham Post. 29 April 1968. p. 10. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. "Newtown Hall". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  10. The Municipal and Public Services Journal. 1969. p. 2664. Retrieved 29 September 2022. ...working in new offices centrally situated in Newtown Hall Park...
  11. "No. 46042". The London Gazette. 31 July 1973. p. 9039.
  12. "Newtown Registration District". UKBMD.org.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  13. "Visit us". Powys County Council. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  14. "Cyngor Tref Y Drenewydd a Llanllwchaearn - Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council". Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  15. "Ward Map of Newtown". Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  16. Sue Austin (10 August 2018). "Mayor making in Newtown". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  17. Naomi Penrose (8 March 2017). "Plans to transform Newtown Council HQ". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  18. Cadw. "Robert Owen Memorial Museum (Grade II) (8029)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  19. "Brisco House". Discover Newtown. Newtown Town Council. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  20. Elgan Hearn (26 June 2018). "Newtown bypass roundabout statues idea passes hurdle". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  21. Anwen Parry (26 May 2021). "Newtown elects youngest mayor". Powys County times. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  22. "Montgomeryshire's community council election results are in". Powys County Times. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  23. newtown.wales (21 April 2021). "Newtown elects youngest mayor". newtown.wales. Retrieved 24 May 2022.

52.5184°N 3.3146°W / 52.5184; -3.3146

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