Archive News Item

A recent media report claiming that Powys County Council has reached a decision to sell the Lakeside Restaurant is unfounded.

The council’s Cabinet agreed in March to refurbish the facility before making fresh attempts to attract a private restaurant operator. The restaurant will temporarily close at the end of the tourism season to allow the refurbishment work to take place.

The council has no plans to sell the building which houses the restaurant facility, craft shop and public toilets.

Cllr Garry Banks, Cabinet Member for Property, said: “A recent reports claiming that we have reached a decision to sell the Lakeside Restaurant is unfounded. There are no plans to sell the building.

“I would like to reassure the public that the council is committed to the long-term future of this facility. A working group, which local member Cllr Tom Turner is also part of, has been established and will oversee the refurbishment project before we make new attempts to attract a private operator.

“The restaurant will close at the end of the tourism season so that we can carry out refurbishment work on the site before embarking on a new tendering exercise.

“However, the craft centre that is based in the building, which also sells light refreshments, will continue to operate as the refurbishment works takes place. The public toilets at the building will also remain open.

“Our intention is to have the facility refurbished by September 2013 but in the meantime, we will start looking at the tendering exercise and will advertise when this is happening to interested parties. Everything will be done to minimise the length of the closure.

“If successful, the new operator will receive day-to-day control of the facility soon after September 2013 but it will be up to the operator when they decide to open for business.