Machynlleth Town Council has bought undercover outside seating to help local businesses to make the most of outside spaces during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Machynlleth Town Council has invested in six gazebos and sets of tables and chairs for enterprises in the town to loan, thanks to the Transforming Towns fund.

The Transforming Towns fund was set up by the Welsh Government to support projects hoping to redevelop and improve town centres or their nearby areas.

The town council’s Enterprise Forum was consulted on the best ways of using this opportunity to help businesses in the town.

Cllr Ann MacGarry, who leads the Enterprise Forum, praised the “great collective effort”.

Cllr MacGarry said Lol Hennighan “sparked the idea” of purchasing a marquee, Llinos Griffiths, of Dyfi Naturals, advised a number of gazebos would be “very useful and flexible for local craftspeople”. Gail Jenkins, of Caffi Alys, also said they could be used on the lawn behind Canolfan Owain Glynd?r.

The council also used the forum to consult with market venders on the best type of equipment to buy.

Cllr MacGarry expressed gratitude to the “extremely helpful” Powys County Council for answering “endless questions about the fund”.

Llinos commented: “These are going to be really useful for local craftspeople.

“They are a good size and nice and robust.”

Cllr MacGarry explained there will be a charge of £15 per day to borrow a gazebo and £5 for a table and two chairs, as the council had to pay 20 per cent of the total cost and to cover the ongoing staff costs.

“If someone wanted to borrow a set for a longer period of time we could work out a different rate,” Cllr MacGarry added.

“We assume that, depending on lockdown regulations, these could be used by cafes and shops outside their premises, craftspeople in the market or elsewhere and wherever else enterprises in the town can find opportunities.”

Speaking of the Tranforming Towns Fund, deputy minister for housing and local government, Hannah Blythyn, MS, said: “Towns are incredibly important to the people and places of Wales, and they are incredibly important to me personally.

“We have great towns in Wales – towns with inspiring histories and unique assets.

“But we want our towns to have great futures as well as great pasts, and we know that some of our towns are facing challenges.

“The retail sector has shrunk dramatically and this trend looks set to continue.

“This is why we need to refocus our efforts on town centres, transforming them to be to be fit for the 21st Century.

“The Transforming Towns package will help towns do just that – giving them a much-needed boost.”