Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson MP joined the party’s parliamentary candidate, Jane Dodds, in Crickhowell to learn how the town could be a blueprint to help other rural high streets grow.
The pair visited Natural Weigh, Wales’ first zero waste shop, on Friday to learn not just about the shop’s part in the historic Corn Exchange development, but also the local Plastic Free Crickhowell scheme that it helped establish.
Crickhowell’s high street was last year named the best in the UK at the Great British High Street Awards for its community-led initiatives and presence of independent businesses.
Ms Dodds, parliamentary candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire, said: “The community in Crickhowell is rightly proud of what they’ve achieved in breathing new life into their now award-winning high street.
“I want Crickhowell to be a blueprint for other towns and villages across Powys, who with closing banks and pitiful broadband speeds find it increasingly hard to sustain their high streets.”
Ms Swinson, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, added: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Crickhowell today. It was clear that none of this happened by accident; the effort put in by so many members of this community shines through as you walk around this thriving high street.
“I know Jane not only understands rural communities like Crickhowell, but really cares about helping towns and villages across Powys thrive.
“Whenever the next election comes here, people across Brecon and Radnorshire should look no further than Jane as their choice to demand better for their communities in Westminster.”