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Making Newtown a better place with digital technology and data

New digital infrastructure in your town

A new public Wi-Fi system is being installed in Newtown town centre by Powys County Council’s appointed contractor, Telemat, in the autumn of 2024.

This new digital infrastructure, along with existing infrastructure like the public LoRaWAN gateways, provides an exciting opportunity for the town’s residents, businesses, community groups, Town Council and other stakeholders to explore how digital technology and data can be used to make Newtown a better place in which to live, work and visit. Owen Davies Consulting has been commissioned by Powys County Council to support stakeholders to do this.

Tell us about your town

Over the next couple of months, we want to hear from you – residents, businesses and stakeholder groups - about:

  • What challenges does your town face?
  • What opportunities exist for your town?
  • How you think digital technology and data can play a role in these?
  • What projects in the town are already using digital technology and data?
  • Do you feel you have the skills and knowledge to exploit the potential of digital technology and data?
  • If not, what information and/or skills do you need to help do this? 

To tell us more, please use the link below to access and use our Interactive Map.

What's next?

The information you shared will form the basis of a Smart Town Action Plan for the town, which will set out its digital priorities and ideas for how these can be funded (if necessary).

Timeline

New digital infrastructure installed

Summer 2024 to November 2024

Research, town visits, local stakeholder engagement and analysis

November 2024

Town briefing sessions

November 2024

Development of Smart Town Action Plans

November 2024 to December 2024

Additional digital support for local stakeholders (as required)

Early 2025

Please choose an option for Newtown

About this project

The work of Owen Davies Consulting and Cwmpas was commissioned by Powys County Council and is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.