Running a public event in Mid Wales means dealing with the council for the area your venue is in. Most of Mid Wales is in Powys, but the coast is in Ceredigion and Gwynedd, and many organisers also work over the border in Shropshire. Each council does things slightly differently. This guide sets out who to contact, what they ask for and how much time to allow.
Rules and contact details change, so treat this as a starting point and always check the council’s own pages before you rely on a date.
Which council is your venue in?
| Council | Towns we cover in that area include |
|---|---|
| Powys | Newtown, Llanidloes, Welshpool, Machynlleth, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, Hay-on-Wye, Rhayader, Knighton, Presteigne |
| Ceredigion | Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Cardigan, Lampeter, New Quay, Tregaron, Borth |
| Gwynedd | Tywyn, Aberdyfi, Dolgellau, Bala, Barmouth |
| Shropshire | Shrewsbury and the Shropshire side of the border |
Powys
Tell the council about your event
Powys County Council has an online Event Notification Form. You can save a part-finished form and come back to it through your My Powys account. If your event needs a road closure or uses council land, the council can submit those applications on your behalf from the same form, which saves filling in the same details twice.
Temporary Event Notices
If you are selling alcohol, putting on regulated entertainment or serving hot food and drink after 11pm without a premises licence, you will usually need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). Since 10 July 2025, Powys has taken TENs through its own online form rather than the GOV.UK portal. The fee is £21, the event must be for fewer than 500 people at any one time and last no more than 168 hours, and a standard TEN must be given at least 10 working days before the event.
The licensing team is on [email protected] or 01597 827389. Our full guide explains how Temporary Event Notices work, including late TENs and objections.
Road closures
Parades, carnivals, street parties and road races may need a Temporary Road Closure Order. Powys asks for at least 10 weeks’ notice, because there is a legal procedure to follow, including advertising the closure in the local press and at the site. There is a charge to cover those costs. Powys’s creative toolkit for organisers, Stori Powys, suggests allowing up to six months, so treat ten weeks as the minimum, not the target.
For advice on signs and closures, the Highways team is on [email protected] or 01597 827465. Temporary signs on the highway in Wales need to be bilingual, with the Welsh text shown first, so factor that into your sign order.
Environmental health
Powys’s Public Protection team advises on noise, food and catering, toilets, water supplies and keeping the site clean. Contact them on [email protected] or 01597 827467. Noise is one of the most common reasons for complaints and objections at outdoor events, so it is worth talking to them early if you are planning amplified music.
Emergency services
Powys advises organisers to tell the police, fire and ambulance services about their event well in advance. For larger events, the council and emergency services may want to see your risk assessment, site plan and crowd management plan.
Ceredigion
Ceredigion County Council asks organisers to get in touch early, especially for events on public land or the highway, events that need a road closure, and events with licensable activities such as alcohol sales or entertainment. The council also publishes a Small Event Advisory Guide for outdoor events. The council’s call centre is on 01545 570881.
Gwynedd
Cyngor Gwynedd has an Events Safety Advisory Group and publishes a pre-meeting questionnaire and planning guidance on its information for event organisers page. If your event will use a private water supply, Gwynedd asks to be told at least four weeks beforehand. The events team is on [email protected].
Shropshire
Shropshire Council asks organisers to complete a Safety Advisory Group notification form and send supporting documents to [email protected]. You may be invited to present your plans at a Safety Advisory Group meeting.
A simple planning timeline
| How far ahead | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 months or more | For large or complex events, contact the council and emergency services. Start the road closure process if you need one. |
| At least 10 weeks | The latest point to apply for a road closure in Powys. |
| 6 to 8 weeks | Finalise your site plan, risk assessment and supplier bookings, including crew. |
| 4 weeks | Give your TEN, which leaves time to deal with any concerns. In Gwynedd, notify the council of any private water supply. |
| 10 working days | The latest you can give a standard TEN. |
| On the day | Keep copies of your TEN, road closure order and risk assessment on site. |
Paperwork is only half the job
Licences and permissions are what let your event go ahead. Making it run safely on the day is down to planning, good suppliers and enough people to do the work. We supply experienced crew across Powys, Ceredigion, Gwynedd and the Shropshire border for load-in, builds, site support and load-out. See our services, read about what event crew costs in Mid Wales, or get a quote.
