Welshpool Town Council

MINUTES

Planning and Development Committee

of a meeting held on Wednesday 12th May 2010 at 6.15pm

in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall

Committee membership:

Cllr J Meredith (Chair), Cllr S Kaye (Vice Chair), Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr J Corfield, Cllr A Crowe, Cllr H Evans, Cllr P Humphreys, Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

Present were:

Cllr J Meredith (Chair), Cllr S Kaye (Vice Chair), Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr J Corfield, Cllr A Crowe, Cllr H Evans, Cllr P Humphreys, Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

In attendance Robert Robinson Town Clerk.

1. Apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

2. Minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the last meeting were accepted as a correct record.

3. Declarations of interest:

There were no declarations of interest.

4. Matters arising:

A) Charity Shops update

Some progress has been made, a meeting is now to be arranged with the Minister for Social Justice who appears to understand the case. A meeting has been set for early June.

B) Planning decisions

There were a number of planning decisions which were considered.

C) Update on Town Centre Plan - road system in particular

The Town Clerk updated the meeting on the Town Centre plan progress with particular regard to the one way system and phase II.

The Tesco site has now restarted construction and the one way system should be started very soon but with completion in September.

The Committee RESOLVED to ask:

A) If the one way system could be constructed to completion including during

the embargo period to get the job done.

B) If Hall Street could be brought forward for closure.

D) Oldford Estate Phase IV

A letter had been received from Clwyd Alyn and this was discussed. The Committee

RESOLVED to respond as follows:

1) The Council as consultee is entitled to hold whatever view it wishes.

2) The plan as suggested is the Councils preferred way forward.

3) The plan used was altered for the purposes of passing on our comments and used for no other purpose.

E) 10 High Street

The Town Clerk reported on his meeting with the Heritage Officer.

The Heritage Officer suggested that maybe the cobbles could be cut back giving more pavement space.

The Committee AGREED that the parking sign which impedes the pavement should be moved back as a preference.

4. Planning Applications:

There were no planning applications.

5. Footpath Diversion at Frochas

The Committee considered the public footpath L15 and L17 diversion.

The Committee SUPPORTS this proposal.

5. Local Development Plan

The Town Clerk updated the Council on the local plan process. The delivery process is to commence in June/July 2010 with consultations early in 2011.

6. Welshpool Pride Consultation

The new Town Council Community Plan was discussed and the following is to be included:

A) Town Plan Items

Bus station.

Loading restrictions.

Land by the TIC.

Crossing points.

B) Community Plan Items

Mount Street parking permit scheme.

Play area improvements.

Play area provision at Gungrog Ward.

Free car parking.

Alcohol ban.

Allotment provision.

Cleaner streets scheme.

Any other items not completed in the current plan.

C) Questions and consultation

To be an overall plan seeking approval.

To ask ‘if there was one thing you would like your Council to do for Welshpool to make it a better place what would it be?’

To seek any other suggestions or ideas for consideration.

D) Method of consultation

To be via displays and presentations to cut down on paperwork costs.

7. Severn Valley Regeneration programme

The Committee was made aware of the launch of the programme which is to be held on Thursday 20th May (6.30pm for refreshments) at the Elephant and Castle in Newtown. Cllr S Kaye has agreed to attend for Welshpool Town Council.

8. WRAC Broad Street

The owners of the property have sought the views of the Town Council regarding the change of use of the property to A2 use as there appears to be no shop users.

The Committee RESOLVED to ask for further marketing of the property as a shop but would consider supporting A2 use after 30th June if no shop uses come forward.

The matter is to be raised at the middle of June meeting.