WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

 

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 10th August 2011 at 6pm

in the Assembly Room Town Hall Welshpool

 

Committee

Cllr E Bleivas,  Cllr G Cross, Cllr A Crowe, Cllr H Evans, Cllr P Humphreys, Cllr S Kaye, Cllr J Meredith, Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

 

Remit

All matters relating to planning, development, highways, planning applications, notices, regeneration, Motte and Bailey and the Town Centre.

 

Authority

To deal with the above without further reference to the Full Council except where the scheme is of a larger or sensitive nature.

 

Present were:

Cllr J Meredith (Chair), Cllr E Bleivas,  Cllr G Cross, Cllr A Crowe,

Cllr H Evans, Cllr P Humphreys, Cllr S Kaye and Cllr Dr J Morgan,

Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

In attendance: Cllr T Harvey, Cllr A Holloway and Robert Robinson Town Clerk

 

1.         Apologies for absence.

There were apologies for absence from Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb

 

2.         Minutes of the last meeting

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

 

3.           Town Centre Matters

The following Town Centre matters were discussed:

 

One Way System – including local ideas from shop keepers

The one way system was discussed and the Town Clerk outlined the current concerns still be expressed to the County Council which are:

1.       The car park signage is not completed and needs to be improved, particularly with a new sign at the Smithfield Road to direct caravans and trailers to a car park. The signage into the Church Street car park is required.

2.       The alteration of the junction by the SPAR as motorists appear not to be able to cope with filtering in.

3.       The provision of a crossing point of some sort at the top of Broad Street to aid crossing of those who are a little slower.

4.       The provision of two lanes leading to the roundabout by the station on the bypass.  The traffic, on busy days always tailed back to WR Davies or the Flash Leisure Centre – however the distance between the traffic lights and the Flash is 3 times that of the distance between the station and the traffic lights. Hence the tailing onto the bypass.  Traffic is getting through the traffic lights quicker than before but due to the shorter distance is tailing onto the bypass on very busy days.

The sending of cars via Severn Street needs to be reviewed to see how it can be improved.

5.       The no entry signs promised at the bottom of Red Bank and at the entrance to the Seven Stars car park are not there.

6.       A traffic island is needed at the entrance to Seven Stars Road.

7.       A proper traffic island is needed at the junction between High Street and Jehu Road including a review of the parking.

8.       A Hospital sign at Salop Road from the One Way System

9.       The Dolgellau sign on the traffic island by the SPAR is missing

10.  Yellow box junction by the Royal Oak to aid entry

11.  A 20mph town centre zone

12.  Park Lane needs a white arrow on the road indicating ‘turn left’.

 

The Town Clerk, during the initial meetings with the Highways Engineers, was promised a review in the autumn; this appears to now be confirmed.  The Committee confirmed that it welcomes a review of the system to ensure that improvements can be accommodated. 

 

The Town Council has fronted the publicity and liaised with the public and dealt with the complaints etc. so is in a position to help with any review.  The Committee suggests that the Town Council should be involved in any review and the Town Clerk is to write to the County Council offering such involvement.

 

The Committee felt that Trade has been partly affected by the One Way System and Tesco’s arrival but also the downturn in spending is seen as a major factor, as seen in many other centres.  It was noted that the vacancy rate in Welshpool is less than many towns of a similar size (national figures).

 

The Meeting considered the option put forward by Mr Burns supported by a local petition.  It is recognised that the Town Council can only ask as the County Council is the Highways Authority and it will be their decision regarding any changes.

 

The scheme suggested by Mr Burns is: 

                        New signage to direct traffic along Smithfield Road to avoid the

                                                Town Centre.

                        Brook Street to be reverted to two way with the island

                                                arrangement altered so that traffic coming out by

                                                the SPAR can go up Brook Street.

                        The traffic coming down Brook Street would only be able to turn

                                                left.

                        The one way should go up Broad Street then onto Raven

                                                Square.         

                        The traffic island at each end of Jehu Road would be removed.

                        New signage to the Church Street car park.

 

Cllr J Meredith expressed the view that the Town did oppose any idea of an East West route and making Brook Street two way as proposed would be just that.


It was agreed that the Town Clerk should write to the County Council suggesting that the changes put forward by Mr Burns be considered as part of the  review proposed.

 

Phase 1 and Phase 11 shopping

The Town Clerk updated the meeting on news regarding the Town Centre.  The uses (as announced at the last meeting) for the new shops has not changed.  The planning application for the Marston’s site is still to be determined.  The application for the second phase of shops is due to be submitted in the next week.

 

Marstons Site Welshpool

The update email received from Andrew Paddison was read out so that members were up to speed.    The Committee was still concerned at the time being taken for whatever reason.  The Town Clerk pointed out that Andrew Paddison is doing what he can but until the environment agency has responded (they often take a long time) there is little he can do.  It appears that the amount of money asked for under the section 106 is an issue.

 

4.        Planning decisions

There were several planning decisions which were read out.

 

5.         Planning applications

           

P2011 0786     The Old Police Station New Street

Conversion of former multi occupancy accommodation into 3 flats.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.  The main reason is that this property has been vacant for some time and bringing it back into use must of value to the town.  Also the provision of more homes in the town centre is to be encouraged. 

 

P2011 0782     11 Hall Street

Change of use of ground floor A1 shop use to residential (C3) to create a 1 bedroom dwelling.

The Committee OBJECTS to this application. 

The reasons are:

The property is in the central zone where shopping frontages should be retained.

A residential use in this location will set a precedent with regard to other secondary shops being lost.

Properties of this type are normally the only ones which smaller business can afford.

 

P2011 0779     11 Hall Street (Listed Building)

Alterations involving new window opening and replacement door to rear extended section.

The Committee OBJECTS to this application. 

The reason is that alterations are not required if the property is to remain as a shop unit.

 

P2011 0770     20 Broad Street

Display of a new facia sign for Barclays Bank with logo and projecting sign.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

 

P2011 0791     Sainsbury’s Jehu Road

Alterations to existing car park to include the creation of an additional access and upgrade of a retaining wall and associated works.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.  The main reason is that the new layout of the car park is an improvement on the current provision. 

 

P2011 0810     20 Broad Street

Installation of new and repositioning of existing condenser unit on flat room.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

6.         Wind Farms, overhead cables and sub station update

The Committee will be considering TAN8 at its working group meeting later in the evening.

 

The meeting was made aware of the response from Russell George AM.

 

The consultation by the Welsh Assembly issued on 2nd August covers a range of topics including TAN8 and the transport effects (including petitions presented of which at least one is from this Council).

The Committee was concerned that this was yet another important consultation that has been issued for responses during a holiday period.
A response was considered and is attached to these minutes.

The press is to be informed of the Council’s position and a copy of the letter made available.

 A copy of the letter is attached to the minutes.  Click here for copy.

 

7.        Touch Screens for Town Centre

The Committee was updated on the progress being made with regard to the section 106 money for VDU and Information points for the Town Centre.

 

The two 46inch screens to be located in the TIC and in the Town Hall Front Market Halls have been instructed to be provided and installed.

 

The Tesco site is still the subject of discussion via the Planning Authority.

The new maps boards have been instructed via WPG and will go up as soon as possible.

 

8.        Puzzle Square

The Committee gave consideration to Puzzle Square and considered during its discussions the following:

 

            The corner supermarket premises Iceland and what can be done if they vacated.

            The lack of shop units occupied in Cumberland Place.

            The state of the surfaces, benches and flower beds.

            The art display due to take place in Grahams Fabrics.

 

The Committee noted that neither the Town Council nor Powys County Council  is  the land owner of neither the shops nor the pathways serving them and therefore there is some restriction as to what action can be taken.


The Committee was concerned that if works were done with public money on private property that it would set a precedent.

 

The Committee AGREED that the Town Clerk should write to the owners and the Health and Safety Executive seeking repairs and works to the benches, hedges, planting and brickwork which is poor.

 

8.        Consultations:  Environmental matters with regard to the

Local Development Plan.

The Committee considered the consultation with regard to the Local Development Plan.   Another consultation which has been issued for return during a holiday period.

The Committee considered their response and the details of this are set out in the letter attached to these minutes.

 

9.         Correspondence

The Town Clerk read out various general information letters of correspondence.

 

10.       Disabled Badge Holders

The consultation on Disabled Badge Holders is to be considered in September.

 

11.       Planning Review Consultation by Powys and Ceredigion

The Committee is to consider the consultation at its meeting in September.