WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

 

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 12th January 2010 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 S Kaye, Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

In attendance: Robert Robinson Town Clerk

 

 1.        Apologies for absence.

 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr P Humphreys

 

2.                  Minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a correct record subject to the alteration to attendance (Cllr H Evans was not present)

 

3.                  General Planning Matters

The Committee was updated on the following:

 

Charity Shops

The final report has been sent to the WAG and our Local MP.

This was only in December and a response is awaited.

 

            Planning decisions

            There were no planning decisions for the meeting.

 

            Town Centre update

            The meeting was updated on the Town Centre progress.

The new date for the one way system is now late January or early February.  It should be made clear that the Town Council is only reporting the dates with regard to the development and not setting them.

The Tuesday meetings of all involved are helping with co-ordination.

Publicity is to be by newspaper, web site and handouts on the Friday and Saturday before the one way system opens.

The Committee was also informed of the publicity leading up to the opening including leaflets advertising the Town Centre in the store.  The A4 folded leaflet was approved which includes pictures, a map and list of traders in the Town.

 

3a        Donations on the opening day

Tesco will be donating to two charities locally £500 each.  The Council has been asked to nominate these.  The Committee will consider their views before the next meeting and a decision made at the next meeting.

 

4.                  Community Benefit from Wind Farm Development

The Town Clerk reported on the Community Benefit Scheme and the way forward with the Montgomeryshire Local Council Forum.

 

5.                  Planning applications

The following applications were considered:

 

                      P2010 1368     SWG Business Severn Road Welshpool

Advertisement consent application for 4 plywood signs

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

P2010 1397     The Forest Commission Powell’s Lane

Installation of a wood pellet bio mass boiler along with external steel flu and 2 lower couplings.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application subject to the emissions from the flue being confirmed as environmentally friendly.

 

P2010 1374      Bryntirion Salop Road

Conversion and change of use of former council offices (B1) to 8 residential units (C3) along with construction

of a new vehicle access and associated car parking and landscaping.

The applicant and two local residents were present at the meeting and were allowed to express their views.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

For all applications any local residents who maybe affected were informed that the relevant application would be considered at this meeting.

 

6.         Flood Plains

A letter had been received at the last meeting about information on flooding in Welshpool.

The Committee considered any areas that were known to have flooded and when:

 

The following were noted:

 

Pool Quay

This area alongside the main Welshpool Oswestry road is often floods and has done so several times between 2005 and 2009.

 

Airport area

This area alongside the main Welshpool Forden road is often floods and has done so several times between 2005 and 2009.

 

Bypass near Coed y Dinas

This area alongside the main Welshpool Newtown road is often floods and has done so several times between 2005 and 2009.

 

Nelson Place Brook Street

The area in front of the houses in Nelson Place was flooded in 2000.

 

Salop Road, Dolerw area

Flooding in this area was recorded in 1963.

 

Other areas have flooded but this has been due to blocked drains, poor maintenance of culverts etc.  The above area all natural flood events.

 

7.        The General Development Order

The Committee considered a presentation on the WAG proposed General Development Order.  A copy of the response to the consultation is attached to these minutes.

 

8.Local Development Plan  

Following the presentation at the last meeting by Mike Lloyd of PCC the Committee is ready to put forward its views on the first stages of the LDP.

A copy of the items to be considered over  the life of all the consultation has been circulated.

A first stage was considered and the following was agreed:

 

Development boundary

The development boundary would alter as a result of sites being proposed for development.

 

Local land owners and oganisations

The Town Clerk is speaking to local land owners and the larger business users to seek their views and encourage them to engage in the Powys Consultation process.

 

Sites for development

The Committee considered several possible sites for development which should be put on a plan for further consideration at the next meeting.

 

The sites include residential development out towards Windmill Lane from the top of Red Bank.


The allocation of land near Buttington Cross for industrial development.

 

The inclusion of the Town Centre sites in line with the Welshpool Town Council Town Plan.

 

Strategic gaps and protected areas

The Committee supports the idea of a strategic gap noted between the town of Welshpool and Guilsfield to protect the settlements independence.

 

Areas are to be marked on the plan as public open space to be protected.  Such areas to meet the 6 acre rule.

 

Programme

The programme for preparation and consultation of the Town Councils proposals are to be:

 

            The first draft plan to be ready for the second week in February.

            Plan, ideas and questions to answer completed by the end of March.

            Public meeting to put forward suggested proposals in April.

            Final presentation to Powys County Council in May.

 

The Belan and Pool Quay

There is to be a separate meeting with residents to gain views at both the Belan and at Pool Quay.