WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Of a meeting held on Wednesday 13th April 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.
Committee
Cllr J Meredith (Chair), Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr G Cross, Cllr A Crowe, Cllr H Evans, Cllr P Humphreys, Cllr Dr J Morgan.
In attendance: Robert Robinson Town Clerk.
22 Members of the public were present. (mainly from Red
Bank/Windmill Lane)
1. Apologies for absence.
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr S Kaye, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.
2. Minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes were accepted as a correct record.
3. General Planning Matters
4.
Town Centre update
An update was given on the Town Centre developments.
The next meeting with the PCC team on the one way system is next Tuesday.
Planning Decisions
The Chair read out the planning decisions received from PCC.
4. Planning applications
T2O11 0008 Stone House 17 High Street
Works to a tree in a conservation area.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
P2011 0273 The Barn Rhalt
Erection of a covered area.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
P2011 0009 Byways Red Bank
Felling of 3 trees the subject of a TPO.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
P2011 0337 Cabin Lock Access Pool Quay
Improvement to existing vehicular access and construction of hard standing.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
P2011 0324 134 Little Henfaes Drive
Erection of a single storey extension.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
P2011 0328 8 Broad Street
Change of use of a shop from A1 to A2 use.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
P2011 0346 15 Trem Hafren
Erection of an extension.
The Committee SUPPORTS this application.
5. Local Development Plan
A full discussion took place about the plan and the submission to be made by Welshpool Town Council.
The plan presentation discussed and approved to go forward to final public consultation is attached to the minutes and will go on display in the Market Village within a week.
A draft of an outline plan had been distributed together with public consultation results and comments.
The decisions taken and comments made with regard to each section were:
PUBLIC OPEN SPACES
The support for the retention of public open spaces was great and the plan was altered to add some other suggestions.
The Committee approved the plan to be kept on file.
COUNTRY PARK
The idea of a Country Park was accepted as a good idea. The public support was great but some comments were made regarding the proposed location at the top of a hill.
The Town Clerk is meeting two land owners in the next few days to see if there are alternative locations, one in Outer Park and the other near the Flash Leisure Centre.
The Town Clerk will report back to the Committee on this proposal.
INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL
The Committee considered the proposals to keep the land at Buttington for industrial and commercial uses only which were supported by the consultation.
The submission is to include this proposal.
OUT OF TOWN SHOPPING
The support of the proposal to object to any out of town shopping was supported by the adults with less support from the High School.
TOWN CENTRE ZONE
The Town Centre Zone proposal was generally supported with some public comments made regarding trying to get more shops to the top of town.
The Committee confirmed that the zone is to be extended up to Chapel Street and not reduced.
OTHER MATTERS
The Committee approved the inclusion of the statements with regard to Allotment Provision, Heritage Centre and Play Areas for Gungrog Ward.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
The Committee considered the residential site proposals. PCC has informed the Town Clerk that any submission should allow for 300 new house plots and a further 300 allocated in order of preference.
The results of the public consultation showed little support for extending out of town at the top of Red Bank but showed some support for ‘wrapping around’ the town.
Restrictions (as per discussions with PCC) were that no development can take place in the flood plains, to the Airport direction affecting Powis Castle or on the skyline.
The following other comments were noted:
The plan showing an allocation of 300 plots was approved for the next stage and as per the copy kept on file.
The sites are to wrap around Welshpool and in other locations as follows:
Powis Estates Lane beyond the Maes Y Dre
Gungrog Hill
Red Bank
Land between the sites
The further allocation in order of preference was made for 300 homes.
This could be achieved by extending further around the town or suggesting a new settlement.
STRATEGIC GAP
The principle of a strategic gap has received support and the Committee echoes that sentiment within its submission. The idea was approved by the Committee but is to be brought further in towards the Town.
6. Wind Farms, overhead cables and sub station update
The Committee discussed the current situation. The Committee is to wait and see the actions of the Montgomeryshire Local Council Forum before taking any other action.
7. Motte and Bailey
The Committee considered the letter attached and confirmed that the Town Clerk may send the letter to PCC.