WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

 

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 13th July 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.

 

Present were:

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

Cllr P Humphreys and Cllr S Squibb.

In attendance: Robert Robinson Town Clerk

 

1.         Apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr S Kaye and Cllr T Squibb.

 

2.         Minutes of the last meeting.

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

 

3.         General matters:

 

Town Centre

An outline was given on Town Centre progress.  The main points which have come out of the discussion were:

 

1.                  Traders and business’s in the Town should take a more positive attitude rather than the negative publicity which often is put forward.

2.                  The car park signs still missing from signs are to be chased up.

3.                  A response is to be sent to M and Co to their letter (enclosed copy with the Town Clerk’s reply)

4.                  A letter to be sent to shops explaining the Web Site offers available to them.

5.                  A press release on A1 uses and how it works to be issued.

 

It is understood that Pets at Home is coming to the new shops by Tesco along with Peacocks and Home Bargains.

 

Charity Shops

The response from Parliament via our MP has not taken this matter forward.  The Town Clerk is to seek to meet the necessary officials in the autumn while he is in London at the Houses of Parliament.

 

Planning decisions

The Town Clerk attended the Powys County Council Planning Committee meeting held on 12th July at Welshpool with regard to the Lower Llanerchyddol Farm application to remove an agricultural tie.  Both Cllr A Holloway and the Town Clerk spoke in support of the application. The decision was deferred to allow the planning officers to find a way forward.

 

4.         Planning applications

           

P2011 0662     Powis Castle (National Trust)

Installation of 43 ground mounted solar photocell panels.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

TREE2011 0022  Old Coach House Oldford Rise

Works to trees the subject of a tree preservation order

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

P2011 0146   Llanychyddol Lodge Raven Square

Alterations to fence and railings.

The Committee OBJECTS to this application and would seek to see the retention of the original application details.  The reason for this objection is that this property is in a prime position at the entrance to the Town and should therefore be considered in that light.

 

P2011 0687   Town Hall (Listed Building)

Replacement of and installation of external doors to the market halls.

            The Committee made NO COMMENT as this application was submitted by the Town Council.

 

5.         Wind Farms, overhead cables and sub station update

The Town Clerk confirmed that following the last Council meeting held on 22nd June all actions relating to this subject have been actioned.

 

6.        Touch Screens for Town Centre

The Council considered the results of the meeting between the Town Clerk, Planning Officers and the Computer Company.

The Town Clerk explained the advertisement regulations and the need for planning consents if any screens were to be placed close to windows of buildings.

After discussion it was agreed that the following actions be taken:

 

1.         The existing display boards comprising maps should be replaced in the their current locations with an updated map.

 

2.         The touch screens to be located in Tesco, TIC and the Town Hall be taken forward with the screens located inside the buildings.  Once they have been installed the situation is to be reviewed in 3 months (after installation) and if they need to be moved then that is the time to relocate them.

 

7.         Consultation on Pre Planning advice (WAG)

A paper on the consultation by the WAG on pre planning consultation guidance was circulated with a suggested response for each question.

Members were asked to take the paper away and to make any suggested alterations at the next meeting of the Planning and Development Committee on 27th July.

 

8.         Dyfnant Forest Planning Application

The Committee considered the consultation regarding the wind farm proposals at the above comprising approx 35 x 185m high wind turbines with the removal of an extensive number of trees.

The Committee was given a suggested objection letter and the Committee agreed that this should be sent with some minor alterations.
This site for wind turbines is considered unacceptable in all respects and should not form any part of the TAN8 renewable energy provision.

 

9.         Geography Project (Leighton Primary School)

The Town Clerk reported on a geography projected completed by 23 children from the school.  The question was ‘what would you like to see happen which would improve Welshpool’.  Each child has written an individual letter.

The responses are as per attached sheet.

The Town Clerk is to respond to the questions following approval by the next Planning Committee Meeting to be held on 27th July.