WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

 

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 23rd November 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.

In attendance: 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        Planning decisions

          There were no planning decisions to report.

 

4         Planning applications

 

            P2011 1271    The Good Shepherd (Marstons) Greenfields Welshpool

Display of illuminated and non illuminated signage.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

T2011 0036   Park Lane House Park Lane

Removal of one London Plane Tree.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

BERR 2009/0004  Land at Nant yr Eira Valley and llyn Gwyddior

Construction of a wind farm comprising 43 wind turbines up to a max height of 126.5m together with associated works including access and transformers.

The Committee STRONGLY OBJECTS to the application on the following grounds:

 

EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The environmental impact on wildlife, hedgerows and other countryside aspects is unacceptable. Also the sheer size of the proposed turbines of 43 turbines is well above what is remotely acceptable in any landscape.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

With any TAN8 approved wind farm site there comes the electricity hub and the pylon line, both of which have direct effects on our communities.  Not only visual but in terms of its overall effects on the economy of the area.

 

The concrete piling to support such wind farms (on this scale) which would be left at the end of the turbines’ life.  This is also not acceptable.

 

The effect on the Environment, including changes in landscapes affecting communities, is not acceptable

 

            DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC

The traffic disruption caused for a number of years on the Mid Wales roads will be unacceptable and will deter visitors to the town.  This transport is connected not only with wind farms but the associated infrastructure as well. A copy of current estimated traffic figures is set out on the Council web site at www.welshpooltowncouncil.com .  The roads are not built for this size of traffic movements.  There still appears to be no overall traffic assessment covering all the proposed areas taken together.

 

            EFFECT ON TOURISM

The affect of traffic movements on the local economy, in particular tourism, is unacceptable as is any infrastructure caused by the development including the electricity hub and the power lines proposed.      

 

RETAIL AND SMALL BUSINESS SECTORS

The effect of the transportation through town and village centres will have an adverse affect on trade and small business users.  This is unacceptable with loss of trade a real issue in a rural community.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

Potential damage to the infrastructure caused by excessive weight of the lorries.  For example drainage, sewers, underground electric cables, gas pipes and water pipes.  This in our view is a matter which needs serious

consideration  before any plan can be considered

 

PUBLIC OPINION

Public opinion has been sought on the proposals within TAN8 and from that the average percentage against was 80%.  The survey was conducted door to door with over 2,000 returns from Welshpool alone.

A copy of this survey is set out on the Council web site at www.welshpootowncouncil.com

 

5.         Whithy Beds (Leighton Arches)

            The Committee was informed that PCC has still proceeded with the change of name despite objections from both Welshpool Town Council and Forden/Leighton Community Council.

            The press release stated that there were no objections.  The Town Clerk has written to clarify why this statement was made when the two Council's had objected.

 

6.         Update on Town Centre actions

            The Town Clerk has written to Tony Cain about the signage as follows:

                        Car park signs still missing from One Way System

                        No Entry signs at Church Bank and in Union Street

The Town Clerk is also to follow up the sizing of the Town Centre signs on the Tesco site.

 

7.       Marstons Development

The Committee AGREED with the suggestion that the Town Clerk should write to Marstons asking them to have pictures in the building of the Old Smithfield.