WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

 

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 26th October 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  and Cllr S Squibb.,

In attendance: Robert Robinson Town Clerk

 

1.         Apologies for absence.

There were apologies for absence from Cllr S Kaye, Cllr Dr J Morgan

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

The planning decision notices were read out for information.

 

4.        General Matters:

 

Town Centre Plan - Church Street Car Park Scheme

The Town Clerk confirmed that J Ross Developments will be attending the next meeting.

 

Tesco site – removal of café from development

The Town Clerk confirmed that the café on the Livestock Market is not proceeding.  The Planning Dept has informed the Town Clerk that the elevation will be similar to that of the petrol filling station.  Clarification is being sought as to what this means.

 

One Way System Review

The Town Clerk reported on his meeting with the WAG and PCC.  There is still no news of the review.

 

5.         Planning applications

 

P2011 1113    W R Davies Salop Road

The erection of an extension to a neighbourhood store.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

The Committee considers that such a development provides a necessary facility to those living locally to the site.

 

P2011 1119/P2011 1117   Green Dragon Mount Street

Planning application for the conversion of an existing public house to 3 residential units together with a listed building application for the same.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

P2011 1123   Garage Plot at Church Road

An application for the erection of a single dwelling and alterations to access.

The Committee DEFERRED this application to their meeting on 9th November

as there are new drawings including a right of way to be issued.

 

P2011 1128  Sainsbury’s Jehu Road

Resubmission of proposals for alteration to the existing car park to include additional access points, upgrading of retaining wall and associated works.

The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

 

P2011 0862  Mermaid PH High Street

Both planning and listed building consent for a change of use and conversion of a listed public house into 5 bed sits with communal areas.

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

 

  1. The property is within the shopping core of the Town Centre and any change of use from retail should be resisted.
  2. The change of use will alter the character of a historic building in the Town Centre.
  3. The  proposed use is inappropriate and a more suitable retail based use should be found.

 

BERR/2009/0001  Carnedd Wen Land (Llanbrynmair Forest)

The erection of 65 wind turbines – max height 137m.

The Committee STRONGLY OBJECTS to such application and agreed to submit the attached letter.

  

6.     PCC Planning Liaison Meeting

The Town Clerk reported that the next meeting is to be held on Monday 5th December at 7pm in Welshpool at the County Offices.

Those to attend are:

Cllrs J Meredith, P Humphreys, E Bleivas and Robert Robinson Town Clerk

 

7.      Leighton Farm Development

The PCC Planning Committee is to consider the above application at 10am on the 1st November in the Council Chamber Welshpool.
The Committee considered if they wished the Town Clerk to attend and speak on behalf of the Council.  This matter was referred to the Full Council later that evening.

 

Letter referred to above:

 

 

WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

Robert A Robinson FRICS AILCM

Town Clerk

Triangle House Union Street Welshpool SY21 7PG

Telephone 01938 553142  

Email wtcouncil@btinternet.com  Web site www.Welshpooltowncouncil.co.uk

 

26th October 2011

 

Steve Packer Esq

Powys County Council

County Hall

LLandrindod Wells

LD1

 

Dear Steve

 

Planning application ref number – BERR/2009/0001

Wind Farm Development and Associated Works at

Carnedd Wen Land (Llanbrynmair Forest)

 

Good morning, I hope this letter finds you well.

 

I am in receipt of the above application for a development of a wind farm .  My Council completed a door t door survey of residents on the issues of Wind Farms and its effects and it reflected a 42% return of survey forms with over 80% objecting to any proposal within the TAN8 plan.  A copy of the survey results is enclosed.

 

Following my Council meeting held on 26th October 2011 I write to place a formal objection on record of the above proposals on the following grounds:

 

            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 enclosed.

 

            EFFECT ON TOURISM

The affect 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.

 

            EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The environmental impact on wildlife, hedgerows and other countryside aspects is unacceptable.

 

RETAIL AND SMALL BUSINESS SECTORS

The effect the transportation through a town centre of Welshpool will have on trade and small business users is unacceptable with loss of trade a real issue.

The effects can also be felt when in a recession the town is trying to let its empty shops and potential tenants are concerned about the effect on any business they may wish to start in the town.  The overall effect of a pylon line (which is an off spin of the wind farms) could well affect Welshpool and deter visitors if it were built in the Severn Valley.

 

ALTERNATIVE TO TRANSPORT PROPOSALS

There are a number of alternative proposals which should be considered which would affect the rural community less that those in the consultation document.

 

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.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE 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 community.  Not only visual but the overall effects as noted above.

 

I would also suggest that the effect on our environment out ways any benefit gained from the wind farms.

 

Finally, I think in view of the number of wind farms the possible effects overall, a plan should be prepared showing all the wind farms with routes and cables on it before any overview can be formed.  I would have thought that you would have this in hand but to date have not seen a copy which was requested in 2009. 

 

No doubt you will let me know if there is any more detail on each objection listed that you require.  I would be pleased if you would confirm receipt of our objection.

 

Thank you for your time.

           

Yours sincerely

 

 

Robert A Robinson FRICS AICLM

Town Clerk