WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 8^th December 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 P Humphreys, Cllr S Kaye, Cllr Dr J Morgan (later), Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

In attendance later:  Cllr M Douglass, Cllr R Brown, Cllr T Harvey, Cllr  Holloway.

1.         Apologies for absence.

            There were apologies for absence from Cllr H Evans.

            2.         Minutes of the last meeting.

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

            3.         LDP - Michael Lloyd of Powys County Council

Michael Lloyd of PCC spoke to the Committee about how they get involved in the LDP and what help that they could give to PCC in getting the public to response to consultations.

The Council will be asked for their response as to what they would like to see during a 12 week period starting in February.

The plan has a tight timetable ending with adoption of the plan in 2014.

The Town Clerk is to prepare a large scale map of Welshpool for the next planning meeting so that the Council can put together its views taking into account its own plans to date.  The Town Clerk is also to write to Michael Lloyd offering help with publicity and getting the public to respond as well as seeking his advice on whether the plan the Council wishes to put forward should be publicly commented on before the Town Council submits it as its part of the consultation.

4.        Planning decisions

There were a number of planning decisions read out to the meeting.

            5.         Community Plan - Welshpool - Going Forward with Pride

                        This plan is now adopted.

            6.         Community Benefit from Wind Farm Development

The meeting was updated on the Montgomeryshire Forum Meeting with Vanessa Garwood of PCC.  A copy of the minutes has been circulated to Councillors.

            6.         Planning applications

                        P2010 1318     2 Bear Passage High Street

                        Change of use of vacant retail unit (A1) to a single dwelling unit (C3)

                        The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

The Committee noted that many ‘side street shops’ were struggling in better times and therefore a need to retain all of these is not demonstrated.

                        P2010 1336     Victoria Memorial Hospital Salop Road

                        To erect an extension to provide renal unit together with modifications to entrance to include canopy, alterations to existing access,  formation of car park, associated landscaping and external works.

                        The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

                        P2010 1322  Adjacent to 2 New Street

(listed building and planning applications)

                        Erection of a replacement wall and new vehicle access and parking

                        Area.

                        The Committee SUPPORTS this application.

7.                  Naming of the Whithy Beds site

The Committee considered a letter from PCC suggesting a change of name to Leighton Arches.  The Committee did not consider that there was any need for a change of name and supports the retention of the existing name.

8.                  Flood Plains

A letter had been received about information on flooding in Welshpool. This is to be addressed at the next meeting.