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WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 14^th December 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 and Cllr H Evans.

In attendance: Cllr T Harvey, Cllr P Pritchard, Cllr A Holloway and Robert Robinson Town Clerk.

1. Apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr S Kaye, Cllr Dr J Morgan, 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. Gungrog Road Parking

The Town Council has been asked to give its views with regard to local resident’s requests for a change in the arrangements in Gungrog Road between Salop Road and the crossroads.

A local resident addressed the committee on the issues which revolve around the changes made some time ago which removed car parking and created the current situation.

The Town Council considered a potential scheme involving a one way street proposal. Details of what was considered are in the file with the agenda papers.
The traffic during the daytime is very low but the traffic on a weekend day is busy. The current parking restrictions do not appear to take this into account.

The Committee was consulted by PCC and the Committee voted on various alternative arrangements as follows:

The idea of a one way system. Not supported.

The removal of daytime restrictions on parking. Supported.

The introduction of a parking permit scheme. Supported.

4. Planning decisions

A number of planning decisions were read out by the Chair.

Cllr G Cross had to leave at this point in the meeting.

5. Town Centre developments

a) One way system

The Town Clerk confirmed that a Zebra Crossing is being provided by the Town Hall and should be in place by March 2012.
The Town Clerk pointed out a concern that a Zebra Crossing may not be totally effective on busy days with people crossing in numbers with the traffic flows.

The WAG Highways Engineers are of the view that the proposal will work but will keep it under review when it has been installed.

The signage still required is still being followed up.

Cllr P Pritchard recorded his views as per the attached paper to these minutes.

The Committee AGREED that their views on the crossing by the Town Hall be communicated to the WAG as follows:

The Committee is grateful that a crossing point is being provided.

The Committee had concerns over the effectiveness of a Zebra Crossing.

The Committee had concerns over the effectiveness of a Pelican unless linked with the Cross traffic lights.

The Committee felt a single lane with narrow crossing areas would be better.

b) Church Street car park scheme

A letter which has been received from J Ross Developments together with a memo from John Pearson (PCC Planning Dept) was circulated to all Councillors before the meeting.

J Ross Developments are seeking for guidance from the Town Council with regard to what scheme, if any, they would be prepared to support on the site.

The Committee was advised that this was not a planning application and that only an informal approach has been made.

The principle of development to form a retail use is acceptable in principle to PCC.

The applicant is to be asked to submit the extended application to PCC so that a re-consultation takes place. This will give time for the Council to formally consult with the public on the principles.

A request was made that lorries should be allowed to park in the Coach bays proposed at night when they are not in use.

A paper by Cllr Dr J Morgan was circulated and is on file with the agenda papers.

RECOMMENDATION

The Committee RECOMMENDS that which such an important decision to the Town that a public consultation should be held on the first Tuesday in January from 9am till 9pm in the Corn Exchange seeking public opinion so that the Council has a clear indication as to the way the public wish to see any response from the Town Council to the next Planning Application consultation.

The cost of such consultation is some photocopying.

c) Puzzle Square

The members were given a copy of a letter from Colin Edwards at PCC regarding the license approval following the letter to him from the Town Clerk as per the instructions of the Committee at its last meeting. (See file for details). The Town Clerk is to request that in any future licensing grants include the provision for a CCTV camera to be linked to the Town System.

6. Planning applications

P2011 1305 Lower Coed y Lade Farm Trelydan

Erection of a 2 storey rear extension.