WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

WELSHPOOL - Going Forward with Pride

A COMMUNITY PLAN FOR THE PERIOD 2010 TO 2014

Approved on 24th November 2010

Robert Robinson FRICS AILCM Town Clerk  Welshpool Town Council Triangle House Union Street Welshpool SY21 7PG - October 2010

Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Council and how it operates

3. The Future of Welshpool Plan

4. The Welshpool Town Centre Plan

5. The Consultation

6. The Plan in detail

7. Priorities

8. Summary and review

Appendix

A Plan of the Welshpool Town Council wards

B Consultation results

C Comments made by residents

D Statements on each adopted activity of the plan

E Welshpool Town Centre Plan Chart

1.00 Introduction

1.01 The Council completed the ‘Future of Welshpool’ Plan in 2007 and now that this plan has been completed (all but a few activities) a new Community Plan is required.

1.02 The Community Plan will form the policy of the Council for the period 2010 to 2014 and will form the basis of any consultation with regard to the Local Development Plan prepared by Powys County Council.

1.03 The plan has been prepared with a full consultation with residents and taking into account the remaining items in the last plan and in the Town Centre Plan which was adopted by the Town Council in

         November 2008.

1.04 The purpose of the Community Plan is to set a programme and give direction to the Council on activities to make the Town of Welshpool a better place to live.

1.05 A plan showing the Town Council wards and boundary is shown at appendix A.

2.00 The Council and how it operates

2.01 To implement the Community and Town Plans the Council has an organised structure in which they can achieve the objectives. The public are invited to all Council and Committee Meetings and may put forward views at the Committee Meetings.

2.02 The Town Council operates an ‘open policy’ and consults on a regular basis on a range of subjects.

2.03 The consultations will continue (in most cases) by the following:

Mayors Coffee Mornings

Generally the 4^th Friday of the Month at 9am to 12.30pm in the Corn Exchange of the Town Hall. Here you can meet Councilors.

Councilors Surgeries

Dates and venues will be announced through the press and on the Town Council notice boards. Here you can meet your Councilors or Town Clerk.

Town Clerks Office

Residents are welcome to visit the Council Offices and the Town Clerk is always happy to help if he can.

Councilors Direct

Residents may approach their Councilors at any time on subjects to do with Welshpool, their contact details can be gained from the Town Council Offices.

Public Meetings

The Council holds public meetings or drop in days from time to time. These are published by the Council in the press and on notice boards.

Newsletter.

The Council issues a newsletter 3 times a year with information on what is happening so that residents may comment.

2.03 ALL representations made to the Town Clerk or an individual Councilor is presented to the Council via one of the Committees.

2.04 The Council operates a Full Committee system and residents are welcome to attend any of these meetings. The Committee does allow members of the public to speak before they make any recommendations to the Full Council.

2.05 The Council Committees are at present:

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

7pm Town Hall and Markets held in the Council Chamber

Dealing with Town Hall and Markets (indoor and outdoor)

8pm Recreation and Leisure held in the Council Chamber

Dealing with recreation grounds, play areas, Tourist Information,

the Armoury Recreation Centre, and all activities related to leisure or recreation.

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

6pm Planning and Development held in the Assembly Rooms

Dealing with planning application consultations, the Town Centre Plan, Community Plan, Wind Farms and all other related planning and highways matters affecting Welshpool.

THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

6pm Events held in the Council Chamber

Dealing with the organisation and support of events in Welshpool.

7pm Finance and General Purposes held in the Council Chamber

Dealing with the finances and budgets together with all other matters relating to policy and establishment. Also any other matters not covered by the other committees of a general nature.

FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

6pm Planning and Development held in the Assembly Rooms

Planning application consultations.

7pm FULL COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber

Dealing with policy, approving recommendations from Committees and carrying out statutory duties.

THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH

7pm Welshpool Projects held in the Council Chamber

Dealing with the Classic Bus, Business Development and

Other subjects as passed to it by the Town Council.

2.06 To further the aims and objectives of the plan a meeting is held between Powys County Council and Welshpool Town Council (Town Clerk).

3.00 The Future of Welshpool Plan

3.01 In March 2007 the ‘Future of Welshpool’ Plan was adopted and this Plan has set the policy for many of the activities of the Council over the past 3 years.

3.02 The Plan set to achieve a number of objectives together with some additional ones added later.

3.03 The objectives and their current status is as follows:

Other items in the original Future of Welshpool Plan are now included in the Town Centre Plan.

The items shown above are colour coded as follows:

RED Items not going to be completed.

GREEN Items completed.

BLUE Items still under way and not completed.

4.00 The Welshpool Town Centre Plan

4.01 The Town Centre Plan was prepared by Welshpool Town Council and has formed the Town Councils Policy on the redevelopment and regeneration of the Town Centre.

4.02 Powys County Council have been made aware of the plan and are working with the Town Council, where possible, to implement the plan in stages. The

4.03 The Town Centre Plan is the Policy of the Town Council and does not form in a formal way any part of the Unitary Plan.

4.04 The Town Centre plan was adopted in November 2008 and will continue in place until completion.

4.05 A full copy of the Town Centre Plan together with the results of the extensive consultation (upon which the plan was based) is located in the Council Offices.

4.06 The Plan set out a list of objectives which are set out in the chart at appendix E. The status of each objective is also noted on the chart.

5.00 The Consultation

5.01 The consultation period where residents can put forward views and comment on the presentation ran from 31^st July to 4^th October 2010.

5.02 The consultations took various forms which included:

Drop in afternoons at the Corn Exchange in the Town Hall.

Displays in the Market Village.

Displays in the Tourist Information Centre (all September)

Presentations to individual groups.

Consultation with Welshpool Projects

Presentation to the High School.

Information in the Town Clerks Office.

Centre page presentation in the Newsletter which was

distributed as follows:

Most homes in Welshpool.

Library.

Market Village.

Tourist Information Centre.

Armoury Recreation Centre.

Town Clerks Office.

5.03 From the consultation there were replies.

There were replies from residents within the Town Council boundary.

There were replies from residents outside the Town Council boundary.

There were replies from the High School.

5.04 The residents were asked to vote on subjects put forward as suggestions and also asked to put forward their own ideas.

5.04 The results of the votes on subjects put forward as suggestions for the plan are shown at appendix B.

5.05 The list of comments made by residents is set out in full together with the Council’s response at appendix C.

6.00 The Plan in detail

6.01 The Community Plan which will form the policy of Welshpool Town Council for the period 2010 to 2014 is to be in priority order:

1. Provision of Allotments in Welshpool

2. Provision of a Town Centre Civic Notice Board

3. Securing of the playground at Dol Y Felin

4. Provision of Councilor Surgeries

5. A cleaner Welshpool project

6. Protection of services

7. Support renewable energy

8. More litter and doggy bins in key areas

9. Plan to deal with antisocial behavior

10. Seek to find a better solution for the wind farm transport

11. Seek to get a reduction in the number of wind farms in Mid Wales

12. Refurbish existing playgrounds to a good standard

13. Provision of a Family Park in Welshpool

14. Provision of information of what is available in Welshpool

15. Provision of safer cycle routes

16. Welshpool Promote the basement of the Town Hall for leisure/youth

17. Continue to support the provision of an hourly train service

18. Memorial Gardens improvements

19. Improved large scale maps for the Town Centre

20. Support a McDonalds in the Town Centre

21. Support an alcohol ban for the Town Centre

22. Support and aid 1 hour free car parking

23. Charity Shop issue

24. Enter into a charter with Powys County Council

25. Provide a new play area in the Gungrog Ward

26. Seek to provide sculptures in the Town Centre and in a park near the Town Centre

27. WLLR steam railway train along the old route through Town

28. Extend festivals to High Street as well as Broad Street

29. Provide CCTV signs near the Spar

30. Seek to provide a solution to the problems of the Magistrates Court

6.02 The top priority items are shown in RED, medium priority in BLUE and others in GREEN.

The details of each policy are included in a schedule at appendix D.

6.02 There maybe other activities which are added to the plan as time evolves.

7.00 Priorities

7.01 The plan as outlined in 6.00 above shows a priority order and the Council will use this as a guide. However, financial constraints may also be a factor in completing activities and therefore the completion of activities may not always be in the order of priority.

7.02 The plan will be monitored at each meeting of the Committees on a monthly basis to ensure that each activity is completed.

8.00 Summary and Review

8.01 There were two main themes which are worth noting from the consultation:

A) The cleanliness, litter, doggy mess and untidy nature of areas of town and a need to do something to help gain a cleaner Welshpool including addressing anti social behavior

B) There is a lack of knowledge by many as to what the Town has already in place.

8.02 A review of the plan will take place each year in January.

8.03 The review shall take the form of an assessment of:

Progress of those items included in the Community Plan.

Progress of those items included in the Town Plan.

Consideration of additional items.

Review of the order of priority of items in both the Town and Community Plans.

WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN CENTRE PLAN APPENDIX E

The items included in the Welshpool Town Council - Town Centre Plan are listed below with their current status:

WELSHPOOL RESIDENTS COMMENTS CONTAINED ON RETURNS

APPENDIX C

Those items coloured green have been actioned or being actioned.

GENERAL

1. Improve area around the T.I.C. and SPAR to attract visitors

The plans and works for the one way system include for refurbishment of this area.

2. Improved maps (large ones) in the Town Centre

This idea will be included in the new plan.

3. Extend the hanging baskets in the Town (2 persons)

This will be raised with the Town Hall Committee.

4. Mini allotments on spare land

The idea of mini allotments will be included within the allotments provided at the Golfa. The idea of mini allotments in the Town Centre is perhaps something the Council could work with the Allotments Association on.

5. Secure hedge cutting around Borfa Green

This items will be passed to Powys County Council as it is their responsibility.

6. Removal of metal balls around the back of the Town Hall

This item will be raised at the Town Hall Committee.

7. A stand alone notice board for public notices in the Town Centre

A good idea, this has been included in the plan for action.

8. Burgess Lands Development - should be for the people - allotments

The land is owned by a Trust with a Trust Deed and the Trustee is bound to do the best for the Trust. The idea of allotments on this land in place of houses is not an option.

9. Develop the Travis Perkins Site to provide pub and canal side uses

This is a private site and it is up to them to see what development they wish to do.

10. Provide a youth hostel with cheaper accommodation for Welshpool

A good idea and will be put on the agenda of the Recreation and Leisure Committee.

11. Improve access to shops for disabled people

The new developments will be disabled friendly. The kerbs and lowered at crossing points, a visually impaired scheme has been implemented and any shops which are altered are need a statutory consent will have to be disabled friendly.

12. Powysland Museum - extend to allow more exhibits

This is a matter for Powys County Council and the Museum itself. However, the Council would support any move to extend the museum.

PRIDE IN THE TOWN

1. Make the Town Centre cleaner and safer (25 persons)

The Council is adopt a cleaner Welshpool programme and will continue to hold regular meetings with the Police to help keep Welshpool safe.

2. Clear rubbish from the canal, perhaps Morrison’s and Tesco can help here (17 persons)

this item is to be included on the agenda of our Finance and General Purposes Committee. Also item 8 above could help.

3. Stop ‘boy racers’ around Town

The police are monitoring this problem and taking action against offenders.

4. More litter and doggy bins (14 persons)

This item is to be included in the plan.

5. Dog fouling a real problem particularly along the canal side (5 persons)

This item is to be included in the plan.

6. Stop drinking in public places (13 persons)

The plan provides for supporting an alcohol ban in the Town Centre.

7. Support the provision of Wheelie Bins

Powys County Council is rolling out a programme of bringing in Wheelie Bins starting in the south of the county.

8. A clean up programme of business premises to tidy them up (repaint etc)

This will be included in the ‘cleaning up the Town’ part of the plan.

There is now money from the built heritage initiative to help owners refurbish buildings.

9. The alleyways off the main street are dark and dirty

This item will be on the agenda of the Planning and Development Committee.

10. Restore Civic Pride to the town (2 persons)

This is one of the overall objectives of the plan. Civic parades etc are to be retained and promoted.

11. Improve the situation with regard to anti social behavior (14 persons)

Discussions often take place between Councilors and Police to help the situation.

12. Take a trip to Brittany to see how a community works, use local talent to solve problems

The Council does hold consultations on a regular basis and also does ask local people who are expert in particular fields to help from time to time. Anyone who has ideas can put them to the Council at one of the Committee Meetings held

almost every Wednesday.

13. Fill in the pot holes in New Street

The plan to be implemented by PCC includes this work when the link between the Berriew Street Car Park and Broad Street is in place.

14. Community Area - provision of a room for socialising

The Town Hall Committee will have this item on their agenda.

The Corn Exchange is used for community groups to meet and for coffee mornings on a regular basis.

PARKING

1. Take over car parking from PCC to offer free parking to all (4 persons)

The Council will consider car parking when considering the budget cuts by PCC and when looking at what the Council can do to help.

2. One hours free parking - perhaps with parking discs (2 persons)

This is an objective of the Town Centre Plan and will remain so.

3. Parking meters on the main street to encourage use of car parks

This idea was opposed in the Town Centre Plan consultation by traders.

4. More car parking on the main street to help traders

This will form part of the consultation of what to do with Broad Street in due course.

5. Clamp down on illegal car parking in the Town.

The Council will consider car parking when considering the budget cuts by PCC and when looking at what the Council can do to help.

TRANSPORT

1. Provide toilets at the main line station

This is an Arriva Trains issue, they have toilets on every train already.

2. Provide a roundabout where Salop Road meets the bypass

This comment will be passed onto Powys County Council as this is their field of remit along with the WAG (Trunk Road Agency).

3. Hourly train service from the main line station

The Council will continue to support this, the hourly train service is due to be with us during 2011.

4. Bus services should call at the main line station

This can be supported when the bus station point comes into place.

5. Waiting room for the station platform

There is a waiting room on the platform, enlarged and renewed in 2009.

6. Supervision of the car park to ensure it is used for rail users

The car park was taken over by the Town Council in early 2009 and has been monitored to ensure it is for rail users. The situation has improved.

7. Improve main road signage

The road signage will improve as part of the one way system which includes new signs along the bypass and around the town.

8. Bus stops and bus station no shown on the one way system plans

The bus stops are not moving and the bus station will be shown on the phase II drawings.

POLICE

1. More police at night times in the Town Centre

The Council will pass this comment onto the Police Team.

2. More police around town (7 persons)

The Council will pass this comment onto the Police Team.

RECREATION AND PLAYGROUNDS

1. Lighting of the road and car park at Maes y Dre

This item will be put on the agenda of the Recreation and Leisure Committee for consideration.

2. Repair the road by Maes y Dre school to the recreation grounds

This item will be put on the agenda of the Recreation and Leisure Committee for consideration.

3. New play equipment needed at Dol Y Felin

The play area at present is owned by PCC but is due to transfer over in the next week or so. A review of all play areas and equipment is planned including Dol Y Felin.

4. Clean up playground areas and improve them

A review of all play areas and equipment is planned.

5. Provide a family park for Welshpool (7 persons)

This is to be included in the plan.

6. Provide a better skateboard park (4 persons)

This will be considered at the Recreation and Leisure Committee meeting when looking at the future of the Maes y Dre.

7. Mountain Bike Track

This will be considered by the Recreation and Leisure Committee when they review the services on offer to Welshpool.

8. Better Welshpool Town Football Ground

This is a club matter, however the Council has provided support for the relocation of the club and to improving the Maes Y Dre as money permits.

SHOPPING

1. Relocate Post Office at T.I.C.

If the post office were ever to close the Town Council would consider taking it over. While the service is provided the Town Council does not propose any action.

2. Proper screening of the shopping centre from the canal

The plans for the canal have been approved and it was considered that landscaping was important as was the view to the Town Centre to link the two retail areas.

3. Internet café with coffee shops open later in the evening (2 persons)

An internet café could be part of the Town Hall Basement scheme. The Council would support a planning application by retailers who wished to provide this use.

Later opening maybe encouraged by the new retail scheme which will be open later.

4. Tesco to be the ‘full works’ and not just a food store

This is what was asked for in the results of the consultation with the Town Centre Plan and this is what Tesco is providing.

5. More good shops (27 persons)

There are 4 more national named shops coming with the Tesco Superstore and more planned in a Phase II.

6. Support the idea of a Burger King or KFC (17 persons)

The will consider this if the Company shows interest in coming to Welshpool.

7. Open an Argos in Town (8 persons)

An Argos is likely as one of the new shop operators next to Tesco.

8. Review the Market Village alterations

The changes to the Market Halls to create the Market Village were part of the Town Centre Plan and will be reviewed when the one way system has been in place with the new shopping scheme for some time.

9. Less charity shops (9 persons)

The Council is supporting a change to give a level playing field as regards this

Issue.

10. More control on retail development through the planning system

The Council considers that there is enough control in place already. However, the Council is still following up the Charity Shop issues. (too many with an uneven playing field).

PUBLIC SERVICES

1. Take over public toilets from PCC and remove charges

The Council will consider this when looking at how to protect services from the budget cuts.

2. Protect the library from PCC cuts

The Council is working with PCC to ensure that they are up to date with what is happening and the Council will assess each cut individually to see if there is anyway that the effects can be reduced.

3. Extend the CCTV system

This item will be put on the agenda of the Finance and General Purposes Committee for consideration.

4. Services cut back should be re-instated - example the reduced hours of the gym at the Armoury

The services have been referred to in item 46 above. The reduced hours of the gym at the Armoury have made little difference to the income. The Armoury is still under review as to how to best provide services here.

ENTERTAINMNENT

1. Extend festivals and parades to include the High Street to help counter the effects of the one way system

This will be considered when planning such events to see if this is possible.

2. Ten pin bowling and other recreational uses (12 persons)

A mini bowling alley and other recreational and leisure uses are planned for the basement of the Town Hall.

3. Provide a nature reserve for animals and birds

There are two reserves in Welshpool already, they are at Severn Farm Ponds and at Coed Y Dinas.

4. More events in Welshpool particularly for the younger person (7 persons)

There have been more events added to the Welshpool calendar over the last 3 years including the air show, festival of remembrance, St David’s Day, Easter Egg hunt and the Dragon Hunt around Town. The Bulldog Rally is to become part of the Town Centre events in 2011 and a Transport Festival proposed in 2012.

FOR THE YOUNG

1. More for the young - extend cinema, disco etc (7 persons)

There is a cinema and disco (Moto’s) in Welshpool already.

2. Youth Club/Centre need in centre of Town (4 persons)

There is a youth club in Howell’s Drive, the Council will discuss with the youth

leader what other provision maybe possible more centrally. The Council did start discussions with a local youth group to provide a youth club in the Town Hall but this has not as yet materialised.

3. More shops to attract the younger person (19 persons)

There are more shops coming and planned in the Town Centre which should help meet this aim.

4. Councilors - encourage young persons to be Councilors

The Council runs a youth council at the High School. There is a new WAG measure aimed at encouraging a wider range of Councilor representation.

5. More jobs for the younger person

The jobs created by the new developments and proposals surrounding this will help.

6. Internet Café

It is planned to have such provision in the basement of the Town Hall, also the Council will support such an activity in the Town Centre where business can provide it.

WELSHPOOL PROJECTS (BUSINESS CONSULTATION)

These comments are made from a meeting at which businesses were present.

1. Mount Street Parking - remove 45 minute restriction for residents

The Council will discuss this at the Finance and General Purposes Meeting as an idea to be taken forward.

2. Car Parking in Broad Street

The car spaces in Broad Street opposite the Town Hall towards Park Street are free with no time limit. The Council will look at the idea of restricting the area the same as the remainder of the street.

3. Cleaner streets, graffiti and pride in shop fronts

The request is for more litter bins, a cleaner street campaign and graffiti walls. The Council will include these ideas in the Cleaner Welshpool Plan.

4. Zebra crossings - cars no stopping

This matter will be raised with the Police at the regular meetings.

5. Alcohol ban for the Town Centre and drinking outside the Pinewood

The Council will support an alcohol ban. The problem of the Pinewood will be discussed with Powys County Council.

6. CCTV signs by the Spar

The Council will adopt this idea and arrange for signs.

7. Smoking rooms in public houses

The idea of smoking rooms in public houses will be discussed at the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

8. Large maps for the Town Centre

This idea is to be adopted in the plan.

9. Market Village - not properly open on Tuesdays to Thursdays

This situation is being monitored and it is hoped that when the new shopping scheme is open and the one way system in place with the street market that things will fall into place.

10. Tidy up the Magistrate Courts and stop the smoking outside

The Council is to pursue this matter and try and find a solution.

11. Planting beds outside the Spar and the area by the TIC and SPAR

This item is to be included in the plan.

12. Empty shops and window dressing

The idea of putting displays in shop windows where the shop is empty is to be considered by the Planning and Development Committee.

13. Rate relief publicity

The Council will research the rate relief proposals and ensure they are publicised.

TOWN PLAN (Not for consultation in this plan)

1. Scrap the one way system

(2 persons)

The Town Plan consultation showed objection to the pedestrianisation of Broad Street and majority in favour of the one way system.

2. Loading and unloading should be controlled throughout the Town

(4 persons)

The responsibility for parking, loading and other parking restrictions will be under the control of PCC as from 1.4.2011.

3. Pedestrianise Broad Street (2 persons)

The Town Plan consultation showed objection to the pedestrianisation of Broad Street.

4. Puzzle Square needs to be improved (2 persons)

This item is included in the Town Plan.

5. Improve shops in the Town Centre (22 persons)

This item is included in the Town Plan as far as it is possible for the Council to influence such a subject.

6. Tesco - stop it coming as it will kill business

Support for a superstore in the town was given by a majority in the Town Plan.

The superstore has been in the Unitary Development Plan for many years.

7. Shops should be open longer

This item will be encouraged through the Town Plan.

APPENDIX D

WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF POLICY ON EACH ELEMENT OF THE PLAN

WELSHPOOL - GOING FORWARD WITH PRIDE

1. Provision of Allotments in Welshpool

POLICY - An agreement being put in place to provide allotments from 1^st April 2011 and these plots are to be offered at 50p psm.

The Council will keep under review the sites investigated in case there is any change.

The Councilors will also be made aware of any further sites that come forward.

REASON - This item is left over the last plan and although much effort has been made by both the Town Council and the Allotments Association (set up by the Council) the project is yet to be completed. There is a proven need for allotments and support from the consultation is in excess of 95%.

2. Provision of a Town Centre Civic Notice Board

POLICY - The Council will be seeking to erect in the Town Centre a Council Notices board so that everyone can see what the Council is doing.

REASON - The suggestion was made by a resident and the Council thinks it is a good idea.

3. Securing of the playground at Dol Y Felin

POLICY - The Council is due to take over the play area from PCC to secure its future.

REASON - Support for securing our play areas and improving them is evident.

4. Provision of Councilor Surgeries

POLICY - The Council will publish dates for consultation times when the local population can meet their Councilors on any subject which affects the Town.

REASON - The idea was suggested by the Mayor and supported in the consultation by more than 80%.

5. A cleaner Welshpool project

POLICY - The Council will draw up a plan to create a cleaner Welshpool and they implement it.

REASON - The general theme of individual comments in the consultation clearly showed support for this as did over 90% of respondents.

6. Protection of services

POLICY - The Council will look at the effect of spending cuts on the Town and assess if it is possible for them to be delivered locally without excess cost to the ratepayers.

REASON - The protection of services is important as shown by the Council’s own views and that of over 85% of respondents.

7. Support renewable energy

POLICY - The Council recognises the need for renewable energy in various forms and will support the WAG in meeting its targets. However see items 10 and 11.

REASON - 76% of the respondents are in support of renewable energy projects.

8. More litter and doggy bins in key areas

POLICY - The Council will be seeking to improve the provision of litter bins and doggy bins to help with the litter and dog mess problems.

REASON - This was a key theme in the consultation results.

9. Plan to deal with antisocial behavior

POLICY - The Town Council and Neighborhood Policing Team will meet regularly to discuss a way forward and together to implement what is needed.

REASON - This is a key theme to individual comments about the town.

10. Seek to find a better solution for the wind farm transport

POLICY - The Council will continue to object to the level of wind farm transportation proposed to come via Welshpool and will support the surrounding villages in their quest to the same end. The Council will also Endeavour to find a better solution to the transportation and do all it can to minimise its effects.

REASON - The Council recognises the damaging effect that excess transportation of wind farms in convoys can have on communities. The respondents to the consultation were 64% in favour of this policy.

11. Seek to get a reduction in the number of wind farms in Mid Wales

POLICY - In line with policies 7 and 10 the Council will be seeking to get a reduction in the number of wind turbines in Mid Wales but will be supporting a sustainable level of renewable energy.

REASON - The policy is in line with consultation results as shown in items 7 and 10.

12. Refurbish existing playgrounds to a good standard

POLICY - The Council will seek to provide refurbished playgrounds to a good standard after consultation with the local schools. The policy will also be that a playground of a signifigent size will be provided in each ward.

REASON - There is support for the policy within the Council members and from individual comments from residents in responding to the consultation and due to over 80% being in favour of this policy.

13. Provision of a Family Park in Welshpool

POLICY - The Council is to seek to provide a family park in Welshpool and options are to be prepared and public opinion sought before progressing.

REASON - An item left over from the last plan and which had 80% ` support from the consultation.

14. Provision of information of what is available in Welshpool

POLICY - The Council will put together a proposal to provide better information on what is available in Welshpool so that residents are better informed.

REASON - From the comments in the consultation it is clear many residents do not know what is on offer in their town.

15. Provision of safer cycle routes

POLICY - The provision of a plan to be implemented to provide a safer cycle routes layout for the town. This is to be done in partnership with Powys County Council.

REASON - The Welshpool High School Youth Council has asked for this item and it is supported by over 75% of the respondents to the consultation.

16. Welshpool Promote the basement of the Town Hall for leisure/youth

POLICY - A policy held up from the last plan due to financial constraints.

The plan is now to progress with leisure and youth uses for the basement of the Town Hall.

REASON - This is a project which is supported by the Council and the Youth Council.

17. Continue to support the provision of an hourly train service

POLICY - This has been a policy of the Council for some time and work has been done with Arriva Trains, Network Rail and the Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury Railway Committee to achieve this. The Council will continue to support the hourly service provision due in 2011.

REASON - The train service needs to be improved and that is confirmed by 90% of those who responded to the consultation.

18. Memorial Gardens improvements

POLICY - The Memorial Gardens have now a memorial stone to Paul Thomas and the British Legion would like to see improvements in gardens.

A working group is to be set up between the Council and the British Legion to take this forward.

REASON - The Memorial Gardens are important to people in the Town. The support for such a project was over 85% from the consultation.

19. Improved large scale maps for the Town Centre

POLICY - The Council will seek to provide some larger scale maps of the Town Centre in partnership with Welshpool Projects, in particular to help find places of interest and shops in the Town Centre.

REASON - To help people find their way around town, particularly those visiting either as tourists or to the new retail development. This item was suggested by a resident and the Council feels it is a good idea.

20. Support a McDonalds in the Town Centre

POLICY - The Council will support the idea of McDonalds restaurant in the Town if they company shows any interest.

REASON - This request has come from the youth of the town and via the Youth Council. Also there was a slight majority in favour of adults in the town.

21. Support an alcohol ban for the Town Centre

POLICY - The Council will seek to work with the Police and the County Times to gain enough evidence to gain an alcohol free zone in the Town Centre.

REASON - The support for such as scheme has been evident for some time and has been confirmed again in the consultation by over 80% of respondents.

22. Support and aid 1 hour free car parking

POLICY - The Council is seeking to gain such a scheme when the finances allow.

REASON - The town feels that free car parking at Morrison’s in Newtown is affecting people visiting Welshpool and the traders in particular would like to see such a scheme. 90% of respondents support this initiative.

23. Charity Shop issue

POLICY - The Council will continue to try and get the law changed so that charity shop use is a separate use class enabling control of how many come into a town and also to help with rent reviews in other retail units.

REASON - To ensure a real variety of shopping the main streets and to create a level playing field for all. 80% of respondents support this policy.

24. Enter into a charter with Powys County Council

POLICY - The Council is seeking to gain a charter for Town and Community Councils.

REASON - To ensure better and more effective working relationships.

This should also provide better service provision.

25. Provide a new play area in the Gungrog Ward

POLICY - To provide a play area where there is no sizable one at present.

REASON - To be in line with policy no 12.

26. Seek to provide a sculptures in the Town Centre and in a park near the Town Centre

POLICY - To complete the projects of erecting sculptures at the Old Fountain and at the TIC as designed by the High School and voted on by residents some time ago. Also to provide in due course a sculpture park attraction.

REASON

27. WLLR steam railway train along the old route through Town

POLICY - To provide a trail along the old steam railway line from Raven Square to Welshpool Main Line Station with information boards.

REASON - To try and preserve a little more heritage. The scheme is supported by 75% of respondents.

28. Extend festivals to High Street as well as Broad Street

POLICY - The Council, where possible, seek to extend events into the area of the High Street beyond Jehu Road.

REASON - To try and bring this area of the High Street more into the town centre activity. This was a suggestion by a resident which the Council feels is worthy of consideration.

29. Extend and broaden recreation facilities in Welshpool

POLICY - The Council, will wherever possible, seek to provide a wider range of recreation and leisure services including a new skateboard park and a mountain bike track.

REASON - To try and broaden the range as per requests in the consultation.

Contact details for the Council

Robert Robinson FRICS AILCM
Welshpool Town Council

Triangle House, Union Street

Welshpool SY21 7PG

Telephone: 01938 553142

Email: wtcouncil@btinternet.com

Web site: welshpooltowncouncil.com

Office hours 9am to 2.30pm weekdays

Other times by appointment