Town Council takes Powys to Ombusdman

Welshpool Town Council is reporting Powys County Council to the local government Ombudsman over the handling of a planning application.

The town council is complaining about a planning committee meeting held in Welshpool by the county authority when permission was given for the building of a block of flats on the site of the former Social Club.

The town council claims proper procedures were not carried out at the meeting which was hurriedly re-scheduled when an original meeting of the planners was cancelled due to a heavy snowfall.

Welshpool Town Council claims committee members were not provided with a detailed presentation and has questioned other procedures. The planning permission was granted on the casting vote of the then chairman of the planning committee, Councillor David Pryce.

The county council has rejected the town council’s original complaint.

In a letter Gemma Bufton, Principal Planning Officer, said: “I do not uphold your complaint. It is considered that all statutory requirements were followed and appropriate consideration was given within the officer’s report and presentation to the members of the committee to the concerns raised.”