Town Council objects to edge-of-town hotel plans

Welshpool Town Council has objected to plans for a new 63-bed hotel and drive-through national chain coffee shop at the Buttington Roundabout.

Plans for the major hospitality development for the edge of town have been submitted to Powys County Council but the Town Council’s planning committee is not impressed.

The Town Council has written to Powys County Council expressing a list of concerns adding that it would support a new hotel only if it was within the town.

CADW has stated that it has no concerns about the proposed development’s close proximity to the historic Lime Kilns but the Town Council does have worries.

The Canal & River Trust has told Powys County Council it needs more information before being able to make any comment on the plans.

Weldhpool Town Council has objected on the following grounds:

• The proposal was outside the Welshpool Local Development Framework (LDP) • The development goes against the CPAT letter and LDP rules

• There was concern about the lack of care about the history and heritage of the site which seems to have been ignored in the planning application – it is essential that the heritage is kept on this site and in the vicinity

• The lack of thought about the canal side being blocked off

 • There was concern about the Lime Kilns

• There was insufficient information in the application about the archaeological aspects of the site – as acknowledged by Powys CC

• It is considered an overdevelopment of the site – e.g. there are lots of small car parking spaces squeezed in

 • The Town Council welcome a hotel to the town but agree it should be in the town centre not the outskirts

• Concern about the impact of such a development on the residential dwelling on the site – history, noise, visual

• The development would have an environmental impact on the area