Council’s retail development snub

 

Councillors supported the recommendation from the planning committee to oppose plans to build a new retail centre on the Spar Car Park.

 

And in their list of objections to the application from J Ross Developments for three units and a cafe, the council said impact on the town centre as well as loss of car parking were key factors in their decision.

 

The Marston’s super pub development gets underway tomorrow following its approval last week, but it seems that could be it for now as the town council decided against the new retail proposal for the following reasons:

 

·         The scheme needs to be part of a comprehensive plan to include the land comprising the small part of the Church Street car park and other land owned by the applicant so that a bus point and increased car parking can be provided. 

 

·         Although the UDP is the statutory plan for Powys the applicant and the planning department at Powys County Council have been made aware over the last three years of the aims and objectives of the Town Council for the town.

 

·         The one way system needs to be reviewed and adjustments made, with a period of settling down, before any further larger scale changes are considered.

 

·         The loss of parking spaces for trailers and caravans (and lack of signing to them) has affected the town’s trade, these are using the Church Street car park and a loss of this facility is unacceptable.

 

·         The scheme reduces the car parking by an unacceptable amount; such loss of parking cannot be accommodated in the Berriew Street car park without further traffic effects on Berriew Street which is unacceptable.

 

·         The loss of space for coach stopping is not acceptable; this is an important part of the town’s viability.

 

·         The units within the new development should be no less than 500sm per unit otherwise the smaller units will have an adverse effect on the High Street.

 

·         The Council does not accept any of the retail impact reports, much of the information upon which the reports are based is flawed.

 

·         The Council does not accept the findings of the retail impact reports and their effects on the Town Centre.