Welshpool “powerless” to sort empty town centre buildings

Welshpool Town Clerk Richard Williams has admitted that the town is “powerless” in forcing the owners of derelict town centre buildings to tidy them up.

With the eyes of the cycling world turning to Welshpool next summer, Welshpool Town Council is prioritising the look of the town centre in its 2027 plans.

But with some empty buildings left to decay for years on end, Mr Williams declared that there wasn’t a lot officially that could be done.

“If you look at our social media comments, people are always asking what are we doing to tidy up the empty town centre shops,” Mr Williams said at last week's full town council meeting.

“We need to show that we are on their side and trying to do what we can to hopefully get our shop fronts sorted, but unfortunately we have no powers at all.

“The eyes of the world will be on Welshpool next year so it is in everyone’s interest to get this right.”

Mr Williams pointed out that the former Savers shop building was, however, subject to an outstanding planning enforcement case with Powys but added that it takes 84 days to even receive a response.

“The reason that we were even able to make that case is because the building is listed and therefore has a higher level of protection,” he said.

Cllr Phil Owen said that the Town Council should name and shame the owners, and Cllr Phil Pritchard called on Powys County Council to start charging empty shop owners a 300% premium on their business rates, similar to what is being done to empty dwellings.

Cllr Alison Davies said that Powys council was “extremely lax on clamping down on these landlords for sorting their properties so I don’t hold out much hope that we can change anything. It is a matter of huge concern”.

Councillors agreed on an approach to engage with the property owners and also to run a shop front improvement scheme that could also see participating landlords benefit from grants.

The following four recommendations were backed:

·      To note the concerns raised regarding the condition and appearance of properties within the town centre.

·      To ask that the Place Plan Working Group urgently identify commercial premises in the town centre whose external appearance would benefit from attention.

·      To authorise officers to write to property owners encouraging improvements to the external appearance of their buildings

·      To ask the Town Clerk to write to Powys County Council seeking clarification of its approach to enforcing the relevant provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Building Act 1984, and requesting consideration of enforcement action where appropriate.