Planners to hear opposition to block of flats

Welshpool Town Council and the local County Councillor will this week lead opposition to the building of a block of 17 flats on the site of the town’s former Social Club.

Powys County Council planners have agreed to a request to switch their meeting from Llandrindod to Welshpool and carry out an inspection of the site after the application was called in by County Councillor Graham Breeze and opposed by the Town Council and local residents.

Councillor Breeze said he fully supported the Town Council and residents in opposing the plans. “While there is an obvious need for such properties in Welshpool this development is too big and totally out of character with the area,” he said.

“There are also serious problems with access which I trust the planning committee will recognise – problems which are already being experienced by current residents on Bron y Buckley estate.

Following initial opposition the scheme has been revised after a pre-planning consultation attracted opposition from around 40 residents at a meeting in Welshpool Town Hall..

Mid Wales Properties Ltd is planning to build flats on the site of the former Welshpool Social Club, off Brook Street in the town, on behalf of Mid Wales Housing Association.

The development will incorporate 17 dwellings, including seven two-bedroom apartments, seven one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom wheelchair accessible apartments.

The Town Council’s planning committee considered the application and recorded the following views:

1.    The Council was in general agreement with the resident’s views in opposing the plans.

2.    The Council welcomes the redevelopment of the site but is not in favour of the scheme presented.

3.    The scheme as drawn is an overdevelopment of the site and the design does not complement the properties around it.

4.    The car parking provision in not adequate and access not appropriate.

5.    Access for emergency vehicles does not appear to be taken into account.

6.    Adequate turning facilities for cars and other vehicles (such as a hospital minibus) needs to be provided.

7.    Any scheme should respect the adjoining properties and take into account privacy and loss of light.

8.    A review of the number of units available for disabled users’ needs to be undertaken.

9.    Access for wheelchair users needs to be addressed.

10.The footpath from Bron y Buckley to the lower part of the site should be retained in some form.

The planners will meet at Neuadd Maldwyn in Severn Road at 11am on Friday to discuss the issue.

Picture: An artist's impression of the new block of flats