Plans are submitted for Welshpool's new bus station

Powys County Council is seeking planning permission to build Welshpool’s long-awaited bus station.

Suggestions to develop the bus station in Berriew Street Car Park and more recently alongside the town’s Tourist Information Centre have been scrapped in favour of a Church Street Car Park development.

The local authority is seeking planning permission for change of use of the area from its own planning department to build the new bus station on the southern side of the car park alongside the Lledan Brook and pathway to the Tesco shopping centre.

A planning application statement says: “This location provides direct access into the centre of Welshpool, which is located in a strategic location both for north-south journeys within Wales but also east-west linking to Shrewsbury.      

“The location was chosen through consultation with stakeholders to provide a bus and cycle interchange a short walk from the town centre, supermarkets, on a link route to the train station and opposite the town’s tourist information and toilets.”

It is understood that coaches will approach the new bus station via a newly constructed entrance off Mill Lane and leave via the current exit alongside the TIC Centre. The current HGV parking spaces alongside the Canal Wharf will remain in place.

Graham Breeze, Powys County Councillor for Welshpool Llanerchyddol Ward welcomed news that the plans had finally been completed and encouraged residents to study them on the Powys web site.

“The plans can be viewed on the Powys County Council planning portal with reference number 21/1865/FUL and I would encourage everyone to take the time to study them and take up the opportunity to comment,” he said.

“This is a very important development proposal for Welshpool.”