Cyngof Tref Y Trallwng Welshpool Town Council MINUTES
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Cyngof Tref Y Trallwng Welshpool Town Council Y Porth i Gymru | The Gateway to Wales Committee members Cllr A Davies (Chair), Cllr F Veenstra (Vice Chair), Cllr H Chave, Cllr R Church, Cllr J Ellis, Cllr S Kaye, Cllr P Pritchard, Cllr C Robinson and Cllr D Senior. Committee remit Responsible for Planning applications (full authority), Local Development Plan, Town Plan, Highways, Transport, Cambrian Rail, Bus services, Canal re-opening and Planning consultations Committee authority The Committee has delegated authority to deal with all matters except those of a controversial or substantial matter which are to be referred to Full Council (where statutory time permits) PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES of a meeting held on Wednesday 16th January 2019 at 7.15pm in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall 1. Record of attendance Present were Cllr A Davies (Chair), Cllr F Veenstra (Vice Chair), Cllr H Chave, Cllr R Church, Cllr J Ellis, Cllr S Kaye, Cllr P Pritchard and Cllr C Robinson. In attendance: Cllr M Douglass and Robert Robinson Town Clerk. Apologies received Cllr D Senior. from There were 53 members of the public present for item 4.2 Frochas Farm. 2. Minutes of the last meeting The Committee considered and approved the minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2018. 3. Declarations of interest The following declaration of interest was recorded: Cllr Carol Robinson Frochas Farm Poultry Farm 1 Both Cllr P Pritchard and Cllr G Breeze who attended the meeting took no part in any discussions with regard to the Frochas Farm Poultry Farm. 4. Planning pre-application consultations 4.1 Pre-consultation process The Council may record any observations but may not support nor object to pre- applications. If the Council does so do they will not be able to support or object to the planning application when it is submitted. This was made clear to the members of the public and Councillors before any discussion took place with regards to items 4.2 and 4.3. 4.2 Frochas, Welshpool – Poultry Production Unit The Erection of a broiler installation and silos, formation of a vehicular access and associated works of approx. 7,200 square meters. (i) The Town Clerk gave a short presentation on the scheme proposals. The residents were also informed that any objection based upon their own homes views or effects on values were not planning matters. The Town Clerk also pointed out the relevant planning policies and also informed the Committee of their decision when the previous planning application on this site was received. (ii) The Public were then asked if anyone wished to address the Committee and the following points were put by members of the public present: a) The site is only ½ mile away from Welshpool and less than 1 mile to the Town Centre. b) The site is only 450m from Llanerchydol Hall (a Grade II * listed building) a building of local importance. c) The site is very close the Glyndwr’s Way (a national path). d) The site is only 300m from Llanerchydol Park. e) Less than 1 mile from Powis Castle. f) The consultation pack issued is ambiguous and full of errors. The period of the consultation including the Christmas Period which made it difficult for people to read the extensive papers. The papers were difficult to access from the Web Site and not readily available at the Roger Parry Offices. g) The main issues relating the development were based around: Traffic and access for vehicles to the site. The location of the building in a rural area. The location of the buildings away from other farm building clusters. The visual impact of a large building on views from a larger area. The smells which when the wind is in the right direction can affect the Town Centre of Welshpool. The level of ‘stench’ from such sites was observed. 2 Continued: Health issues with particular regard respiratory illness. Air pollution from the development. Possible effect on tourism with smells over the town. There are footpaths close the site and running through the site. Ammonia and dust issues. 150,000 birds on a 42 day rotation will require 31 lorries a day. The effect on the water table and where water services will come from. One resident had direct experience of being next to such a farm and pointed out the disruption, flies (summer), smells and human health issues. There should be a limit on the number of buildings on any one farm. The site was not considered sustainable or the right location for the development proposed. The residents pointed out that they are supportive of the farming community but cannot find a way of supporting this scheme. It was noted that Dingle Nurseries were present and although they support farming are concerned about the effect on their business and felt that the site was not suitable for the level and type of development proposed. The Dingle Nursery will therefore be objecting to the proposal. It was also noted that all the members of the public present appeared to be opposed to the development. Such a larger number of residents present shows the strength of feeling and concern with regard to the scheme. One resident gave a summary and pointed out that there was no support within their community for this scheme. (iii) A representative from Roger Parry and Co were present and made the following points: a) Confirmation was given that they had received a number of letters and representations. b) Once the issues around the web site were known they were corrected. c) Paper copies are not a requirement but were made available in their offices within 5-10 minutes a request. d) All comments will be taken on board when considering if the progress the scheme to a planning application. e) The consultation period has been extended so all comments will still be taken into account. (iv) The Councillors discussed the scheme and the following concerns/comments are to be passed to Roger Parry & Co as well as Powys County Council. 3 It was AGREED that the Town Clerk should confirm the Committee’s comments as follows: a) Concern over the impact the development might have on the landscape and local environment and there needs to be evidence of how this can be mitigated. b) Concern over health and environmental issues and would suggest that evidence of how these issues can be overcome needs to be part of any planning application. c) Concern over the increase in traffic movements – an impact assessment on traffic issues needs to be produced. d) A footpath diversion order will be required. e) Concern over the views from Llanerchydol Hall and Llanerchydol Park towards development – a mitigation report to address these issues will be required to demonstrate the effect and its acceptability. f) Concern over the water table and how the development might affect this – a study into this is needed to give confidence that the scheme will work. g) Concern about the effect on plant life – an ecology report will be needed to show how such plant life will be protected. h) Concern over the impact on the Dingle Nursery – an impact assessment will be needed to ascertain how much any effect might be. i) Concern over how manure will be disposed of taking into account smells (when it is put on the land) and how it will be disposed of when the land is ‘full’. j) There is a lot of work needed to show how the above concerns can be mitigated to a level where the community could support such a scheme. k) The level of public objection to the development is noted. l) When an application is received any Powys Planning Committee Meeting should be held in Welshpool due to the level of public interest. (iv) The public present were reminded that their letters of objection will be passed to both Roger Parry & Co and Powys County Council. However when a planning application is received the current letters will not be taken into account and new objection or support letters will need to be submitted at that time. (v) Cllr G Breeze confirmed that he will be ‘calling the application’ in when received so that it will be considered at the Full Powys Planning Committee. Roger Parry and Co pointed out that due to the scale of the environment report it would be required to be considered by the Full Powys Planning Committee. 4 4.3 Maes y Dre School – Welsh Medium School Maes y Dre The construction of a new infant/junior Welsh Medium School at Maes Y Dre. Note: The pre-consultation traffic report refers to parking for parents using the Town Council car park. The Committee AGREED to generally support the plans but pointing out that the Maes Y Dre Car Park is not in the ownership or control of the applicant. The Town Clerk is to seek to gain full plans for consideration. 5. Planning applications P2018-0337 Welshpool Church In Wales Primary School Salop Road Discharge of planning condition no. 21 attached to planning permission - details of external surfaces / materials. The Committee makes NO COMMENT but AGREED to make the following comments: (i) Safer cycle routes to school should be taken into account. (ii) Perhaps stained colours with regard to the timber elevations should be considered. 6. Planning Decisions The Committee received the list of planning decisions published over the past month. 7. Business Improvement District The Committee noted that the Business Forum will be discussing a possible BID for Welshpool. A full report will be brought to the Committee when their views are known.