Welshpool Town Plan 2015 – 2017
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WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL WELSHPOOL TOWN PLAN 2015 – 2017 WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN Triangle House Union Street Welshpool SY21 7PG Tel 01938 553142 Email [email protected] 27th May 2015 1 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL CONTENTS No Heading Page 1 Introduction and background 3 2 Local Development Plan 5 3 Welshpool and its economic base 6-7 4 Consultation method 8 5 The Town Plan Policy elements 9 6 Action plan 10 7 Review and monitoring 11 8 Relevant documents and plans 12 9 Signatures and adoption 13 Appendix A Town boundaries 14 B Census for Welshpool 15 C Consultation results 2015 16 D Town plan elements 17 D1 Town Centre Policy 17 D2 Shopping Policy 17 D3 Residential Policy 18 D4 Industrial and Commercial Policy 19 D5 Out of Town Shopping 19 D6 Markets 19 D7 Transport Policy 20 D8 Road system Policy 20 D9 Puzzle Square Policy 20 D10 Car Parking Policy 20 D11 Town Centre facilities Policy 21 D12 Other Town Centre Policies 21 D13 Pool Quay 22 D14 The Belan 22 D15 Flood Plains 22 D16 Renewable energy 23 D17 Projects 23 E Copy of consultation results in 2012 and 2014 26-27 F Copy of the Transport Plan 2014 28-46 G Overall Plan showing all policies Attached 2 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 1 Introduction and background 1.1.A Welshpool Town Council first published a Town Plan in 2008, Community Plans in 2007, 2010 and 2014, Transport Plan in 2014 and Regeneration Plan in 2013 all of which has guided the decisions made by the Council during the period from then to 2015. A copy of the plans are posted on the Town Council web site at www.welshpooltowncouncil.gov.uk. 1.2 The Town has seen much change since 2008 in the Town Centre and in particular the following are noted: i) The changes in the economic climate and shopping habits affected by those changes including internet shopping. ii) The moving of the Livestock Market to Buttington Cross. iii) The introduction of a new traffic management system. iv) The development of the Livestock Market site to provide a Tesco superstore and the Smithfield Bell with still more land to be developed. v) Market Halls renovation and introduction of a street market on a Monday. vi) The change in parking habits due to the free parking available on the Tesco site. (3 hour parking not yet implemented at the date of this plan) vii) The redevelopment of the Burgesses Land Trust site in Brookfield Road. 1.3 The Town Plan adopted in 2008 was reviewed in 2012 with the following elements of note: i) General support for the 2008 plan policies remained. ii) The one way system received support as follows: a. Only 40% for the system as implemented. b. 70% support for the system with minor changes. 3 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 1.4 Since the inception of all the plans an annual report has been produced to the Full Council giving an update on progress with regard to actions taken and policies being implemented. 1.5 This new Plan replaces all previous plans and is expanded to include the whole area served by Welshpool Town Council. 1.6 The Town Plan includes the contents of the following Plans which were adopted recently following public consultation: i) The Transport Plan 2014 ii) The Local Development Plan submission 2014 iii) The Welshpool Community Plan 2014 iv) The Welshpool Regeneration Plan 2013 1.7 The new Town Plan consolidates the existing policies of the plans in 1.6 above and replaces them from the date of adoption. 1.8 The Town Council accepts that this document is not Statutory but will seek to implement its Policies in its decision and policy making with regards to Welshpool and its community. 1.9 The Town Plan 2015 will inform principle authorities of the Welshpool Town Council plans and will in turn aid grant funding. 1.9 The plan period shall be from the date of adoption until its review in the Autumn of 2018. 4 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 2 Local Development Plan 2.1 The Local Development has yet to reach deposit stage but will form the emerging plan. The Unitary Development Plan remains an important document at this stage. 2.2 The Town Council made a formal submission following a public consultation which has influenced the Local Development Plan procedure. 2.3 The Town Plan takes into account the site allocations in the Local Development Plan, the site allocations in the LDP submission and where appropriate reflects the policies affecting Welshpool contained therein. 5 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 3 Welshpool and its economic base 3.1 The Town Plan proposals reflect the economic base of Welshpool of which the elements considered are: i) Element no 1 Local residents from Welshpool and the surrounding villages using the shopping centre for their shopping needs. (approx. 25%) ii) Element no 2 Caravan Parks and visitors staying in the local bed and breakfast providers who use Welshpool for their needs. (approx. 25%) iii) Element no 3 Visitors stopping off at Welshpool on their way to another destination (i.e. the Coast). (approx. 45%) iv) Element no 4 Residents visiting and staying in the boundaries of Welshpool. (approx. 5%) 3.2 The other factors which are important when considering the Plan proposals are: i) A large number of residents from the Oldford side of the Town Centre do not have access to a car or van. ii) Many of the residents from the Oldford side of the Town Centre are elderly and many have disabilities restricting distances of walking. iii) Approximately 30% of the population is over 60 years of age. iv) The effect of the traffic management system on pedestrian movement throughout the Town Centre. v) The improved rail services due to be implemented in May 2018. 6 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 3.3 There is also a need to help increase the Town’s economic base and the proposal is to achieve this by: i) Attracting more people to stop and visit the Town. ii) Keeping existing clientele who visit the Town. iii) Ensuring that residents from outlying areas use the Town. iv) Making the best of the new Cambrian Line rail services. v) Encouraging the development of more new homes including affordable housing. vi) Encouraging industry to consider Welshpool as a location for business. 7 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 4 Consultation method 4.1 The Town Plan has been developed taking into account the Local Development Plan Submission and the consultation carried out with residents, businesses and the Youth Council. 4.2 The method of consultation used for all elements is: i) Public drop for all interested persons in sessions held in the Corn Exchange of the Town Hall. ii) Presentation boards displayed at drop in sessions and in the Tourist Information Centre. iii) Publicity via the Web Site, Social Media, posters and local media. iv) Meetings of the Business Forum. v) Meetings of the Youth Council. vi) Councillors speaking to individuals. 4.3 The consultation shall comprise a large scale plan showing the Councils policies for public comment. 4.4 The consultations which took place in June 2012 (Town Centre Plan), the Transport Plan (September 2014), Regeneration Plan (2013) and the Community Plan (March 2014) have been taken into account. 4.5 The period of the consultation for the consolidated Town Plan was completed in June 2015. 8 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 5 The Town Plan details 5.1 The Policies of the Town Council are set out at appendix D and are shown in plan form at appendix G which includes land use allocation. 5.2 The Policies of the Town Council will guide the decisions of the Town Council with regard to development opportunities in the Town subject to there being no overriding factors which come to light at the time of consideration. 9 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 6 Action plan 6.1 The Action Plan following adoption of the plan and against which the Plan shall be measured is: No Subject Action Policies contained in the To measure decisions against the 1 Town Plan Policy of the Plan Markets improvement plan To complete actions and report 2 regularly to Council on progress. Tesco Site Smithfield Road Seek to negotiate alternative uses 3 on the site for 4 shops and implement parking controls. Motte and Baily Site To take forward a planned 4 development to enhance the area in partnership with CADW. Grant Aid To gain grant aid for improvements 5 to Broad Street. Puzzle Square Scheme To implement an improvement 6 scheme. Car Parking To seek to gain an hours free 7 parking in all Town Car Parks. Overall Plan To complete within the life of the 8 Plan any actions noted in each section. Projects included in the Town To complete the projects listed at 9 Plan D17 within the life of the plan. 10 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 7 Review and monitoring 5.1 All plans should be subject to review and monitoring and the following methods shall be used to achieve this with regard to the new plan. 5.2 The Town Clerk shall in consultation with the Planning, Development and Environment Committee present a review to the Full Council each December covering the following elements: i) Reporting on decisions of the Council against policy. ii) Reporting on the actions to be completed contained in the plan.