WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL WELSHPOOL TOWN & COMMUNITY PLAN 2017 – 2022 WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL Triangle House Union Street Welshpool SY21 7PG Tel 01938 553142 Email [email protected] 25th October 2017 ADOPTED PLAN 1 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL CONTENTS No Heading Page 1 Introduction and Background 3-4 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 15-17 C Consultation results 18-39 D Town plan policy elements 40 D1 Town Centre Policy 40 D2 Shopping Policy 40-42 D3 Residential Policy 42 D4 Industrial and Commercial Policy 42 D5 Out of Town Shopping 43 D6 Markets 43 D7 Main Line Rail Policy 43 D8 National and local bus policy 44-46 D9 Taxi provision 46 D10 Community Transport 46 D11 Car parking policy 46 D12 Tourist Information Policy 47 D13 Airport 47 D14 Montgomery Canal 47-48 D15 Road and Traffic Policy 48 D16 Town Centre Facilities Policy 49 D17 Other Town Centre Policies 49-50 D18 Pool Quay 50 D19 The Belan 50 D20 Flood Plains 50 D21 Renewable Energy 51 D22 Other specific policies 51-53 D23 Access for All Policy 53 D24 Policies for the young 53 D25 Language Policy 54 E One Way System review actions 55-56 F 2015 Town Plan actions and results 57-65 G Overall Plans showing land uses (LDP adjusted) 66-71 H Town Centre Planning detail 72 J Town Centre Car parking plan 73 K Priority Order for projects in the plan 74 2 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 1 Introduction and background 1.1 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. In 2015 all the current plans were produced in a single document called ‘The Welshpool Town Plan’. A copy of the previous plans are posted on the Town Council web site at www.welshpooltowncouncil.gov.uk along with the combined plan. 1.2 The Town has seen much change since 2008 and even more in 2016 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 settling down of the new traffic management system. iii) The change in parking habits due to the free parking now limited to 3 hours on the Tesco site and the higher charges imposed by the County Council on the public car parks. iv) The continued redevelopment of the Burgesses Land Trust site in Brookfield Road. v) The introduction of an improved rail service from May 2015. vi) The budget cuts by the principle authorities affecting service delivery, some of which affect the structure of the town. vii) The arrival of national names such as Aldi, B & M, Pets at Home and Greg’s the bakers. viii) The changes in tourism in that more families are now coming to Mid Wales with their pets in tow. ix) The lack of both industrial space (almost all full) and retail space (almost full) with no further obvious land available to expand. 3 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 1.3 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. This procedure is to be continued during the life of this plan. 1.4 This new Plan replaces all previous plans and covers an area to include the whole area served by Welshpool Town Council as set out in appendix A. 1.5 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 supported by the Charter between the Principal and Town Councils. 1.6 Welshpool Town Council accepts that some of the policies, aims and objectives may differ from those of the County Council and the Local Development Plan. In these cases the Town Council will put forward its case for consideration accepting that the final decision will that of the principal authority with regards to County Council and Local Development Plan Policy 1.7 The Town Plan 2017 to 2020 will inform principle authorities (including the Welsh Government and County Council) of the Welshpool Town Council plans and will in turn aid grant funding. 1.8 The plan period shall be from the date of adoption until its review in the Autumn of 2018 and every year thereafter. 1.9 Welshpool Town Council will continue to support the local communities and their Community Councils around it when that is possible. 4 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 2 Local Development Plan 2.1 The Local Development adopted by Powys County Council forms the overall policy for the County including Welshpool. 2.2 The Town Council made a formal submission at consultation stage following a public consultation and survey hosted by the Town Council which influenced the Local Development Plan procedure and the final plan. (copy attached at the back of this document.) 2.3 The Town Plan takes into account the site allocations in the Local Development Plan and where appropriate reflects the policies affecting Welshpool contained therein where they are not in conflict with the views of the Town Council. 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. 20%) 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 Visitors staying at hotels or bed & breakfast within the boundaries of Welshpool. (approx. 10%) 3.2 The other factors which are important when considering the Plan proposals are: i) A large number of residents in the town do not have a car total 32% overall and from the Oldford side of the Town Centre those who do not have access to a car or van total 34.33% ii) Many of the residents from the Oldford side of the Town Centre are elderly and many have disabilities restricting distances of walking. iii) The registered long term disabled population of Welshpool extends to 24%. iv) The number of under 18 year olds comprises 24%. v) Approximately 33% of the population is over 60 years of age. vi) 91% of the population have little or no knowledge of Welsh. vii) Employment - 27% are employed in retail, wholesale and transport while14% Are carers and 22% work in Tourism related industries. viii) Unemployment is substantially below the national average. However much employment is part time. 6 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL ix) The effect of the traffic management system on pedestrian movement throughout the Town Centre. x) The improved rail services implemented in May 2015. xi) A copy of the census 2011 is attached at appendix B. 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. vii) Promotion of the town and its benefits. viii) Continue with events to attract people to the town. 7 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 4 Consultation method 4.1 This Town Plan has been developed taking into account the Local Development Plan along with the consultation carried out with residents, businesses and the Youth Council. 4.2 The method of consultation used for all elements is: i) Booklets delivered to every home and collected back in. ii) Public drop of day for all interested persons in sessions held in the Corn Exchange of the Town Hall. iii) Presentation boards displayed at drop in sessions and in the Tourist Information Centre. iv) Publicity via the Web Site, Social Media, posters and local media. v) Meetings of the Business Forum. vi) Meetings of the Youth Council. vii) Councillors speaking to individuals. viii) The consultation covered a 2 month period. 4.3 The consultation shall comprise a written statement along with large scale plans showing the Councils policies for public comment. 4.5 The period of the consultation for the new Town Plan was completed from 1st July to 14th September 2017. 8 | P a g e WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL 5 The Town Plan Policy elements 5.1 The Policies of the Town Council are set out at appendix D and are shown in plan form at appendix H 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.