Welshpool votes against shopping development plans

Councillors in Welshpool have voted against plans for a proposed multi-million pound shopping development in the town.

Welshpool Town Council's planning committee decided not to support a planning application to build three retail outlets and a café on part of the town's Church Street car park at a meeting last night.

The matter will now go before the council's full committee where councillors will make their final decision on September 28.

The plans, which have been submitted by J Ross Development of Oswestry, also include the provision of an ancillary car park and servicing yard.

But councillors said they were concerned that 'anticipated plans' for a bus station as part of the development had not been included in the proposals.

Members also expressed their fears over the potential loss of parking spaces on the car park.

Town clerk Robert Robinson said the development would mean the current number of spaces being reduced from 300 to 118.

Councillor Estelle Bleivas, mayor of Welshpool, said she was concerned about the impact the proposed development would have on the town centre.

She said: "In the past I was all for voting in favour of more shops being built on the car park. But after seeing an independent retail survey conducted on Welshpool by Powys County Council, I've changed my mind. It claims that if the proposed development is built then the town centre could see a 30 per cent reduction in footfall between 2011 and 2013 and that to me caused major concern."

Councillor John Morgan said: "We will lose far too much car parking space and I would have liked to see proposals for a bus station in the town."

Nick Scott, of J Ross Development, said: "Welshpool town centre shops consist of a variety of smaller units, which are not suitable for national retailers and this application means that the town can have more units available to meet national retailer needs."

By Anwen Evans