Former Welshpool bank set to become health centre
A former Welshpool bank is set to become a health centre after some creases in the planning process were ironed out.
Powys County Council's planning committee passed an application by the authority itself to change the use of the building from financial services to clinics and health centres
Planning officer Edin Hrustanovic said: “Some members will remember this application from when it was passed last year. In essence this application is for a slight variation of the internal design and renovations to the building. The main change is to have an extension on the back.
“It was supposed to be a conservatory type of design but it was decided to have a brick extension to provide more space to the clinic. A listed building application will be decided by the Welsh Government as we can’t determine our own.
“If members pass this then we will prepare the papers and send it on to Cadw (Wales Government Historic Service).”
Mr Hrustanovic said that planning officers backed the proposal and that it would not cause any demonstrable harm to the building or the wider area.
Councillor Francesca Jump, Liberal Democrat for Welshpool Gungrog, said: “This application is actually in my ward.
“Myself and fellow Welshpool members were consulted on the original application and were very supportive of it. It will be good to see this building brought back into use for such a good purpose.”
The former TSB bank was bought by Powys County Council using Welsh Government funding for the Powys Substance Misuse Area Planning Board.
For a number of years the service has been delivered by Kaleidoscope from the Armoury Building on Brook Street.
Kaleidoscope offers substance misuse treatment support to individuals dealing with substance misuse issues, their families and carers, across Powys, with four bases located across the county – Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon.
The service offers a range of support including advice and information, brief interventions, structured treatment, access to counselling and recovery focused support.
Referrals to the substance misuse service in Welshpool are comparable with other market towns in the county.
In 2016/17, 116 referrals were received by the Welshpool service; compared with 181 for Newtown; 184 for Brecon; and 204 for Llandrindod Wells.
After investment in the substance misuse bases in these towns, it was realised that Welshpool could similarly benefit from an investment opportunity to further improve service delivery in the area.
By Elgan Hearn, local democracy reporter
