Powys councillors have approved plans for three holiday lodges in a village near Welshpool, despite continued concerns over access to the site.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning committee on Thursday, April 25 councillors debated plans by the Walton family for the lodges to be built on land next to Poplar Drive in Leighton.

Welsh Government planning inspectors had been asked in January to “call in” the application and take over the decision making process, but opted not to intervene.

A previous application for lodges at the site had been refused just under a year ago, due to highway safety reasons.

Objector Simon Newby-Wootton told the committee that he represented a group of 15 residents all of whom “border or are impacted directly by the proposal", and said there were “inconsistencies” with the application and that the access to the site still “transgresses” part of a restricted byway.

OTHER NEWS:

Planning agent, Gerallt Davies of Roger Parry and Partners said that this has been a four-year project, and that the application sought to "improve the road" for local residents and the development itself.

Planning officer Richard Edwards recommended approving the scheme.

Cllr Claire Hall wanted to see a condition added to the planning permission for access to the development to be only from Poplar Drive because if access came in from another route it could disturb a nearby bat roost.

Cllr Gareth E Jones said: “There is potential then that the development could be approved and constructed and then they can’t actually access it.”

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@countytimes.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

Highways officer Steve Jones said: “Our concerns and comments are all related to the adopted highways network when it gets beyond that point, we don’t have jurisdiction.”

Planning professional lead officer, Peter Morris said: “I’ve just done a land registry check and my understanding is the applicant owns a section of northern Poplar drive.”

He added that the council could not put a condition on the access as it was beyond its powers, but they could “encourage” the applicant to do this.

Cllr Gareth E Jones put forward the application to a vote which was seconded by Cllr Adrian Jones.

The committee unanimously supported the application.