A THREE-week consultation period remains on proposals to turn the former Grosvenor bakery in Llandrindod into a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centre.
The planning application, made by Kaleidoscope, was submitted on January 23 and consultation began three days later, ending on February 24.
The application is to change the use of the ground floor to ‘class D1’, to provide a health and social care service.
A second public meeting regarding the proposals was due to take place on February 8, but was cancelled as Kaleidoscope representatives felt they were ‘going round in circles’.
Kaleidoscope services manager James Varty said: “We do want to talk to the community, but the meetings have gone past the point of being productive.
“It gives voice to a load of negative comments and fans the flame. We wanted different meetings so different people could turn up, but it tends to be the same people and nothing new comes up.
“However, if successful we would certainly be looking into setting up a residents association.”
Local resident Maggie Craig, who set up a petition against the plans, has this week accused the organisation of exaggerating the condition of the former bakery building.
“In response to an objection they claim that the building has been subject to vandalism, squatters and vermin,” she wrote to the County Times.
“I can tell them quite categorically that there have never been any squatters in the bakery, it has been empty since the previous owners left. Nor has there been vandalism. There is a cracked window which was cracked when the bakery operated as a shop.
“And as far as I am aware the vermin have not moved in yet.”
Anyone wishing to comment on the planning application, reference number P/2012/0055, can write to Planning Services, The Gwalia, Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells LD1 6AA or visit http://planning.powys.gov.uk
Individual residents with questions or comments can contact Kaleidoscope service manager James Varty on 01686 610422 or email james.varty@kaleidoscopeproject.org.uk