A CHARITY which looks after Wales’ waterways has said that it is unable to respond to a planning application for development in Welshpool due to a lack of information.

The Canal and River Trust in Wales, also known as Glandwr Cymru, has found that there is a lack of information for the planning application that was submitted to Powys County Council which calls for the development of a 63-bed hotel, a drive-thru coffee shop and retention of the Lime Kilns at the Moors Farm, on the outskirts of the town.

The planning application was submitted in April this year, only months after plans were approved for a fast food outlet on the same roundabout.

Last week The Canal and River Trust said it was unable to make a response as there was a lack of assessments of the heritage, visual impact of the site and the flood risks.

The towpath side of the Montgomery Canal passes along the western boundary of the site, and over the canal is a Grade II Listed structure and Buttington Lime Kilns, which are also listed.

The Trust states that the canal is a Site of Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

“Based on the submitted layout and in the absence of any heritage assessment, we have concerns in terms of the potential impact on the setting and significance of the Grade II Listed Buttington Limekilns, the Grade II Listed Bridge and the canal wharf and corridor in general. Based on the indicative layout plan, it would appear that the intended setting for the limekilns and canal corridor would be an access road, surfaced car parking and rear service areas of the building.”

The Trust continued to say that the access road would be very close to the limekilns, which needs careful consideration given significance to the site.

The charity also added that there appears to be no Ecological Impact Assessment, which would be needed to demonstrate that there would be no adverse impact on the areas or the wildlife value of the canal and site.