PLANS to extend the time scale to refurbish Llanwrtyd Wells War Memorial Institute, have been given the green light.

In 2014, plans to refurbish the ground floor meeting rooms as well as changing the use of the first floor to create a flat, also removing an outside staircase, installing a staircase indoors and changes to windows were agreed by the planning committee.

The application to extend the time limit was made by Cllr Tim Van-Rees (Independent – Llanwrtyd Wells) who is a trustee of the institute.

All applications by councillors are referred to the planning committee. The applications were to extend a listed building consent and full planning consent.

Principal planning officer, Gemma Bufton, said: “We have two applications that are connected. The application is to allow them a further five years to start the works as previously approved.”

“As this is a listed building consent it will have to be referred to CADW (The Welsh Government’s historic environment service) before it is issued.”

Cllr Huw Williams (Labour – Ystradgynlais) said: “I do remember this coming before us in 2014, and the external stairs looks like an emergency exit out of the building.

“What allowance is made within the building to counter removing those?”

Ms Bufton replied that the new internal staircase would meet all the regulations including fire escapes.

She added that the applicant also needed to meet with building control to discuss it before any building work starts.

The second application looks at the change of use of the first floor into a flat and to extend the planning permission for another five years.

Cllr Kathryn Silk (Liberal Democrat – Bwlch) said that she was not at the meeting five years ago when the original application was discussed.

“This relates to a new internal staircase, I’m interested to know whether there is currently a historic staircase which is going to be removed?” asked Cllr Silk.

MS Bufton, replied: “The heritage officer has been consulted, there is a staircase but it’s of no historic value.”

Councillors voted to pass both applications.