Listed chapel to become soft play centre:
PLANS to transform a Grade-II listed chapel into a children’s soft play centre have been approved. Capel Salem has stood on Porthmadog high street since 1827, being rebuilt in 1860, but now looks set to house the play facilities as well as an on-site cafe.
The move, according to the applicants, will create eight full-time and four part-time jobs and be available for children’s parties as well as pay and play sessions.
Gwynedd Council officers, who approved the application as it was not “called in” to the planning committee, said there was no valid reason to refuse.
The independent chapel was given Grade-II listed status for its special architectural interest, but was sold after the final services were held there last year.
Welcoming the decision, local councillor Nia Jeffreys said: “This is good news for Porthmadog and a welcome investment in our High Street.
“I know parents and youngsters from the town and those visiting on holiday will be pleased to have a soft play here – especially on wet days.”
According to the supporting documents, submitted by Arnaud Pollet-Thiollier, there is no similar facility within a 15-mile radius.
“A study has been made of relevant local competition, the target area both geographically and demographically, the local public transport and highways infrastructure and has concluded that the proposed site is of the correct size and is well located.
“The facility will provide a multi-faceted play environment for children, which will encourage exercise, thought and interaction with other children in the play process.
“Additionally, the design ethic of the play equipment is to provide features which encourage children to undertake the full range of activities generally undertaken in physical play – climbing, running, sliding, squeezing, crawling, rolling etc.
“This encouragement in physical play will implicitly contribute to increasing the physical activity of children visiting the facility and therefore implicitly provide a benefit to health.”
It added: “The applicant has searched for appropriate premises for some considerable time in recognition that the proposed use does not currently exist and that the development of a play centre would bring a new and unique leisure offer to local residents.”