Agenda item

Public participation:

 

Mr William Grant spoke in support of the application

 

 

A site visit was held prior to the meeting which was attended by the following members:

 

Cllr R Britton

Cllr B Dalton

Cllr J Green

Cllr M Hewitt

Cllr J Smale

Cllr F Westmoreland

Cllr I West

Cllr G Wright

 

The Planning Officer introduced the report and drew attention to the late correspondence.  The application was landscaping proposals for a scheme of native trees and hedges to ensure that the campsite blends into the landscape.

 

A debate ensued and it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

 Planning Permission be GRANTED for the following reason:

 

The Council is required to give a summary of the reasons for this decision and its conditions, and a summary of the development plan policies and proposals relevant to the decision and its conditions. These are set out below:

 

The decision to grant planning permission has been taken on the grounds that the proposed development would not cause any significant harm to interests of acknowledged importance and having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and the following policies in the South Wiltshire Core Strategy, namely policies:

 

G1 – General principles for development

G2 – General criteria for development

C2 – Development in the countryside

C6 – Special landscape area

CN11 – Views in and out of conservation areas

CN21 - Archaeology

T9 – Touring caravans and tents

 

In accordance with paragraph 187 of the National Planning Policy Framework, Wiltshire Council has worked proactively to secure this development.

 

Subject to the following conditions:

 

1.          The development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved plans (Site location Plan, Planning application plan: PV 316/WFG/TA, Landscape Plan 2010 and drawing WGDP 01).

 

Reason:  For the avoidance of doubt.

 

2.          The land notated as “Campsite/Red Land” on drawing WGDP 01 shall only be used to accommodate a maximum of 15 caravans on any day of the calendar year.

 

Reason: To protect the visual amenity and character of the area and also help to safeguard the living conditions of nearby dwellings.

 

Policy: G1, G2, C6, C2, CN11, T9

 

3.          No amplified music to be played or broadcast at any time on any day of the calendar year on the land notated “Campsite/Red Land” or land notated as “Rally Fields/Blue Land” on drawing WGDP 01.

 

Reason:  To prevent noise and disturbance to nearby residents of the site.

 

Policy: G2

 

4.          No unamplified music to be played after 2300 hours on any day of the calendar year on the land notated “Campsite/Red Land” or land notated as “Rally Fields/Blue Land” on drawing WGDP 01.

 

Reason: To prevent noise and disturbance to nearby residents of the site at unsociable hours.

 

Policy: G2

 

5.          The use of the land for tented camping shall be strictly limited to that part of the site within the area notated as “Rally Fields/Blue Land” on drawing WGDP 01 and shall be used only in connection with the use of the area notated as “Rally Fields/Blue Land” as a whole. No caravans, motorhomes, campervans or other vehicle or structure adapted for human habitation which would fall within the definition of a caravan shall be stationed or parked on this land, which shall not be used for any camping other than for tented camping purposes between 19th March and the 30th September inclusive within any calendar year. That part of the application land within the area notated “Rally Fields/Blue Land” on drawing WGDP 01 shall be used only in connection with the use of the area notated as “Rally Fields/Blue Land” as a whole for a maximum of 20 tents on any day within the time period specified above, save for 10 days when a maximum of 100 tents and also a maximum of 40 tents on 14 additional days can be stationed within the period prescribed above. For the avoidance of any doubt, any day or part thereof when a tent or tents are stationed on the land or when activities incidental to camping are continuing (for example, the stationing of portaloos) is to be regarded as a day’s use for the purposes of this condition.

 

Reason:  To protect the visual amenity and character of the area and also help to safeguard the living conditions of nearby dwellings.

 

Policy: G1, G2, C6, C2, CN11, T9

 

6.          Notwithstanding the provisions of any Class of the Schedule to Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that order with or without modification), there shall be no stationing of any tents on any part of the land other than on the area referred to as Rally Fields/Blue Land on drawing WGDP 01 or within the approved caravan site, and there shall be no stationing of caravans outside of the approved caravan site.

 

Reason: To protect the visual amenity and character of the area and also help to safeguard the living conditions of nearby dwellings.

 

Policy: G1, G2, C6, C2, CN11, T9

 

7.          A maximum of 10 fire pits shall be permitted within the land notated as “RallyFields/Blue Land” on drawing WGDP 01 within the site and no other fires (excluding domestic barbecues and domestic garden/maintenance fires) shall be lit within any part of the site.

 

Reason:  To prevent noise and disturbance to nearby residents of the site.

 

Policy: G2

 

8.          The applicant/site manager shall keep an up-to-date written record of all persons visiting the site for the purposes of recreation and the number of caravans and tents there on any day. The written record shall be maintained made available to the local planning authority for inspection at reasonable notice.

 

Reason: To support the other conditions.

 

9.          There shall be no vehicular access and egress to and from the land used for tented camping from the southernmost vehicular access to the site (adjacent to Over the Hill).

 

Reason:  To safeguard the living conditions of the occupants of Over the Hill.

 

Policy: G2

 

10.       Within three months of the date of this decision, the details of any existing external lighting installed on the land and any additional external lighting proposed, shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. Details shall include the type of light appliance, the height and position of fitting, illumination levels, details of measures to reduce light pollution including any external cowls, louvres or other shields to be fitted to the lighting and a programme for implementation. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and programme of implementation and maintained as such thereafter. Other than those agreed, there shall be no further lighting of the site, unless otherwise agreed through a new planning permission.

 

Reason:  In order to safeguard visual amenity.

 

Policy:  G1, G2, C6, C2, CN11, T9

 

11.       All landscaping shall be carried out in accordance with the Stonehenge Campsite Landscape Management Plan 2009-2014 (dated 10^th October 2012, reference WFG/TA/10.10.11) and the Detailed Planting Proposals 2009-2014 (dated 16/11/2012, reference 390-11 Rev A) accompanying the planning application subject to the following amendments:

 

a)          Paragraphs 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 are replaced as follows:

 

The first phase will be undertaken at some point between years 2 and 5 (where year 1 is 2009).  The first phase will include removal of the 6 individual conifers along the eastern part of the boundary and 9 of the trees in the solid tree belt.  This will open up gaps in the existing planting, allowing light in and allowing the establishment of broadleaf species.

 

In the longer term (that is, between years 6 and 10), the remaining conifers will be removed and the gaps will be planted with further broadleaf woodland planting.

 

b)          Paragraph 5.12 which refers to the woodland mix and the associated table is amended to exclude the use of non-native species of Scots Pine (Pinussylvestris), Corsican Pine, Larch, Thuja or Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex).

 

c)           The planting key on the Detailed Planting Proposals plan is amended to exclude the use of non-native species of Scots Pine (Pinussylvestris), Corsican Pine, Larch, Thuja or Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex).

 

The approved landscape management plan shall be implemented in full in accordance with the approved timetable.

 

Reason:  To ensure adequate landscaping in order to safeguard visual amenity.

 

Policy: G1, G2, C6, C2, CN11, T9

 

 

12.       The approved alarm system that has been fitted to the cesspit providing warning against overflowing and was agreed in writing by the local planning authority on the 21st October 2011 shall be retained and maintained.

 

Reason: To help prevent pollution to watercourses.

 

Policy: G2

 

13.       The visibility splays of 4.5m x 75m across the site frontage measured from the centre line of the access adjacent to the northern site boundary shall be maintained permanently free obstruction above a height of 300mm.

 

Reason:  In the interests of highway safety.

 

Policy: G2