Agenda item

Retrospective application to regularise the use of part of the rugby club car park for (a) The stationing of storage and collection lockers and (b) Heavy Goods Vehicle Driving Licence training area.

Public Participation

Richard Cosker, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Kevin Davis, Trowbridge Rugby Football Club, spoke in support of the application.

Richard Culverhouse on behalf of Hilperton Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

Jemma Foster, Senior Planning Officer, presented a report recommending permission be granted for the retrospective application to regularise the use of part of the rugby club car park for (a) The stationing of storage and collection lockers and (b) Heavy Goods Vehicle Driving Licence training area.

Key issues included the principal of the application, impact upon the character and appearance of the area, and on highways. No objections had been received by statutory or technical consultees.

Members of the Committee were given the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought on the planning conditions requested by the Council’s ecologist, noting in particular that the biodiversity action pan request was not included within the planning report on the basis of that condition not meeting the legal tests to which all planning conditions must satisfy.

Members of the public were then able to address the Committee with their views, as detailed above.

The Local Member, Cllr Ernie Clark, then noted the objections raised by the Parish Council, and the officers recommended conditions to mitigate the potential impacts of the application. He also drew the Committee’s attention to the original permission for the site and the restricted use which was permitted.

Following moving a motion to refuse which was not seconded, Cllr Ernie Clark moved that the application be approved as set out in the officer’s report. This was seconded by Cllr Trevor Carbin.

During debate there was discussion around the restricted hours of operation for the HGV training on the site, and noting the play park was located on the opposite side of the site.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:

1. The development hereby permitted retrospectively is based on the following approved plans and documents:

BDS-02-24-03 (proposed block plan), BDS-02-24-04 (storage lockers) received by the Local Planning Authority on 29th February 2024

BDS-02-24-01 (location plan) received by the Local Planning Authority on 14th March 2024 Highways Note received by the Local Planning Authority on 10th April 2024

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

2. The use hereby approved shall enure solely for B&W Truck Training and B&W Recruitment being identified as Lorry Manoeuvring Training on Drawing Number BDS-02-24-03 and shall operate only between the hours of 09:00 to 16:00 on Mondays and between 08:00 and 12:00 Tuesday to Fridays. No equipment including trucks and trailers associated with this consented use shall be present on the site outside of these hours. The use shall not operate on weekends or Bank Holidays.

REASON: In the interests of the users of the Trowbridge Rugby Club car park

3. The ByBox Storage area identified on drawing number BDS-02-24-03 shall only be used for the stationing of storage lockers as shown on drawing number BDS-02-24-04 and for no other use within Use Class B8 of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment)(England) Order 2005 (or in any provisions equivalent to that class in any statutory instrument revoking or re-enacting that Order with or without modification).

REASON: In the interest of parking, highway safety and neighbouring amenity

4. No external light fixtures or fittings shall be installed within the application site unless details of existing and proposed new lighting have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council. The submitted details must demonstrate how the proposed lighting would impact on bat habitat compared to the existing situation alongside measures to minimise light pollution. Any lighting shall then be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON: to avoid illumination of habitat used by bats