Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no membership changes.

The Clerk reported the attendance of non-members of the Committee as listed above.

Resolved:  To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2009.

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Cllr Jeff Ody reported that he represented Wiltshire Council on the Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Society.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 5:50pm on the day of the meeting.

The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

Members of the public addressed the Committee as set out in Minute No. 8 below.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application. 

The Committee then received statements from the following members of the public expressing their views regarding this planning application to which the Chairman responded:

The following peoplespoke against the proposal

Mrs Kate Freeman on behalf of South West Friends of the Earth

A statement from Mrs Jenny Raggett of Campaign for Better Transport read out in her absence by Mrs Kate Freeman 

Mrs Kate Fielden, Hon Secretary of The Stonehenge Alliance

The following people spoke in favour of the proposal

Mr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage – the applicant

Mr Stephen Quinlan of Denton Corker Marshall – project architect

Mr Chris Blandford of Chris Blandford Associates – the applicant’s agent

The Committee also received:

(a)       a statement from Mr Peter Wicks, Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

(b)       a statement from Cllr John Noeken, a local Councillor

(c)        a schedule of late representations, including a letter from Earth Rights Solicitors, acting for the Stonehenge Alliance

The Committee then considered the detail of a report by the Service Director, Development and received further associated highway and transport information from the Head of Service, Transport Development. 

After discussion,

Resolved:   To delegate to the Service Director, Development Services to grant planning permission:-

(a)       Subject to legal advice that the legal issues raised by the legal representatives of the Stonehenge Alliance and any associated procedural matters arising from that consideration have been satisfactorily addressed.

(b)       Subject to the prior completion of the Section 106 legal agreement by all relevant parties to provide:-

1.The construction of a new roundabout at Airmans corner along with lighting drainage and signage.

2.A Travel plan

3.Road traffic and Highway Orders

4.The provision of a tourist information display area within the visitor centre

5.Free access to local people to the stones

6.A Scheme for Movement of the Airmans Cross monument and its ongoing maintenance and a scheme to move and reinstate the milestone adjacent the crossroads.

7 A requirement for using the stopped up part of the A344 for pedestrians and cyclists.

For the following reasons:-

            1. To ensure that there is adequate highway capacity to deal with the increased traffic at Airmans Corner as a result of moving the visitor centre and closing of the A344.

            2. To ensure that sustainable methods of transport are developed and maintained to the visitor centre in order to reduce individual car borne journeys.

            3. In order to ensure that the highway improvements and alterations proposed as part of this development are carried out and in accordance with the relevant highway legislation.

            4. To ensure that the Stonehenge ‘gateway’ is used to promote other destinations within Wiltshire and to promote tourism which will benefit the local economy.

            5. At present local people within surrounding villages have free access to the stones this requirement therefore is to ensure that, such free access continues and that locals are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director, Development,

Resolved:     Following referral to the secretary of state and completion of a legal agreement, to grant listed building consent subject to the following conditions –

1)      The works for which Listed Building Consent is hereby granted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this consent.

REASON:  To comply with the provisions of Section 18 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2)      No development shall commence within the area indicated outlined in red on the approved plans until:

a)            A written programme of archaeological investigation, which should include on-site work and off-site work such as the analysis, publishing and archiving of the results, has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority; and

b)            The approved programme of archaeological work has been carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON:  To enable the recording of any matters of archaeological interest.

3)            Prior to the commencement of this development a timetable shall be submitted and approved in writing by the local authority, setting out the timing for the removal and replacement of the airman’s cross memorial. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the agreed timetable.

REASON: To allow the local planning authority to ensure that the airman’s cross is not erected independently of the main visitor centre to which it will relate

4)      Prior to the removal of the Airmans Cross for repairs a method statement shall be submitted for the dismantling and rebuilding of the memorial along with a specification for any repairs to be carried out. This information shall be approved by the local planning authority prior to the commencement of development on the Airmans Cross.

REASON: To ensure that the detail of the repair and dismantling of the structure is undertaken in a manner which will not damage the listed structure.

INFORMATIVE

In relation to condition three the local planning authority will wish to see any timetable for the removal and replacement of the airman’s cross memorial to show how this memorial will be removed and replaced during the construction works for the main visitor centre.