Agenda item

Relocation of existing rugby pitch on the Recreation Ground to former football pitch on Potters Field. Erection of 1.5m high permanent perimeter fencing & 4.5/6.0m high ball-stop netting. Installation of shipping container for storage use.

Public Participation

Angel Lopes spoke in objection of the application

Paul Gill spoke in objection of the application

 

Development Management Team Leader, Simon Smith presented a report which outlined the relocation of existing rugby pitch on the Recreation Ground to former football pitch on Potters Field. Erection of 1.5m high permanent perimeter fencing & 4.5/6.0m high ball-stop netting. Installation of shipping container for storage use.

 

Details were provided of the site including the principle of development, design and layout, impact on neighbouring properties’ amenity, highways impacts.

 

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions regarding the application. Details were sought on which area of the application restrictions to temporary floodlighting would apply and whether this could be extended to cover the whole application as well as being delegated to officers. Additionally, the potential raising of the land was questioned due to the pitch dressing that would take place as well as the potential need for cross-sections to be provided.

 

Furthermore, it was clarified that it was the net and pole permissions that were being applied for as well as that the rugby team would be moved across to Potters Field in order for the Recreation Ground to be developed as a formal garden.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee as detailed above.

 

The Local Unitary Member, Councillor Ian Thorn, then spoke regarding the application. Key points included that the proposal was to create a private enclosed space within a public park to be used by a private club with a fee-based membership, therefore allowing no access to the wider community or residents. Councillor Thorn noted that funding for this proposal would come from a Section 106 agreement, which stipulated that funding would have to support and provide a resource for the community, however in this case the beneficiaries may only be the rugby club. Councillor Thorn questioned whether a condition could be placed in order to grant the wider community access.

 

Additionally, Councillor Thorn drew upon the Calne Neighbourhood plan, which aims to retain community facilities as well as to protect public space and parkland. These principles would be affected by both the privatisation of the area with the use of fencing as well as by placing a shipping container within the most attractive part of Calne town centre. Floodlighting was also identified as an issue for nearby residents.

 

At the start of the debate a motion to move and accept the officer recommendation was moved by Councillor Ashley O’Neill and seconded by Councillor Chuck Berry. An amendment was accepted to Condition 3, to state that no floodlighting would be placed on any of the land subject to the application. Additionally, a further amendment was agreed to state that no development would take place until full and complete details of any change to land level were submitted.

 

During the debate issues included: the health concerns caused by dog walkers not picking up after themselves and the need for a clean area for sports.

 

At the conclusion of the debate, it was,

 

Resolved:

 

That Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration ofthree years from the date of this permission.

 

REASON: To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

2. The ball stopping netting hereby approved shall be only raised during and for a maximum of 1 hour before and 1 hour after any matches or training sessions.

 

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity.

 

3. There shall be no floodlighting whatsoever (including temporary and mobile lighting units) placed on any part of the land subject to this application.

 

REASON: In the interests of the amenity of local residents.

 

4. Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, details of the methodology for securing community and public access to the pitch hereby permitted shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed methodology shall be implemented in perpetuity thereafter.

 

REASON: To ensure that public land is not lost.

 

5. Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, details of the posts and their exact spacing for the demountable netting shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity.

 

6. Prior to siting the container hereby approved on the land in the agreed position, details of its exact size and colour shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details. The container shall be removed from the land within one month of the rugby club no longer using the facility for training or matches.

 

REASON: To define the permission

 

7. The pitch hereby approved shall only be used between the hours of 09:00 and 18:00 on any day.

 

REASON: To define the permission and protect residential amenity.

 

8. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

 

Revised site plan V3 showing fence position received 2nd September 2021 Ball stopping netting fence plan CTCPF6 (position of net only) received 16th April 2021

Location Plan CTCPF1

Ball stopping fence photo CTCPF3

Rugby pitch dimensions CTCPF5

Weldmesh roll top fencing example photo CTCPF4 received 8th March 2021.

 

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

 

9. Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, details of the methodology for placing the posts for the weldmesh fence in the Root Protection Areas of any trees shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: To protect the nearby trees in the interests of visual amenity.

 

10. No development shall take place until full and complete details of any change to land level or regrading of the application site has been submitted and agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.  Where deemed necessary, such details shall include cross-sections which demonstrates the existing and proposed level of the land in relation to the surrounding residential properties.  Details shall also include any intended importation of fill to the application site, its quantum and method and routing of its delivery.  The development shall be carried out in complete accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: In the interests of securing a form of development that does not unacceptable raise ground levels to the detriment of the amenities and living conditions of surrounding residential occupiers and so as to ensure any importation of fill from outside of the site does not result in disturbance to those same occupiers.

 

INORMATIVES TO APPLICANT

 

The applicant is requested to note that this permission does not affect any private property rights and therefore does not authorise the carrying out of any work on land outside their control. If such works are required, it will be necessary for the applicant to

obtain the landowners consent before such works commence.

 

If you intend carrying out works in the vicinity of the site boundary, you are also advised that it may be expedient to seek your own advice with regard to the requirements of the Party Wall Act 1996.

 

Please be advised that nothing in this permission shall authorise the diversion, obstruction, or stopping up of any right of way that crosses the site. You are advised to contact the PROW officer.

 

Any alterations to the approved plans, brought about by compliance with Building Regulations or any other reason must first be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority before commencement of work.