Agenda item

Public Participation

 

Mr Julian Taylor and Mr Simon Burley both spoke in objection to the application.

 

Mr James Millard spoke in support of the application.

 

The Planning Officer introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions as detailed in the additional information.

 

Attention was drawn to the fact the there were no objections from highways, rights of way, spatial plans or any ecological concerns with the nearest site of special scientific interest being 1.5 kilometres away. Detail within the conditions addressed previous concerns over unlawful storage and the failure to supply a children’s play area.

 

The Committee was then given the chance to ask technical questions of officers. Concern was raised over the removal of transit pitches as there was no alternate site in the vicinity, and it was explained that as the site was privately owned by the applicant the pitches were in his personal control and not in the control of Wiltshire Council. Clarification was sought over parking within the site and it was confirmed that each pitch was of a size to accommodate parking, including any visitor parking. A query over limiting the number of movable buildings was shown to have been accommodated in the conditions.

 

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

 

The Local member, Councillor Mollie Groom, then spoke in objection to the application.

 

A debate followed during which the Committee noted the 2 month delay, the distinction between travelling show people and travellers and the work done with the applicants over condition compliance. The possibility of a section 106 agreement was discussed, as was the overall net increase of one pitch.

 

Resolved:

 

To GRANT planning permission subject to the following conditions:

 

1.     The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three 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.     No part of the development hereby approved shall be first brought into use until the parking area shown on the approved plans has been consolidated, surfaced and laid out in accordance with the approved details. This area shall be maintained and remain available for this use at all times thereafter.

 

REASON: To ensure that adequate provision is made for parking within the site in the interests of highway safety.

 

3.     No development shall commence on site until details and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

 

4.     No development shall commence on site until a scheme for the discharge of surface water from the site (including surface water from the access/driveway), incorporating sustainable drainage details, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall not be first occupied until surface water drainage has been constructed in accordance with the approved scheme.

 

REASON: To ensure that the development can be adequately drained.

                       

5.     No development shall commence on site until details of the works for the disposal of sewerage have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. No dwelling shall be first occupied until the approved sewerage details have been fully implemented in accordance with the approved plans.

 

REASON: To ensure that the proposal is provided with a satisfactory means of drainage.

 

6.     All soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the first occupation of the building(s) or the completion of the development whichever is the sooner;  All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock. Any trees or plants which, within a period of five years, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.  All hard landscaping shall also be carried out in accordance with the approved details prior to the occupation of any part of the development or in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

REASON: To ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and the protection of existing important landscape features.

 

7.     Prior to the commencement of development, the access, turning area and parking spaces have been completed in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans. The areas shall be maintained for those purposes at all times thereafter.

 

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

 

8.     Prior to the occupation of any of the pitches hereby permitted, the children’s’ play area shall be provided in accordance with details, including full details of the proposed play equipment , which shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The play equipment shall be erected in accordance with the approved details and maintained for a minimum period of five years thereafter unless otherwise agreed in writing.

 

REASON:  In the interests of the amenity of the site.

 

9.     The site shall not be permanently occupied by persons other than Gypsies and Travellers as defined in Annex 1 of Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, March 2012.

 

REASON: Planning permission has only been granted on the basis of a demonstrated unmet need for accommodation for gypsies and travellers and it is therefore necessary to keep the site available to meet that need.

 

10.There shall be no more than eleven (11) permanent pitches on the site.

 

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the amenity of occupants of the site.

 

11.There shall be no more than twenty two (22) caravans as defined in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the caravans Sites Act 1968, of which no more than eleven (11) shall be a static caravan or mobile home and no more than eleven (11) shall be a touring caravan, shall be stationed on the site at any time.

 

REASON: It is important for the local planning authority to retain control over the number of caravans on the site in order to safeguard interests of visual and residential amenity in accordance with policies C3, NE15 and H9 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011.

 

 

12.No more than five commercial vehicles shall be kept on the site for use by the occupiers of the caravans hereby permitted and each vehicle shall not exceed 3.5 tonnes in weight.

 

REASON: In the interests of residential amenity, highway safety and the character of the countryside.

 

13.Except for the keeping of commercial vehicles as defined in condition 12 above, no commercial activity or use, including the storage of materials and waste, shall be carried out on the site.

 

REASON: In the interests of residential amenity, highway safety and the character of the countryside.

 

14.The development hereby permitted shall be implemented in accordance with the submitted plans and documents listed below. No variation from the approved plans should be made without the prior approval of the local planning authority. Amendments may require the submission of a further application.

 

Plans: Revised site details dated 11/9/12

Splay details dated 14/5/12

 

REASON: To ensure that the development is implemented as approved.