Agenda item

With the agreement of the Committee this application was heard first at the meeting.

Public Participation

Mr Mark Willis spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted.

The officer explained the objections had included the impact on off site highways however no objections were received from highways.

There were no technical questions asked.

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

The Local Member, Councillor Howard Greenman then addressed the Committee. He gave his thanks to officers for their work in addressing the significant concerns seen at the onset of the application and re-iterated the concerns of the Christian Malford Parish Council seen in section 7 of the officers report and being inadequate on site parking and turning, off site highways impact and it being an inappropriate location for such a facility being in close proximity to a commercial premises and remote from other stables in the vicinity. 

In the debate that followed members noted the right of the owner to choose the location on their land. Concern was raised over the potential storing of horseboxes in the turning point and how to ensure the work was completed in a timely manner. An amendment proposing to delegate permission to the Area Development Manager to approve with the existing conditions given in the report and additional conditions to address overnight storage and ensuring the work is done in complete phases was seconded and accepted.

Resolved:

To DELEGATE planning permission to the Area Development Manager for APPROVAL for the following reason:

It is considered that the proposal accords with policies C3 and NE15 of the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and will not lead to any significant detriment to the rural character of the area or highway safety.

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.     The riding arena hereby permitted shall be used only for the exercise of horses owned and ridden by the occupier of the site (land edged red & blue) or members of their family and kept at the site and for no visiting horses nor for any commercial purpose whatsoever, including tuition, without the prior written consent of the local planning authority.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety and the amenity of the area in general.

3.     No development shall commence on site until details of the access layout improvements has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The access improvements shall be carried out prior to the development taking place.  The improvements shall include a 6.5m width for the first 10 metres of the access. The first 10m measured from the edge of the carriageway, shall be properly consolidated and surfaced (not loose stone or gravel). Any gates will be required to be set back 10m from the edge of carriageway and made to open inwards.  The access shall be made to drain away from the highway.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

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

          Drawing 2359/01 dated 23rd November 2012.

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

5.     There shall be no floodlighting of the development hereby permitted without the prior approval of the local planning authority

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

6.     There shall be no overnight parking of horseboxes, caravans, trailers or other vehicles during the hours between dusk and dawn on the site.

REASON: In order to protect the rural character of the area.

7.     Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted details of the construction methodology for the arena and access track, to include surfacing materials and phasing, 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 of the area