Agenda item

Public Participation

Mr Timothy LeMare spoke in objection to the application.

Dr Angus Murdoch spoke in support of the application.

Mr Richard Covington, Chairman of West Ashton Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Senior Planning Officer presented a report which recommended that the application for variance of two of the conditions imposed with a previous permission be granted. Key issues were stated to include highway safety, impact on the countryside and neighbouring amenity and the requirements for the delivery of Gypsy and Traveller sites under the council’s emerging Core Strategy.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers. There were queries as to why the application was being considered by the Strategic Planning Committee rather than the Western Area Planning Committee, and it was stated the change in designation had been in response to comments from the Planning Inspector investigating the Core Strategy on the need to plan strategically for the provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites. Some members raised concerns that the Council had not amended its Constitution to enact such a change of criteria for the designation of planning applications to particular committees, although it was noted that the Scheme of Delegation for Planning did specify that Director of Development could determine that any application that raised appropriate issues could be considered by the Strategic Committee.

In response to additional queries it was confirmed that as further pitches would be permitted as a result of the variance applied for, this was to be counted as new sites, and that additional conditions could be imposed. Clarity was also sought about whether there was an underprovision of Gypsy and Traveller sites by the Council for the period running to 2021, or whether the council had met the minimum requirement up until 2016. In reply it was stated that the provision of 48 pitches countywide was a minimum requirement, but that if applications met the appropriate criteria they would be recommended for approval even when that minimum requirement was met.

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

A statement from the Local Member, Councillor Horace Prickett, in objection to the application was then read out by Councillor Christopher Newbury.

A debate followed, where members discussed the reasons for the original imposition of a condition restricting use of the site to a particular family, and whether it was appropriate that this be removed given the additional impact that would follow on the site and the amenity of the area. Highway safety was assessed, with the busy nature of the A350 adjoining the site noted, and whether an overriding need for the site had been demonstrated which would overcome the discouragement of development on the national primary route network. Details were also sought on the enforcement of conditions.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That Permission be GRANTED 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 site shall not be occupied by any persons other than gypsies and travellers as             defined in Annex 1 to the Department for Communities and Local Government             document "Planning Policy for Traveller Sites" published in 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.

3          No more than 4 caravans, as defined in the Caravan Sites and Control of        Development Act 1960 and the Caravan Sites Act 1968, of which no more than 2 shall be a static caravan, shall be stationed on the site at any time.

            REASON: In the interests of the amenity of the area and in order to define the terms             of this permission.

4          Within one month of the date of this permission, a scheme for the parking and turning of vehicles within the hatched area shown on plan reference  SP1/Revision A (site layout plan) dated April 2014, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and shall be implemented fully in accordance with the approved details within three months of the date of this permission. The approved parking and turning area shall be retained for those purposes and kept free from obstruction at all times thereafter.

            REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

5          Within one month of the date of this permission a scheme for the discharge of surface water from the site (including surface water from the access/driveway/parking/turning areas), incorporating sustainable drainage details, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Within three months of the date of this permission, the approved surface water drainage scheme shall be fully implemented in accordance with the approved scheme.

            REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

6          No commercial activities shall take place on the land, including the commercial storage of materials.

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

7          No materials shall be burnt on site or on the adjacent field under the control of the applicant.

            REASON: In order to minimise nuisance.

8          Within one month of the date of this permission a detailed landscaping scheme shall be submitted for approval in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This scheme shall include details of existing and proposed planting, all new boundary treatments and the surfacing materials to the hardstanding. The landscaping scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details and in accordance with time frames to be agreed.

            REASON: In the interests of protecting the rural character of the area.

9          The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the following plans:

- Site Location Plan: Received on 25 July 2012 (in respect of red-line   area only); and

            - Site Layout Plan SP1 Rev A: Received on 14 April 2014.

            REASON: In order to define the terms of this permission.

Councillors Ernie Clark and Christopher Newbury requested that their votes against the approval be recorded.