Agenda item

            That the application be refused on the grounds of highway safety and overbearing and detrimental impact of local residents. 

            The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting. 

            The Development Manager detailed the background to the report and explained that the main issues for consideration included the principle of the development, the appropriateness of the scale and design of the building and the impact on the amenity of adjoining occupiers.   

            Mr. R. Roberts spoke against the application saying that he understood the need for the store but that the location was a concern as it was next to a conservation area and on the boundary of three listed buildings.  He said that the proposed building was 2.5 times higher than the original salt dome and that the entrance to the depot site was substandard.  He felt that it was an industrial style building more suited to an industrial area and added that it would be bright orange and would not fit in with other buildings.  It was situated above the snow line so depending on where snow fell, vehicles may not be able to access the site. 

            Mr. R. Daly, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He spoke of the strategy by Welsh Government (WG) to provide salt to local authorities and the requirement to store the salt until it was needed  He commented on the temporary stores in Queensferry and Blaenau Ffestiniog and that the site at Halkyn had been identified by the authority as a permanent store site.  He said that the applicants had met with local residents before the application was submitted and some of the issues which had been identified were addressed.  He added that if the application was approved, more screening could be put in place. 

            The Chairman used his discretion to allow the local Member, Councillor C. Legg to speak on the application.  Councillor Legg said that he had initially been in favour of the salt store reserve but that consultation had raised concern.  He queried how much it had cost WG and what would happen to the salt if there was an absence of severe weather.  He commented on the inadequacy of the approach road to the site and said that the entrance to the site was not ideal.  He said that the proposed building was of a significant size and queried whether this was the best site for the development. 

            Councillor A.M. Halford proposed refusal of the application against officer recommendation which was duly seconded.  Councillor M.J. Peers agreed that there was a requirement for the building but said that locating the building on this site would be detrimental to the area.  He agreed with Mr. Roberts that it was a large building which would be better suited to another location and queried why there was a need to replace the snowdome which was already in place on the site. 

            Councillor W.O. Thomas spoke of the difficulties due to access to and egress from the A55 for large vehicles and the need for them to travel along roads in the conservation area to reach the site.  He felt that it would be better to be located closer to the A55 and that other sites should be considered.  Councillor H.G. Roberts concurred and said that he would like to see the application refused or deferred to allow more appropriate locations to be considered.  Councillor R.B. Jones said that the site was outside the settlement boundary and was in the open countryside but had been considered to comply with Policy GEN3 as it allowed for the provision of new appropriate and essential development in the open countryside in special circumstances.  He felt that the application did not comply with policies D1, D2 or L1 and that the wording in the report did not allow for approval of the application. 

            In response, the Development Manager referred Members to the late observations sheet where it was reported that Halkyn Community Council no longer supported the application.  He explained that the site had been chosen as the preferred location due to it being an existing Council depot.  Officers had worked with the applicant on the design and additional screening would be put in place if the application was permitted. 

            The Senior Engineer - Highways Development Control confirmed that there were no objections from Highways to the application subject to the conditions detailed in the report which included the submission and agreement of a traffic management plan. 

            In summing up, Councillor Halford raised concern about the size of the building and said that she felt that the easy option had been taken by identifying an existing site as the location.  She felt that the application should be refused on the grounds of overbearing impact and highway safety and added that it would have a detrimental impact on the local residents.  

            On being put to the vote, the proposal to refuse the application, against officer, recommendation was CARRIED. 

            RESOLVED:

            That the application be refused on the grounds of highway safety and overbearing and detrimental impact of local residents.