Issue - meetings

That planning permission be deferred to clarify the ownership and rights over the access and any rights over the alternative access to the rear of the Spar store.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 20 April 2015. 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. 

            Councillor Christine Jones spoke (as a resident) against the application expressing a number of concerns around access to the site and she referred to the existing problems of parked cars outside the local Spar convenience store which  combined a post office, delivery lorries, a busy intersection with pedestrian crossing and bus stop, and poor visibility. She raised further concerns that the road was not wide enough and would not be able to accommodate access by the emergency services.  Councillor Jones referred to issues concerning drainage and said there had been flooding in the area due to blocked sewers.  She summarised her reasons why she felt that the site was unsuitable for residential development.

Councillor Christine Jones having earlier declared an interest in the application, left the meeting prior to its discussion.

Mr. Barker, the agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He said access to the site was gained via a shared access between 31 Welsh Road, a residential property, and 35 Welsh Road which was a Spar convenience store.  He claimed that the design of the scheme took account of scale and form and a FCA had set the levels for the buildings. Landscaping would be of species of the same type and the development made best use of the land in policy terms. The site had formerly been used for garaging and was currently subjected to fly tipping and anti-social behaviour.   He said the proposed scheme would be an improvement on past use and that the land had deteriorated into wasteland.  In terms of the shared access and maintenance of such, Mr. Barker commented on discussions and an agreement that had been reached between the applicant and owners of the Spar convenience store.  He also referred to the conditions which were to be met by the applicant subject to the application being granted. 

Councillor Ian Dunbar moved refusal of the application, against officer recommendation, which was duly seconded.  He expressed concerns regarding inadequate access, increased traffic, poor access onto Welsh Road, restricted visibility, and the danger posed by heavy vehicles.  Councillor Dunbar also commented on the current pedestrian access through the site from Sealand Avenue which was used as a ‘short cut’ to the shops and bus stop on Welsh Road. 

Councillor Chris Bithell also spoke against the application and reiterated the concerns expressed by Councillor Dunbar.  He referred to the agreement that the agent had indicated had been reached between the applicant and owners of the Spar Convenience Store concerning access and maintenance and said that the details of this should be provided to the Committee.  He queried whether the agreement reached was in perpetuity or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 184