Issue - meetings

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) with an amendment to condition 3 to read occupancy restricted to 1^st March to 14^th January in the following calendar year.   

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 21^st March 2016.  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 officer detailed the background to the report and referred Members to the late observations sheet where comments from Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, the Council’s Biodiversity Officer and an adjoining resident were reported.  Clarification on the use of the existing access and an amendment to condition 3 were also reported. 

            Ms. K. James spoke against the application on behalf of local residents.  She said that whilst policies within the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) allowed for new tourism developments in the open countryside, these required that the development should not have an unacceptable impact.  She felt that it would have an unacceptable impact and stated that the main concerns related to the impact on residential amenity, drainage, highway safety and visual amenity.  She said that 16 letters of objection had been received and none in support of the application.  The proposed site was in close proximity to Godrer Foel and would result in direct overlooking to the rear of the property which would cause significant and undue harm with respect to privacy.  The use of the site would cause additional noise and disturbance due to the change from agricultural and the development wouldbe in breach of the human rights of nearby residents.  Limited information was available about the drainage for foul and waste water in the area and there was no evidence that a satisfactory scheme had been provided.  The site was accessed by a single track lane and Ffordd Glyndwr was a busy through road.  Ms. James felt that a traffic management plan could not overcome the deficiencies in the highway and was not enforceable.  The density of the development would cause considerable visual harm and would be detrimental to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and could not be protected by the provision of screening. 

            Mr. J. Williams, the agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He commented on the extremely comprehensive report by the Planning Officer which he felt addressed all the issues raised and therefore had a recommendation of approval.  There had been no objections from statutory consultees and the proposal could be justified by being a benefit to the area and was in accord with local and national policy. 

            Councillor V. Hinstridge, from Gwernymynydd Community Council, said that the Community Council had objected to the proposal for reasons which included issues of the safety of pedestrians and local traffic movements.  The area was popular with horse-riders and approval of the application would be a danger to them because of vehicle movements to and from the site on narrow country lanes.  The proposed site was in open countryside and did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152