Agenda item

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Head of Planning and subject to the additional condition for an on site traffic management plan.

Prior to consideration of the item, the Chairman advised that he would vacate the Chair to allow him to speak on the application.  The Vice-Chairman took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.      

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 7 April 2014.  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 indicated that it was an amendment to the scheme which had previously been approved in 2009.  The site area had reduced by approximately half for this application when compared to the previous site and a revised layout and scheme were reported.  The site would be on one level and would be split into a public area and a service area from where the skips could be removed without conflicting with the public area.  There would be a 1.2 metre wall between the public and the skips and the access to, and exit from, the site were detailed.  A portakabin would also be included on the site for the operatives of the civic amenity site.  No statutory objections had been received but two objections had been received from neighbours due to concerns about increases in traffic and odours and noise from the site.  The officer felt that the objections had been addressed in the report. 

            Councillor Chris Bithell proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  Councillor Derek Butler had reservations about the capacity as the site was a replacement for both the Queensferry and Saltney sites.  He felt that the site was in the correct location but asked whether there was any potential to expand the site if required. 

            The Local Member, Councillor David Wisinger, welcomed the report and thanked the officer for including him in the consultation on the application.  He indicated that he had been advised of a number of concerns from residents about increases in traffic and noise as a result of the proposal. 

            Councillor Marion Bateman asked for an explanation of how the traffic would be managed on the site.  Councillor Veronica Gay welcomed the new site and the removal of any steps to the skips but she also had concerns about the diminished size of the site.  She asked that safeguards be put in place to prevent the previous site in Saltney from becoming an area for fly-tipping.  Councillor Gay also raised concern about the exit from the site onto a smaller road which would be used by vehicles removing the full skips from the site.  She felt that vehicle movements on the site would be an issue and queried whether vehicles could enter through the proposed exit and leave the site through the proposed entry into the site.  Councillor Lloyd also asked for details of the hours of operation and queried whether anyone with a van permit would be able to use this site.  He also asked that the site at Saltney be landscaped once the waste collection site was closed. 

            In response to the comments and questions from Members, the officer explained that it was considered that there was adequate space on the site to allow the free flow of traffic but he added that operatives would be present to provide guidance.  It was estimated that approximately 4,000 tonnes of waste per annum would be brought to the site and there would not be a restriction on the number of times skips could be removed and replaced with empty skips so it was considered that the size of the site was appropriate.  It was proposed that the hours of operation on the site would be 7am to 9pm Monday to Sunday, including bank holidays. 

            The Planning Strategy Manager reiterated the comment that the size of the site was suitable for the movement of traffic but he added that a condition could be included for the on-site management of public traffic.  The Senior Engineer - Highways Development Control said that Highways had not submitted an objection to the application.  Approval had previously been given for a larger site and as the area was an existing industrial estate, there were no capacity issues.  On the issue of exiting the site onto the road used by vehicles removing the skips, the Senior Engineer - Highways Development Control advised that there was adequate width for two vehicles to pass.  In response to the suggestion from Councillor Bateman that a right of way be identified, the Senior Engineer - Highways Development Control indicated that a scheme could be considered. 

            RESOLVED:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Head of Planning and subject to the additional condition for an on site traffic management plan.