Issue - meetings

[To determine the application]

The Committee received a report regarding application 16/00248/FUL, use of the land for the stationing of caravans for residential purposes, together with the formation of hard standing and utility day rooms.

Jo-Anne Rasmussen, Planning Officer reported that an additional objection had been received, the contents of which did not add any new points to those previously received. Seven Trent Water had also responded indicating that they had no objections to the application.

Some members of the Committee proposed that the application be refused on the basis of highways and transportation grounds; that it was also a busy site to consider the movement of caravans in and out; the history of the site and its accessibility by the Fire Service; some members also had concerns regarding how the site would be managed and its proximity to a local landfill site.  Other members of the Committee expressed concerns on the amount of visitor traffic that would be at the three pitches; how the pitches would be managed economically; and that the site might be used for commercial purposes.

In response to the questions and concerns raised by the Committee Tim Philpot, Lead Transport Officer reported that he had checked the site and the width of the road appeared sufficient to enable a vehicle to turn.  The highway was wide enough for static caravans to access the site so it would be sufficient for Fire Service access. Fire Service appliances also carried long hoses that could be deployed if they were unable to access the site direct. 

It would also be a small scale occurrence that vehicles would be leaving and entering the site. No business was in operation from the site and there were conditions prohibiting external storage on the site. Whilst visitor numbers to the site was a material planning consideration however, in this instance there was no evidence to support any harm to residents from visitors to the site. Finally, the development was close to a landfill site but Environmental Health had raised no concerns to the proposal.  In terms of the legal clarification over the operation of Gypsy sites, the Legal Officer, Lisa Delrio reported that the Committee had to consider the case on its planning merits and referred members to paragraph 8.1 of the report.

Resolved:

          That planning application 16/00248/FUL be granted subject to conditions including:

·         A scheme detailing the delivery method for the static caravans

·         Drainage details

·         Laying out of the development in accordance with the approved plans

·         Ground gas protection scheme

·         Hard surfacing details for access route and site

·         No burning on site

·         No external storage

·         Full details of caravans/ park homes.