Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Area Lead Planning Officer introduced the application for the construction of a principal street, associated access, landscaping and infrastructure works in Gillingham.

The officer highlighted the holding objection by the Environment Agency to members and explained why this featured in the recommendation.

He advised that the road had been designed as a tree-line road which would be 6.75m wide, widened at the bends, where necessary. There would be shared use footway/cycleways provided and therefore the Highways Authority fully supported the proposal.

Local Members for Gillingham

Cllr Walsh

Cllr Walsh addressed the committee and advised that he had been involved in the scheme for the past 8 years.  He had seen this evolve over the years and noted that it was being led by the community.   Previously, he had spoken in Parliament regarding this issue and highlighted that the funding was time limited. The residents of Gillingham designed and supported this development.

Cllr Pothecary

Gillingham Town Council resolved to recommend approval of this application subject to pedestrian islands, to make crossing the road safer. Highways have stated that given the number of people wanting to cross the street there would only be a need to include dropped kerb crossing points and asked for their location with regards to footpaths. The officer highlighted them in his presentation.  The Transport Development Liaison Manager noted that Dorset Council had advised that there was no need for any controlled crossings along the principle street.  It was felt to be safe to cross a 30mph road at that width and anyone using the Rights of Way footpaths should be safe to cross the road.

Cllr Ridout

Gillingham was fortunate to have received funding at the outset of the development and she felt that any impacts had been addressed and mitigated.  The application had gone through a rigorous public consultation.  She asked that the tree and landscaping detail be discussed and liaised with Gillingham Town Council.

Members comments and questions

Cllr Cook made reference to the link to the B3081 and asked if this didn’t come to pass what would be the implications for buses coming down the street and would there be enough space for them to turn?  The Transport Development Liaison Manager advised that the road has not been designed with a turning head at the eastern end. The officer advised that the draft phasing plan illustrated that development would start at the Eastern end of the site and therefore it was highly likely that this connection to the B3081 would be provided in the early stages of development as the intention is that the link will be provided, most probably at the first phase of residential development.  In the unlikely event that this connection was not delivered the Transport Development Liaison Manager added that there were always engineering solutions to any problems that might be encountered.

Proposed: Jon Andrews

Seconded: Belinda Ridout

Decision

That the application be approved subject to no adverse comment from the Environment Agency and the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes.