Use of land to site toilet/shower block and erection of decking and steps (retrospective).
Minutes:
Cllr Jean Dunseith and Cllr John Worth did not take part in the debate or vote on this application.
The Committee considered a retrospective application for use
of land to site a a toilet/shower block and erection
of decking and steps.
The Senior Planning officer presented the proposal for a
permanent toilet and shower block. A
temporary block had been a condition of an original planning permission granted
under officer delegation in 2019 in connection with use of the field for
camping between 23 June - 8 September each year.
The Committee was advised that this was a new planning
application for a permanent structure that needed to be considered on its own
merits and was not a variation of conditions approved as part of the previous
permission in 2019.
Plans and photographs showed the location and appearance of
the toilet/shower block and its visual impact on the rural area, in particular, from different points along Nottington Lane drawing nearer to the site.
The key planning issues were outlined including principle of
development, visual amenity and biodiversity, as well as a summary of the
conditions in connection with the application, if approved.
Public
written representations received, some of which were also read out at the
meeting, are attached to these minutes.
Cllr John
Worth, speaking as the Ward Member - Chickerell, highlighted the lack of regard
for the planning process or adherence to the original permission by the
applicant; the permanency and increased size of the structure, impact on visual
amenity and the weakness of the Covid pandemic as a
reason for its size given its presence on the site since September 2019.
Cllr Jean Dunseith, also speaking as the Ward Member -
Chickerell, highlighted that conditions existed to put a boundary around the
planning permission and those attached to the original permission had been
disregarded. In her view this would be a
judgement on the importance of conditions.
Whilst appreciating the desire to achieve an award winning
camping site, the Committee expressed concerns relating to a lack of respect
for the planning process in the way the development had been carried out; the
need for a Biodiversity Plan including impact of lighting on wildlife ; the
adequacy of the soakaway and septic tank to support a larger block and the need
for disabled access.
Members requested additional conditions including the
requirement for a Biodiversity Plan and disabled access.
The Committee was advised that the lighting associated with
the block was switched off during periods when not in use and that the efficacy
of the soakaway / septic tank would be a private matter for the applicant and
that any complaints was a separate issue to be dealt with by the Environmental
Health department.
Subject to the inclusion of the suggested additional
conditions, it was proposed by Cllr Kate Wheller, seconded by Cllr Nick Ireland
Decision: That authority be delegated to the Head of
Planning to approve subject to the planning conditions as set out in the
officer’s report and additional conditions regarding the submission and
implementation of a biodiversity mitigation and enhancement plan, particularly
in respect of small mammals and the impact of lighting, and a condition in
respect of disabled access to the toilets and shower facilities, to comply with
the wording of the Disability Act, with the conditions to be agreed between the
planning officer and Chairman of the planning committee.
Following consideration of the above application, the meeting was adjourned between 11.23-11.33am for a comfort break.
Supporting documents: