Application to vary conditions 3 and 4 of planning permission 163117.

The Committee approved variations to conditions 3 and 4 for a 12 month period, and further amended the wording of the two conditions set out in the report.

(Variation to conditions 3 and 4 of planning permission 163117.)

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.  She reminded the Committee that the principle of use and development of the site had previously been agreed.  The application was to vary conditions 3 and 4 of an existing permission.  The key considerations in the determination of the current application related to the impact of the extended hours of working and operation upon the amenities of local residents and upon highway safety.

Condition 3 sought to control the hours of working on the site.  At present the hours during which working (with the exception of office based uses) could take place were restricted to 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday. The request was that this was extended so that working could begin at 8.00 am Monday to Friday with no change to the finish time. In addition to this, the applicants had requested that on sale days (maximum 2 days per month) they could start at 7.30am and that on Saturdays following a sale (maximum 2 days per month) they could operate from 8am until 2pm.   The applicant had stated that on sale days it was essential to stop a queue forming on Stoney Street prior to the site operating.  By unloading from 7.30am it eased the pressure on local roads during the school run and the peak commuting time

Condition 4 sought to control the delivery of plant and machinery and their loading and unloading within the site. At present this was restricted to between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. The request was to extend the hours in line with the suggestion for condition 3.  In addition to this, it was requested that the wording stated ‘collection and delivery’ rather than just ‘delivery’.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mrs P Breeze, a local resident, spoke in objection to the application.  Mr M Roberts, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor SD Williams, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal comments:

·        Whilst some local residents supported the application the majority were opposed to it.  The proposals would afford residents of Stoney Street no respite from additional noise and pollution.  A car boot sale regularly took place on Sundays but currently there was a reduction in traffic in the area on Saturdays.  The proposed Saturday working at Brightwells would remove this respite.

·        Brightwells was not adhering to the current conditions.

·        There was no Parish Council currently in place in Madley.  However, he believed that if there had been it would have been opposed to the application.

·        The local feeling was that whilst the economic value of the business to the County was recognised a limit had been reached.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        It was suggested that whilst collections may be necessary on a Saturday following a Friday sale there should be no need for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24