Sewage pumping station, including control kiosk and associated works.

The application was approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and updates / additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided in the update sheet.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mrs Lewis, representing Weston Under Penyard Parish Council, and Mr Evans, a neighbouring resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Pitt, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor H Bramer, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

·         The application site was in the centre of Pontshill.

·         The requirement for the water treatment plant was due to the Environment Agency finding the previous sceptic tank utilised for four former council houses at Woodview unacceptable.

·         The proposed water treatment plant should be located at Woodview, and could be sited on part of the large gardens of the four dwellings.

·         The report referred to a previous application which was refused on the site, however the reason for refusal on the previous application was highway issues.

·         The treatment plant would be more central to the village if situated at Woodview.

In response to comments from the local ward member, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the proposed sewage pumping station could in the future serve the whole village and not just the four dwellings referred to in the report. She added that the site had been proposed as it had an electricity supply and was also near to a watercourse, a requirement for a water treatment plant.

The Committee discussed the application and noted the concerns of the local ward member and the local residents in respect of the location of the proposed facility. However it was further noted that large tankers would have to travel through the village if the facility was relocated to the garden area of the Woodview dwellings as proposed by the local ward member. It was also considered that due to the majority of the treatment plant being underground, the visual impact in respect of the site would be minimal with the highest structure being just 1.45 metres in height.

It was noted that the proposed water treatment plant was a large facility for four dwellings however it was appreciated that Welsh Water were applying for a facility that could meet the future needs for Pontshill.

In response to a question, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the applicant had stated that it would not be technically feasible to move the treatment plant to Woodview due to the lack of a watercourse. Members noted that a plant of the type applied for would not be viable at Woodview but that a biodisc and soakaway system could be viable and could meet the needs for the four dwellings in question.

One member of the Committee noted that the Committee had previously requested mapping information for mobile phone masts and that similar information for sewerage units throughout the county would also be welcomed. He also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28