To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Polly Andrews, Dave Davies, Peter Hamblin and Diana Toynbee.

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor Chris Bartrum acted as a substitute for Councillor Polly Andrews

Councillor Frank Cornthwaite acted as a substitute for Councillor Peter Hamblin

Councillor Toni Fagan acted as a substitute for Councillor Diana Toynbee

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2023.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June be approved.

Erection of a freestanding restaurant with drive-thru facility, car parking, landscaping and associated works, including customer order displays (COD), goal post height restrictor, play frame and pumping station.

Application refused contrary to the case officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Chris Bartram left the committee to act as the local Ward member for the application below.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda, as provided in the update sheet and appended to these minutes.

In accordance the criteria for public speaking Ms Foreman spoke on behalf of Ross-on-Wye Town Council, Ms Hall, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Watt, the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary he explained that the application site was at a sensitive location close to a large roundabout on significant and busy highway infrastructure. There were health objections to the application and its impact on childhood obesity particularly given the proximity to John Kyrle High School. The application if approved would be contrary to statutory requirements for the council to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of Herefordshire. The application was also contrary to paragraph 92 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and planning policy guidance relating to the health and wellbeing of local residents. The application site was close to the Wye Valley Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) and located on an important gateway into the AONB. It was considered that the application would have a detrimental impact upon the AONB and would alter the views, setting and character of the AONB. In terms of its impact upon the AONB, the application was contrary to Core Strategy policies LD1 and SD1. The economic impact of the application upon Ross-on-Wye town centre was queried. The assessments of the impact of the application upon the town centre were inadequate and it had not been demonstrated that there would be no negative impact as required by the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). It was also queried why the town centre would not have been an acceptable location for the type of restaurant contained in the application. The traffic surveys accompanying the application were queried. The surveys dated from 2019 from the Department for Transport indicated that traffic flows has increased markedly since this time. A locally commissioned traffic survey in September 2022 had shown the traffic volumes were up to 30% higher than those quoted in the 2019 survey. The impact of the proposed development upon the local highway network and traffic volumes was unacceptable and was contrary to Core Strategy policies SS4 and MT1.

The committee debated the application. During consideration of the application the committee raised the following concerns:

- the increase in the number of car movements arising from the application and the impact upon local residents’ amenity and living conditions. There would be a detrimental impact upon air quality in the area. The impact of a significant increase in car movements upon local residential amenity, for those residents living adjacent to the proposed site, was unacceptable. The noise, emissions and headlight glare from cars accessing the application site would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Demolition of existing barns within the grounds of a Listed Building. Proposed new farm shop and cafe and office accommodation buildings with associated car parking area.

Application refused contrary to the case officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Chris Bartram resumed his seat on the committee for the following application.

Councillor Elizabeth Foxton left the meeting.

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda, as provided in the update sheet and appended to these minutes. 

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Morfett spoke on behalf of Breinton Parish Council, Mr Barrat, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

There was an adjournment at 11:45 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 11:59 a.m.

Mr Carroll, the planning agent, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, he explained that the site was located in open countryside and there was already a farm shop in the Parish of Breinton. The application would result in an increase in traffic volumes in the local narrow lanes accessing the site. Reference was made to a photograph that had been circulated in the updates sheet which demonstrated that the local lanes were unsuitable for HGV access; a weight restriction had been requested along the road. There were very limited passing places along the local narrow roads and the increase in traffic volumes would have an unacceptable impact on highway safety for those rational users of the Lanes including runners, walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There had been a number of objections to the application and the local Parish Council strongly objected. The application should be refused due to the impact on highways are the impact on the landscape in a rural area.

The committee debated the application. During consideration of the application the committee raised the following concerns:

- the scale and nature of the proposed development was not in keeping with the rural setting and location and was contrary to Core Strategy policy RA6.

- the proposed development would increase traffic volumes in narrow lanes and therefore would have an unacceptable impact upon highway safety and was contrary to Core Strategy policy MT1. Increased traffic volumes would have a detrimental impact on the use of local highways for recreational purposes contrary to Breinton NDP policies B10 and B13.

- increased traffic volumes would contribute to pollution and emissions with a consequent impact on climate change. This was contrary to policy SS7 in the Core Strategy.

- the proposed demolition of and significant alterations to agricultural buildings represented a substantial alteration upon the character and nature of the existing buildings contrary to Core Strategy policy RA5.

- the proposed reuse of existing buildings for a farm shop/cafe/office accommodation was considered contrary to Breinton NDP Policy B4.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate. He explained that the neighbouring ward councillor objected to the application and urged the committee to reject the application on the basis of highways concerns.

A motion that application 204242 be refused due to the: unacceptable scale and nature of the building in a rural setting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.