For:            National Grid per Mouchel Parkman Gel, Meridian House, Wheatfield Way, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 1YG

Ward: Llangarron & Pontrilas

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Wood of Peterstow Parish Council and Mr Preece who was representing a number of local residents spoke against the application and Mr Knight-Gregson of National Grid, spoke in favour. 

The Development Control Manager said that the application was in respect of a gas pipeline of National importance which ran from Milford Haven.  There were permitted development rights for the pipeline when underground but when it ran above ground such as in respect of the gas pressure reduction installation, planning permission had to be sought.  He reported the receipt of a further letter from the Principal Objectors reiterating their objections and a letter of support for Site D.  He also reported on the receipt of a letter from the occupiers of nearby dwellings in support of Site A and objecting to Site D.  He also reported the receipt of a letter from National Grid which undertook to closely inform the Council of progress on the works and the licence application from DEFRA.  He advised that the main points for the Committee to consider were that the pipeline was of national interest and that it could have a significant impact upon the local landscape.  On balance he felt that Site D would have a worse impact on the environment than Site A and said that National Grid had stated that there were significant technical difficulties in using Site D for the necessary connections.

Councillor Mrs J. A. Hyde, one of the local Ward Members, said that at it’s meeting on 5th July, the Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee was minded to refuse the application for Site D on the basis that it was too visually intrusive in open countryside, there would be light and noise pollution for local residents and the environmental damage.  She was concerned at the speed at which National Grid was proceeding with the preparation of Site A prior to obtaining the necessary permissions.  The concerns of local residents appeared to have been ignored and she felt that Site D was a creditable alternative on grounds of visual impact and health and safety issues.  Councillors Mrs. C. J. Davis and J. B. Williams supported this view and felt that A was too visually intrusive and elevated a site and would have a considerable detrimental effect on an area of open countryside that was of great importance to the Southern part of the County. 

Councillor B. F. Ashton pointed out that Site D was closer to the main road, so he did not consider it to be safer and that the applicants had drawn attention to the considerable technical difficulties of placing the installation there.  He felt that wherever it was sited it would have a significant impact but this could be considerably lessened by adequate tree screening which in time would mature and conceal the site.  Whilst sympathetic to the Objectors he felt that the visual intrusion would be minimised with the passage of time and that Site A was the logical one to grant Planning Permission for. 

Arising from the concerns raised by some Members about floodlights, the Development Control Manager said that these were for the working day only during the Winter months and were activated by movement sensors and therefore would be switched off during other times.  He advised that there was a significant safety issue involved in high pressure pipelines crossing each other and that Site D was genuinely much more difficult to achieve on technical grounds and to make safe.  The Officers considered that Site A was slightly better on the grounds of landscaping and the impact on local archaeology and listed buildings and bio-diversity.  Councillor R. I. Matthews suggested that if the application was approved then a condition should be imposed requiring the planting of mature root bowl trees which would be 20-30 foot high and achieve speedier screening.

A resolution that Site A should be approved was lost.

RESOLVED:  That Site A be refused on the grounds of the impact that it would have on the open countryside within Landscaping Policy LA2 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.