Issue - meetings

To consider Major Planning application for change of use of agricultural land to dog training, including the erection of training shed, equipment store, fencing, parking provisions and landscaping.

The Planning Officer introduced the application to the Committee with the assistance of a PowerPoint presentation.  As an update to his written report, he confirmed that a waste management plan had now been received and that a professional waste company would be removing the dog waste and that Condition 7 would now need to be reworded to a compliance condition.

The Committee were addressed by a resident, a representative of the Parish Council and a Division Member.  Their comments included: -

·         The narrow roads leading to the premises, with few passing points and a history of accidents.

·         The additional number of vehicles movements caused by the development.

The Committee were addressed by the applicants.  Their comments included:

·         The benefits of the gun dog training that they provided.

·         That the business was closed on Monday and Tuesday (0 car movements)

·         From Wednesday to Saturday, they had one class and 3x one to ones (max 9 visitors, 18 car movements).

·         On Sunday they held four classes (max 24 visitors, 48 car movements) which were held half an hour apart.

Members, whilst conscious of the concerns raised by the various parties, were also aware that Highways had raised no objections to this semi-retrospective application. It was felt that if the number of vehicle movements could be restricted to its current level it would be appropriate to grant permission.

At the conclusion of the debate, it was proposed by Cllr Bruce and seconded by Cllr Hendry that the application be approved subject to an amendment to Condition 7, and a condition restricting the number of vehicle movements to those set out in the Officer’s report.

On being put to the vote the proposal was carried by 10 votes in favour, 3 votes against.

Resolved

To Grant Permission subject to the following conditions and subject to an amendment to Condition 7 and the additional condition as detailed by the officer regarding restriction on car movements to and from the site in connection with the use hereby approved, the wording of these conditions to be delegated to the Service Manager Planning North to be agreed in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of Planning Committee - North:

1.     The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans listed in schedule A.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

2.    There shall be no obstruction to visibility greater than 600 millimetres above adjoining road level of Waldrons Lane in advance of lines drawn 2.4 metres back from the carriageway edge on the centre line of the access and extending to points on the nearside carriageway edge 60m either side of the access. Such visibility shall be fully provided before the development hereby permitted is brought into use and shall thereafter be maintained at all times.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety in accordance with Policy D14 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan.

3.    The areas allocated for vehicle parking, loading and unloading, and turning on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4