Agenda item

1.    The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(3)) concerning Planning Application 17/03427 in respect of the change of use of part of the car park at Newbury Rugby Club to commercial use for West Berkshire Transport Operations Team.

2.    In introducing the report the Planning Officer stated that this was a major application by the Local Authority to make part of a parking area available for use by public service vehicles. It was considered that there would be limited impact on traffic flows. Greenham Parish Council had raised an objection in relation to the access road and that it was too small to take the additional traffic generated. However, the parking would be for around 25 minibuses and vans which would be leaving the site early in the morning and returning late in the afternoon and therefore there would not be a significant conflict in terms of traffic movement.

3.    Councillor Paul Bryant noted that there was also a care home in the vicinity and he asked if consideration had been taken into account in relation to the cumulative effect. The Highways Officer stated that there were concerns about the junction onto Monks Lane but traffic movements would be in off peak hours and therefore it was felt that the impact would not be significant. Traffic volume for the nursing home was also low.

4.    Councillor Hilary Cole asked why the red line included the grandstand if the proposal was only for parking of service vehicles. Sharon Armour confirmed that there would be some use of an office within that area.

5.    Councillor Jeff Beck was disappointed that no-one from the Transport Officer Team was present at the meeting to answer questions. It gives the impression that the Committee would rubber stamp the application. Also neither of the Ward Members had felt that it was necessary to attend the meeting.

6.    Councillor Adrian Edwards asked whether David Lloyd Leisure had been consulted on the proposal as that venue was open from 6.30am until 10.00pm and therefore there would be a conflict of traffic. The Highways Officer responded that traffic at off peak times would still be less. He confirmed that David Lloyd had been consulted but had not submitted any comments.

7.    Councillor Howard Bairstow felt that this proposal benefitted both the Rugby Club and the Council. It gave the Rugby Club additional income and also provided a space for public vehicles to park. The site was remote and secure.

8.    Councillor Anthony Pick supported the comments made by Councillor Edwards and that all neighbours should be consulted on the proposals.

9.    Councillor Anthony Pick proposed that the Committee accept the officer’s recommendation to grant planning permission. The proposal was seconded by Councillor James Cole. The Chairman invited the Committee to vote on the proposal; at the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the Head of Development and Planning be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:

Conditions

1.      The development shall be started within three years from the date of this permission and implemented strictly in accordance with the approved plans.

Reason: To enable the Local Planning Authority to review the desirability of the development against the advice in the DMPO of 2015, should it not be started within a reasonable time.

2     No development shall commence until a scheme to indicate a physical barrier no more than 0.5m high to be constructed a minimum of 10m distance from the boundary of the woodland to the south of the application site along the south boundary has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council. This scheme shall then be implemented prior to the first use of the car park hereby permitted.

Reason: To protect the margins of the woodland to the south in accord with policy CS17 in the WBCS 2006 to 2026.

3       No development shall commence on the site until a scheme to improve the current hard surface of the application site has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the LPA. Before the car park is put to use, the hard surface shall be laid down to the satisfaction of the Council.

Reason: To ensure the parking surface is suitable for vehicle parking ibn accord with policy CS13 in the WBCS of 2006 to 2026.