Issue - meetings

(Councillor Dennis Benneyworth declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 (1) by virtue of the fact that he was a member of Hungerford Town Council that had previously considered this application  but reported that he would consider the application afresh. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(Councillor Paul Hewer declared a personal interest by virtue of the fact that he had previously spoken in favour of development on the site but reported that he would consider this application on its own merits. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(Councillors Jeff Beck, Dennis Benneyworth, Jeanette Clifford, Hilary Cole, Billy Drummond, Paul Hewer, Clive Hooker, Anthony Pick and Garth Simpson declared that they had been lobbied on this item.)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 17/01833/FULEXT in respect of the erection of 30 flats and associated parking, landscaping and amenity space, with coffee shop.

2.     Michael Butler introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was unsatisfactory and a conditional approval was not justifiable. Officers strongly recommended the Committee refuse planning permission.

3.     The Chairman invited Paul Goddard to explain his objections as the Highways Officer. Paul Goddard explained that the relevant section of the committee report began on page 23 of the agenda. The table of traffic figures had been taken from the transport statement submitted by the applicant and he advised that consideration of these figures should be taken with caution as outlined in the paragraph below the table. The site was currently occupied by 96 temporary parking spaces managed by RCP. While he could not object to this loss as the spaces were currently operating on an expired temporary permission, he would be concerned that drivers using those spaces would seek elsewhere in Hungerford to park. He did however object on grounds of the loss of 21 parking spaces on the Network Rail operated section of the car park. This was equivalent to one quarter of the spaces in the Network Rail car park which would be unacceptable and contrary to all local and national transport policies. The objection was supported by Network Rail and Great Western Railway. The applicant would need to make a submission to the Department of Transport should they wish to remove these parking spaces and Paul Goddard reported that Highways would join Great Western Railway and Network Rail in submitting objections.

4.     Regarding the layout of the site, a pinch point of four metres wide would be created between the development and the current parking spaces opposite the site which was contrary to government guidance in Manual for Streets that states that there should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25