Issue - meetings

Report by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure & Planning (PN6).

The report sets out the detail of an application seeking permission to widen and upgrade the existing site access onto the public highway at Grimsbury Green, including the provision of a new footpath into the site at the eastern side of the access, re-surfacing, and alterations to drainage. The proposals intend to segregate HGV movements from non-motorised users and to formalise the T-junction to prevent vehicle conflict and so that HGVs do not cut the corner. Existing palisade fencing would be relocated to the new boundary at the eastern edge of the access, although the western edge would remain unfenced. In addition to the works to the access, the application also proposes to fund the provision of a new 2m wide footway to the south of Grimsbury Green along with a central refuge crossing point.

It is RECOMMENDED that planning permission for application MW.0011/21 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 1 to the report PN6.

Approved

The Committee considered a report (PN6) setting out the detail of an application for permission to widen and upgrade the existing site access onto the public highway at Grimsbury Green, including the provision of a new footpath into the site at the eastern side of the access, re-surfacing, and alterations to drainage. The proposals also intended to segregate HGV movements from non-motorised users and to formalise the T-junction to prevent vehicle conflict and HGVs cutting the corner. Existing palisade fencing would be relocated to the new boundary at the eastern edge of the access, although the western edge would remain unfenced. Additionally, the application also proposed to fund the provision of a new 2m wide footway to the south of Grimsbury Green along with a central refuge crossing point.

Mary Hudson presented the report together with an addendum setting out further responses from the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and the Environment Agency.  The responses referred to Application MW.0011/21 (Item 6) and Applications MW.0012/21, MW.0013/21 and MW.0014/21 (Item 7). Neither had raised objections and no changes were being recommended to the conditions. A further letter of representation had also been received which had not raised any additional concerns over and above those already raised and addressed in the report.

Responding to questions from members of the Committee she:

Confirmed that no routeing agreement would be required for this particular application.

The period for commencement of works was the standard 3 years and  responding to concerns that improvements to the access should be completed before the development proposed in the 3 applications for consideration at Item 7, that could be tied in with the those applications.

Confirmed that the applicants had chosen to present the applications in this way. The first application related to access and the applicants wanted that done regardless of the outcome of the applications at Item 7. Conditions could be attached to this application in respect of the others if the Committee so wished noting that members of the Committee had suggested that the local member needed to be fully involved in these issues going forward

Approval of Application MW.0011/21 would not bind the Committee to the 3 applications at Item 7.

Councillor Banfield then spoke as local member.  Waterworks Road was a very busy road and so the improvement works at the access were welcome but also considered that that application had been submitted in order to distract attention away from the 3 applications at Item 7. She had grave concerns for the health of residents in her division who lived close to the site and others whose properties backed onto Hennef Way where readings were already double safe and legally recommended limits.  If all 4 applications were granted then HGV movements would increase from a current daily total of 80 to 348 and all would have to drive through Waterworks Road and enter onto Hennef Way. Safe access to the site was important but was it right to consider this sort of increase in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13