Agenda item

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: St James

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application no. N/2012/0608, elaborated thereon and referred to the Addendum that set out further objections from residents in The Approach and Nearside.

Mr Letty, a local resident, circulated photographs from two abseiling events that he believed showed problems with spectators, car parking and marshalling which had been viewed and verified by Planning Officers prior to the meeting. He commented 138 residents had objected to the existing plans and the frequency of events. The events attracted a large number of people trying to park; residents only had one space per property so this meant parking in undesignated areas. The roads in the development were not adopted. Mr Letty noted that the Applicant claimed that it cost £120,000 a year to maintain the lift tower and that they had to raise the money to do this. He believed that abseiling could not take place in bad weather so events would be more likely to take place in summer and therefore be more frequent during these months. He stated that he would be happy to work with the applicant if the application were to be approved for a temporary period as suggested in the report. In answer to questions Mr Letty stated that his experience of the abseiling events to date was that they caused quite a nuisance and that he had not been aware of any catering vans that might have been present.

Mr Almaond, a local resident, commented that he had purchased his property in the full knowledge that the lift tower was there and that it was a listed building. He had not objected to a previous application for a conference centre that had been ultimately refused however, he did object where what the owners wanted to do directly impacted on him. He believed that the marshalling of events to date had been inadequate; spectators had leaned up against his house and window sill and shouted to their friends who were abseiling; the marshals had done nothing. Spectators have stood in the road and would not move for traffic and marshals had stopped traffic to allow spectators to take photographs of the abseilers from the road. In answer to  a question Mr Almaond commented that many of the surrounding properties were occupied by families, their gardens were at the back of the properties and children often played at the front of the properties.

Mr Perryman, stated that his role was to manage the abseiling events on the day. The events had to be safe for those participating and he used only qualified instructors. The Lift Tower had to make money so that it could be maintained. He was not aware of any particular car parking problems; marshals dealt parking and spectators; they had access to 22 parking spaces. He stated that there had been problems with local residents driving around the roundabout. There was limited access to the site and they had off site provision if needed. Mr Perryman stated that he had never heard any shouting and noted that the marshals were all linked by radio. Abseiling could take place all through the year; only thunder and lightning or high winds would prevent an event taking place. He believed that a unique package was being offered to people. In answer to questions Mr Perryman stated that marshals kept spectators away from the base of the lift tower and away from local residents properties; to date there had not been a problem in respect of parking on match days at the Saints; that only a limited number of people could abseil per hour; that the overspill parking arrangement was with Wrefords; that they did not engage the services of a catering van (crisps and drinks were sold from a gazebo); and of the 10 marshals minimum for each event two were dedicated to dealing with spectators.  

Mrs Earsley, on behalf of one of the charities that took advantage of the fund raising opportunities offered at the lift tower, commented that her fund raisers had been given strict times for their abseil and briefings had been given on car parking including the use of offsite facilities. Whilst her charity had provided its own support for signing participants in, instructions had been given to spectators not to stand in the road to watch the abseilers. The day had run smoothly and she had not been aware of any complaints. From her experience this event had been much quieter than match days at the Saints or the Cobblers and she was not aware of any particular car parking issues.

The Head of Planning noted that the marshals were trying to minimise the impact of spectators but clearly residents believed that there were unresolved issues. If the Committee were minded to approve the application on a temporary basis it would provide an opportunity for issues to be teased out. In answer to questions the Head of Planning commented that on the basis of an eight hour day and everything running smoothly, 64 abseils could take place although 60 was perhaps more realistic; conditions could be added to any temporary approval including the submission of a management and marshalling plan for approval before commencement of any further abseiling events; and that the temporary consent period could be extended by two months to 31 May 2013.    

The Committee discussed the application.

Councillor Golby proposed and Councillor Oldham seconded “That subject to the temporary consent period being extended to 31 May 2013, the application be approved as set out in the report.”

Upon a vote the motion was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the application be approved for a temporary period until 31 May 2013 subject to the conditions set out in the report as although the abseiling raised some concerns particularly in terms of the effects on the amenity of surrounding neighbours it was considered that a temporary consent was reasonable to allow the Local Planning Authority to fully assess the effect of the proposal and to ascertain whether a permanent permission should be granted following its expiry and if so what further mitigation may be required.  This was to accord with the aims and intentions of the National Planning Policy Framework.