March 2022
Planning and Development Committee Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning and Development Committee held on Wednesday 9th March 2022 at 6.00pm in the Committee Room of the Festival Hall, Market Rasen
Present: Councillors, M. Lakin-Whitworth, K. Bridger, S. Bunney, C. Turner, A. Dale & F. Easters.
In attendance:
Lucy Waller – Town Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
4 Members of the public
Councillors N. Taylor, M. Hassan, J. Smith, J. pilley entered the meeting at various times but as non-committee members took no part in the discussions or votes.
The Meeting opened at 18:00
1. Apologies for absence
None
2. Public Participation
Members of the public spoke in relation to application 144201 and a written submission from residents was circulated in relation to the same application.
Key points raised included:
· Loss of pastureland.
· Impact on wildlife including native birds and mammals.
· Inadequacy of the size and condition of roads for the increased traffic created.
· Potential occupancy outstripping the population of neighbouring settlements.
· Overcrowding.
· Lack of onsite leisure and entertainment facilities.
· Lack of connectivity with the Town Centre for pedestrians.
· Light and noise pollution.
· Impact on the Lindsey Trail.
· Impact on residential water supply.
3. To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the localism Act 2011 and to consider any applications for dispensations in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
None
4. Approve Minutes of Meeting held on 9th February 2022
It was RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as an accurate record.
5. Planning Applications for Consideration
The below applications were considered, and the responses noted within the table below:
6. To consider any late Planning Applications
None
7. To note that there have been no responses to planning applications made under delegated powers since the last committee meeting on the 9th of February 2021.
The above was noted.
The meeting closed at 18:55
Appendix A – Full submitted response 144201
Market Rasen Town Council (MRTC) considered the proposal at the Planning and Development Committee on the 9thof March 2022.
MRTC feels that there are many issues related to this proposal that need to be fully scrutinised, hence MRTC have made the decision to request that this application is “called in” to be considered by the West Lindsey District Council Planning Committee.
MRTC’s concerns fall into the following categories, Precedent, Ecology, Environment, Biodiversity, Traffic – Roads, Landscape and Views and Sustainable Development, as detailed below with references to the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (LP)
Precedent
In 2018 planning permission was refused twice for permanent dwelling on this site. Applications 137053 and 138375. The applicant unsuccessfully appealed against the decision on application 138375.
It was decreed that the site is inappropriate for development as it falls within open countryside and that it is an unsustainable location as residents will have to rely on the use of the car to access retail and services etc. It was seen to be contrary to LP1, LP2 and LP55.
Since 2018 nothing has changed regarding developments in the area.
LP55 paragraph C clearly states that mobile homes are to be treated the same as permanent homes – therefore the precedent for the permanent homes applies to this static home development.
Ecology, Environment, Biodiversity
There is a rich diversity of wildlife in the area including various species of owls and small mammals. The static caravans and lodges will inevitably reduce the available habitat and subsequently have a negative effect on the wildlife.
The increased light, noise and air pollution from the site will have a negative effect on the natural habitat.
The site is within 300m of Linwood Warren – a designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest [SSSI]. The proposed increased numbers of visitors and temporary residents in the area will increase the risk of damage to this area and its unique habitat.
It is clear then that the development goes against LP21
Traffic - Roads
The site is located on the B1202, Legsby Road. It runs from the junction on Willingham Road [A631] out of town past De Aston School, the local cemeteries to the racecourse. This section is largely residential on both sides and is pavemented. It is reasonably narrow and struggles to take the traffic that uses it – especially the HGVs. Beyond the racecourse towards Legsby Village the road becomes even narrower. There are more bends and no pavement. For a fair distance the road runs through high hedges and woodland that make it very dark – adding to its risk – especially at night-time. The system cannot safely absorb the extra vehicles and pedestrians which will be produced by the proposed development.
The proposed development is 1.8km from the centre of Market Rasen as the crow flies. This inevitably means that a large proportion of the development’s occupants will use their cars to go shopping, visiting local amenities etc. The road system cannot manage these.
The development does not meet the requirements of LP13
Landscape and Views
As a significant area of open meadow cum grazing land the proposed development is clearly an open space of land in a rural area. The open areas of the racecourse and golf club along with the local woods and Linwood Warren add to the rurality of the area. The adjacent touring caravan site is limited in its numbers and is consequently well, spaced out. The bungalows and house on Legsby Road into Market Rasen are set in spacious gardens all adding to the low-density countryside type environment.
The development with its 80 dwellings [79 holiday/second homes and 1 for The Manager] along with 169 parking spaces and the associated buildings will come across as a densely packed community that is far from open or rural. It will therefore have a negative impact on the landscape and therefore does not meet LP17.
Sustainable Development
The local plan in LP1, LP7, LP55 requires commercial development to be economically beneficial and sustainable to the local economy.
Currently, the two touring caravan sites in the area run for limited periods of the year [Racecourse 8 months, Lindsey Trail 7months] – they are also required to adopt restrictions on the light and noise from the site [curfews at 10.30pm]- it would be accepted that the new development would be expected to adopt the same.
The inevitable high density produced by the 80 caravans, 169 parking spaces and associated buildings will make such restrictions difficult to enforce.
The developers say that the project will create the equivalent of four full time jobs. However, as the site will be closed for some months of the year these jobs will be seasonal and so have a lower impact on the economy than that at first might be assumed.
The developers in their submission place great emphasis on the racecourse being a major source of their business. Race meetings are sporadic throughout the year – many of which will be in the closed period - so whilst during permissible meetings the customer basis will be higher in between time it will fall away. This means the benefits to local traders will be sporadic, which does not meet the sustainable criteria.
In recent years planning permission for several static holiday homes and lodges have been granted for the land around Sunny Side Up on the outskirts of Market Rasen – on the Tealby Road B1203. As yet only one of these has been constructed and even though the economy is moving into a post covid 19 stage there is little sign of the development continuing. Again, suggesting that there are concerns around the economic sustainability of such projects in this area.