Agenda item

Erection of building for the processing of household recycling materials and food waste, provision of vehicle workshop, office and welfare and all ancillary facilities including access roadway - Land At Grid Reference 247022 125756, Gammaton Road, Bideford

The following Councillors had attended the virtual site visit listed below:

 

Councillors: R Boughton, D Bushby, P Christie, R Craigie, C Leather,

S Newton and P Pennington.

 

The recording was forwarded to the following Councillors who were unable to attend the virtual site visit:

 

Councillors:  D McGeough and R Wiseman

 

 

Application No. 1/1141/2022/LA - Erection of building for the processing of household recycling materials and food waste, provision of vehicle workshop, office and welfare and all ancillary facilities including access roadway - Land At Grid Reference 247022 125756, Gammaton Road, Bideford

 

Interests:  Councillor Pennington declared a personal interest – Landowner of land marked on the Land Assessment document but attended with an open mind.

Councillors Christie and Bushby declared personal interests – dual hatted – Bideford Town Council

 

Officer recommendation:     Grant

 

 

The planning application had been referred to Plans Committee because the applicant is Torridge District Council.

 

Prior to the presentation the Principal Planning Officer updated Members as follows:

 

5 late representations objecting to the application.

 

 

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report and informed Members of the main planning considerations and confirmed that the proposal does not include processing of general household waste but does include the processing of food waste.

 

 

The Principal Planning Officer confirmed that a significant amount of work had been undertaken to protect the amenities of the occupier of the nearest dwelling to the site, Bay View, including the processing hall to be located away from the dwelling, re siting of the office block to use as a noise screen and the imposition of a condition for a Noise Mitigation Plan.

 

Councillor Leather referred to the various objection reasons and in particular the conflicting reports as to whether food waste would be handled on the site. He explained how the food waste is currently processed and this was confirmed by the Principal Planning Officer.  The food waste is collected by the recycling lorries, the vehicles then take the waste in a sealed contained in the processing hall and it is then collected by a covered vehicle weekly.

 

The Principal Planning Officer confirmed that a significant amount of work had been undertaken to protect the amenities of the occupier of the nearest dwelling to the site, Bay View, including the processing hall to be located away from the dwelling, re siting of the office block to use as a noise screen and the imposition of a condition for a Noise Mitigation Plan.

 

During the debate issues and concerns raised included:

 

There is an urgent need for a new site, Westcombe being unsuitable and unfit for purpose.

 

Existing dust issues from vehicular movements on the Evans site – it was confirmed that TDC vehicles will not be using the Evans access, therefore there will be no increase in the existing dust issue.

 

Possibility of smells - Councillor Christie asked whether a negative atmosphere could be included on the site.  It was confirmed that Officers are satisfied that this matter has been addressed and are reassured with what has been proposed.

 

Black Bag household waste – there is no future intention to process general household waste and Members were referred to Condition 4 in the report.

 

Expansion area – if anything comes forward in the future it is likely it will require planning in its own right.  Otherwise, it will be left as grass.

 

This site being unsuitable and alternate sites were suggested.

 

Rain water attenuation – concerns with rain water being discharged into the existing main sewer.  There had been no objections from the Statutory Consultee.

 

Highway concerns – Lorries turning left out of the site and the impact this would have on back roads.  The County Highways Officer advised that the routes for refuse lorries would be controlled by office staff.  

 

The Planning Manager referred Members to Condition 16 which specifically relates to the construction of the Environmental Management Plan and includes a requirement for measures to regulate the routing of the construction traffic, but it does not include permanent operational use.  The advice given by the Planning Manager was for Members to consider whether the operational use should be conditioned.

 

Old Bideford Bridge being subject to a weight limit – therefore having to turn right at the bottom of Manteo Way and go across the new Bridge would involve a significant amount of man hours.  This concern was addressed by the County Highways Officer.

 

Councillor Pennington requested that wording be included as per condition 16, giving some protection to minor roads and for vehicles to use the best quality roads to move around the area.

 

The Planning Manager advised that a Condition could be imposed to that effect, but it will need to meet the test as set out in the Planning Practice Guidance, and the wording to be delegated to Officers in conjunction with the Chair and Vice Chair.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Pennington, seconded by Councillor Newton that an additional condition be imposed, to state that vehicles must not turn left coming out of the site onto Gammaton Road unless there are exceptional circumstances.

 

Due to the conduct of the public, Councillor Leather, Chair, suspended the meeting and asked the public to leave.

 

Councillor Craigie suggested an amendment to Councillor Pennington’s motion to include that lorries go down Manteo Way and not through East the Water. Councillor Pennington agreed to the inclusion of the amendment.

 

Members did not agree with a condition being imposed and that the routing of lorries to be left to the Refuse Department and should not be a planning restriction. 

 

Following further discussion, the County Highways Officer suggested the following condition:

 

“That prior to any works commencing on the site a routing plan is submitted to the Planning Authority.”

 

A recorded vote was taken on the additional condition as stated above.

 

Councillor	For	Against	Abstain
Cllr R Boughton		X
Cllr M Bushby		X
Cllr P Christie		X
Cllr R Craigie	X
Cllr C Leather		X
Cllr D McGeough		X
Cllr P Pennington	X
Cllr S Newton	X
Cllr R Wiseman		X

 

(Vote:  For 3, Against 6)   The motion was lost.

 

Councillor Pennington recommended:

 

·         Strengthening Condition 4 to include that “General household waste not be processed or stored”.  The Principal Planning Officer agreed to amend the condition.

 

·         Amending Condition 8 to include other amenity measures i.e. dust and smell. The Principal Planning Officer stated this condition had been recommended by the Consultant instructed by the Authority to review the noise impact.  In relation to odour and dust, Officers did not consider they are impacts that require mitigation through condition.  Notwithstanding the advice given, Councillor Pennington proposed a condition be included for dust and odour.  Following further discussion Councillor Pennington withdrew his motion.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Christie and seconded by Councillor Leather     that the application be approved.

 

A recorded vote was taken.

 

Councillor	For	Against	Abstain
Cllr R Boughton	X
Cllr M Bushby	X
Cllr P Christie	X
Cllr R Craigie	X
Cllr C Leather	X
Cllr D McGeough		X
Cllr P Pennington	X
Cllr S Newton	X
Cllr R Wiseman	X

 

(Vote:  For 8, Against 1)

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the application be Granted subject to the conditions as set out in the report.