Issue - meetings

[NOTE: In accordance with the procedure for public speaking at Planning Committee, Mrs Cathy Blignaut attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the application and Mr Roger Langham spoke in support.]

The Committee considered an application for the construction of a new indoor swimming pool with gymnasium (Use Class D2) with associated parking, fencing and landscaping.

The Planning Officer commented that the application had been submitted in an attempt to overcome the sole reason for refusal of PLAN/2018/0808 which was detailed in the report. This related to the rearrangement of the pedestrian route to and from the building, which was now contained wholly within the school grounds and did not connect to Hawkswell Walk.

Councillor R Sanderson, Ward Councillor, welcomed the revisions to the application regarding the access to Hawkswell Walk. He noted that the proposed application would provide a much needed resource to the school and other local groups, although he was sympathetic to the resident’s concerns. If the application was agreed by the Committee he asked that the impact on residents be mitigated as much as possible with strict application of the Conditions set out in the report.

Some concerns were raised regarding the commercial nature of the operation, parking on the surrounding roads and noise. The Planning Officer reminded the Committee that the application had been previously refused for a sole reason and that to introduce other reasons now for possible refusal would be considered unreasonable.

The Committee were supportive of the application and welcomed the proposed swimming pool which would be a valuable asset to the school and local swimming clubs to improve access to children’s swimming lessons. Members agreed that the concerns of the previous refusal had been addressed and that there were no grounds to refuse this application.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be granted subject to the recommended conditions.