Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Creation of vehicular access off London Road, St Ippolyts (as amended by plans received 09/10/2019).

RESOLVED: That application 19/02192/FP be GRANTED planning permissions, subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the following amended condition:

Amended Condition 4

Prior to the first use of the access of the development hereby permitted a visibility splay of 2.4 x 43 metres along London Road as proposed on the drawing (Ref- P01, Rev-B) shall be provided to each side of the access and such splays shall always thereafter be maintained and free from any obstruction between 600mm and 2m above the level of the adjacent highway carriageway.

Reason: To ensure construction of a satisfactory development and in the interests of highway safety in accordance with Policy 5 of Hertfordshire's Local Transport Plan (adopted 2018).

Audio recording – 1 hour 39 minutes 47 seconds

Creation of vehicular access off London Road, St Ippolyts (as amended by plans received 09/10/2019).

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report in respect of application 19/02192/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

Councillor Claire Strong thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee in respect of application 19/02192/FP as follows:

·                The Parish Council had objected to the proposal and she shared their concerns;

·                She was not against a new access, but concerned about the placement and the crossing for pedestrians;

·                There was a very long boundary to the field;

·                The road had a 30mph speed limit, but was known as the rat run;

·                If pedestrian were crossing near to the proposed access when vehicles were overtakin this was dangerous;

·                The applicants should be asked to move either the access or the crossing;

·                A vehicle access close to a pedestrian crossing was not good;

·                In respect of Condition 4 – the development was already occupied, this should be changed to say first usage;

·                Vehicles using the access should leave in a forward direction.

The following Members asked questions:

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Michel Weeks;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen.

In response to question Councillor Strong advised:

·                She did not know how often the current access was used;

·                The pedestrian crossing was not signalled;

·                She was unsure why this particular spot had been chosen for the new access, it may well be due to the dropped kerb;

·                She was not aware of any trees being removed;

·                The concerns needed to bee heeded and the applicant should be asked to move the proposed access.

The Development and Conservation Manager confirmed that Condition 4 could be changed to “first use of the access”. Members could ask that a different location be found for the tactile crossing, but could not aske the applicant to move the access without refusing permission.

The following Members took part in the debate and asked questions:

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Michael Weeks.

In response to questions the Development and Conservation Manager advised that the developer would pay for any S278 agreement.

It was proposed by Councillor David Levett, seconded by Councillor Michael Weeks and:

RESOLVED: That application 19/02192/FP be GRANTED planning permissions, subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the following amended condition:

Amended Condition 4

Prior to the first use of the access of the development hereby permitted a visibility splay of 2.4 x 43 metres along London Road as proposed on the drawing (Ref- P01, Rev-B) shall be provided to each side of the access and such splays shall always thereafter be maintained and free from any obstruction between 600mm and 2m above the level of the adjacent highway carriageway.

Reason: To ensure construction of a satisfactory development and in the interests of highway safety in accordance with Policy 5 of Hertfordshire's Local Transport Plan (adopted 2018).