Agenda item - 19/01748/FP RECREATION GROUND, SWINBURNE AVENUE, HITCHIN, HERTFORDSHIRE

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Installation of a new Children's Play Area including play equipment bonded rubber mulch safety surfacing, site furniture, 1m high galvanised steel boundary fencing and access pathway from Swinburne Avenue.

RESOLVED: That application 19/01748/FP be GRANTED planning permission, subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the additional and amended conditions below:

Amended Condition 5

The proposed CCTV camera shall be installed and operated so as to prevent any loss of privacy to the adjacent residential occupiers. The CCTV equipment shall be permanently maintained as a feature of the development.

Reason: In the interests of residential amenity

Additional Condition 6

Prior to the commencement of the development full details of cycle parking to serve the play area shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: In the interests of sustainability.

Audio recording – 1 hour 4 minutes 2 seconds

Installation of a new Children's Play Area including play equipment bonded rubber mulch safety surfacing, site furniture, 1m high galvanised steel boundary fencing and access pathway from Swinburne Avenue.

The Principal Planning Officer advised Members of the following update:

The resident of No. 128 Hine Way was in support of the application and raised the following points:

· The playground would be in a safer environment away from roads;

· The proposed site was only 5 minutes walk from the current site;

· Young children would be supervised;

· There was no current evidence of antisocial behaviour;

· Anti-social behaviour was more likely to be deterred by the presence of children and parents;

· There were many residents in support of this proposal;

· Incorporating a park within the John Barker Place development would mean no playground in the area for up to 4 years.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 19/01748/FPsupported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

Mrs Elizabeth Whitelock and Mr Kevin Martin thanked the Chair for the opportunity to addres the Committee in objection to application 19/01748/FP as follows:

· Mrs Whitelock had lived most of life on the Westmill Estate and had brought up her children there;

· The park was originally located on Milestone Road and was currently located on John Barker Place;

· She had serious concerns that the relocation of the park to the edge of the estate would put children at risk;

· Why change what residents have been happy with ie good location, easy access to shops and plenty of people round;

· Mr Martin feared that the Swinburn location would be an expensive white elephant in the week and a magnet for anti social behaviour in the evenings;

· At dusk this area was lonely, empty and very dark;

· The park would be at the rear of houses at the end of very long gardens;

· If a child had an accident or were concerned about unsavoury characters, where would they go to?

· There were no occupied public buildings any where near the proposed site;

· John Barker Place was a much safer location with people around and shops where a child could run to;

· The people from John Barker Place would not want to walk all the way to Swinburn Avenue;

· Any problems would be magnified by the isolation of the area;

· This will be seen by many in the community as a failure to listen;

· Had the local Police been consulted and would they have the resources to deal with the inevitable complaints;

· The site was remote and had poor natural surveillance from local dwellings;

· There have been many instances of anti-social behaviour with calls to the Police not brining the required response.

The following Councillors made comment and asked questions;

· Councillor Daniel Allen:

· Councillor Val Bryant;

· Councillor Terry Tyler;

· Councillor Mike Rice.

In response to questions Mrs Whitelock and Mr Martin advised:

· The area was extremely dark and suffered from extreme weather conditions;

· Children seemed to be at the bottom of the priorities, when they were the future.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that:

· The application was for a permanent play area;

· The Police were now happy woth the proposals;

· The distance from John Barker Place to the proposed play area was 320 metres or 5 minutes walk;

· The recreation ground was used by other people;

· There was now a CCTV solution proposed, which was supported by the Police;

· CCTV would be a permanent feature.

The Chair thanked Mrs Whitelock and Mr Martin for their presentation.

Councillor Claire Billing had registered to speak as a Member Advocate, but had advised that she was unable to attend due to ill health.

Ms Shinaz Virji, settle, thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee in support of application 19/01748/FP as follows:

· The provision of this play area formed part of larger proposals;

· They wanted to ensure that local children had access to a quality play area;

· It would include equipment for both younger and older children as well as those in wheelchairs;

· The play area would be provided before building commenced.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Daniel Allen;

· Councillor Ruth Brown;

· Councillor Mike Rice;

· Councillor Tom Tyson;

· Councillor Michael Muir.

In response to questions Ms Virji advised:

· A secure cycle area could be provided;

· The proposal for lighting had been remove due to the impact on the Green Belt and the neighbours. It was also felt that it might encourage people;

· They would expect to have a CCTV contract for the length of the lease on the land;

· They would be happy to accept a condition regarding sequencing to ensure that the play area was available prior to the commencement of the building works.

The Chair thanked Ms Virji for her presentation.

The following Members debated the application and asked questions:

· Councillor Tom Tyson;

· Councillor David Levett;

· Councillor Ian Mantle;

· Councillor Michael Muir;

· Councillor Daniel Allen.

Issues debated by Members included:

· That there should be an additional condition regarding secure cycle storage at the play area;

· That it should be conditioned that the play area be available before building works commenced.

RESOLVED: That application 19/01748/FP be GRANTED planning permission, subject to the conditions and reasons contained the the report of the Development and Conservation Manager and the additional and amended conditions below: