Agenda and minutes

None received.

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting dated 12^th January 2022 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting dated 1^st February 2022 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report including the revised conditions in late correspondence, the additional Events Management Plan condition and the resolution of the appropriate assessment regarding the foul drainage phosphate issue with Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

The local Member for Llanfoist Fawr, also a Planning Committee Member, outlined the following points:

·         Concern was expressed regarding traffic issues around the site, in particular potential parking issues occurring on-site for the larger events that will be held at the venue.

·         The school site had been identified as a potential area for parking provision on these occasions.  However, when this is full, vehicles might be inclined to park in the nearby residential estate which already experiences school traffic.

·         It has been suggested that a field not located within the red line boundary could accommodate in the region of 300 parking spaces.  This has not been proposed to be conditioned within the report. The site has also been proposed as an allotment site so could not also be used for overspill car parking.

·         Access to the site can be difficult with high volumes of traffic in the area at certain times of the day. Additional traffic generated from the proposed cycle track would exacerbate the existing traffic problems in the area. Transport surveys had been undertaken on a Sunday during the lockdown period which did not accurately reflect the vehicle movements for the area. It was considered that a further survey should have been undertaken.

·         Concern was expressed regarding how the condition to control foul water would be enforced.

·         Sound amplification generated from spectators attending large events on the site was a concern.

·         Out of hours security needed to be addressed.

In response, the Development Services Manager provided the Committee with the following information:

·         With regard to the parking overspill issue, officers are looking to condition this via the Events Management Plan.

·         Foul water would be a matter for the Authority to enforce and monitor. As part of the detailed Foul Drainage Plan we would seek a plan from the appointed contractor for them to verify where they would move the waste to ensure that it is being located outside the phosphate area.

·         The events being held at the site will be on a smaller scale with nominal spectators anticipated to attend.

·         Out of hours security can be controlled by having a barrier to prevent the track being used during this period.

 The Community Infrastructure Coordinator provided the Committee with the following information:

·         The overspill car park area has been considered as a potential allotment site.  However, the site has been discounted as the field is a flood plain and floods at certain times of the year.

·         It is not anticipated that there will be many large events being held on the site.

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed, the following points were noted:

·         In response to a question raised regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report and subject to a Section 106 Agreement.

The local Member for St. Arvans, also a Planning Committee, outlined the following points:

·         Parking provision within Tintern is limited.

·         Concern was expressed that there will not be sufficient parking provision for this application.

·         The spaces located outside the hotel are narrow and confirmation is required regarding the number of accessible disabled parking spaces located by the front door to the hotel.

·         The application site was originally established as a motel with parking provision provided.

·         The Monmouthshire Parking Standards Policy is 20 years old and it was considered that this required reviewing, going forward.

Tintern Community Council, had submitted a written statement outlining the community council’s objections to the application which was read to the Planning Committee by the Head of Planning, as follows:

‘Both Tintern Community Council (TCC) and local residents have previously raised significant concerns regarding the impact of the proposed application in reducing the level of car parking provision at the Royal George Hotel (Wild Hare).

TCC’s concerns on this issue remain and have not been satisfactorily addressed.

First, it must be recognised that Tintern already suffers from substantial problems with parking capacity, due to the large visitor/tourist population regularly exceeding the available car parking provision in the village. On a regular basis all car parking spaces in the village are full and, as a result, cars are parked on the public highways, verges and residential lanes, understandably causing public safety and traffic issues and local residential concerns. If the proposed development which is the subject of this application is allowed, this would result in the loss of approximately 12 car parking spaces at the rear of the hotel premises. In the context explained above, TCC cannot support any proposal which would have the consequence of reducing the availability of car parking spaces in the village.

Secondly, the figures which are being used in the current planning application and the planning committee report require clarification as they are inconsistent with the current reality ‘on the ground’ at the site. TCC notes that:

·         The planning committee report states that there are currently 38 spaces at the front of the hotel premises and that the number required for the premises would be 34, therefore that the requirement would be met.

·         This is not correct. The car park to the front of the hotel is currently laid out and marked up for 28 car parking spaces (i.e. 10 spaces less than the planning committee report refers to as being the current figure). TCC does not understand where or how the planning committee report has obtained the figure of 38 spaces.

·         As noted above, the current car parking capacity at the rear of the hotel is approximately 12 spaces. When combined with the current 28 marked car parking spaces at the front of the hotel, that is a current combined total  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

The local Member for St. Arvans, also a Planning Committee Member, expressed her support for the application.

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed, the following points were noted:

·         The floodlight on the gable end of the Old Station building should be replaced with a more suitable alternative in keeping with the surrounding area, with a view to reducing light pollution on the site.

It was proposed by County Councillor A. Webb and seconded by County Councillor P. Murphy that application DM/2021/01416 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

Upon being put to the vote the following votes were recorded:

For approval             -           13

Against approval      -           0

Abstentions               -           0

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DM/2021/01416 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to a costs decision following a site visit that had been held at Greenfield, Merthyr Road, Llanfoist on 13^th July 2021.

We noted that the application for an award of costs was allowed in part in the terms set out in the Costs Decision report.

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to an appeal decision following a site visit that had been held at Greenfield, Merthyr Road, Llanfoist on 13^th July 2021.

We noted that the appeal had been dismissed.

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to an appeal decision following a site visit that had been held at land adjacent to Manor Garage, Rogiet Road, Rogiet  on 15th November 2021.

We noted that the appeal had been dismissed.