Agenda item

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the 18 conditions, as outlined in the report.

 

The local Member for Llanbadoc Ward attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

 

·         The scheme is necessary but has huge implications.

 

·         Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is introducing the new extraction licence which will require more water pumping between the months of November and March.  It is hoped that NRW is fully aware of the impact of the proposals on the river Usk and that proper mitigation will be undertaken now and in the future.

 

·         It is necessary to consider the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act 2015.  Reference is made to ensuring the wellbeing of wildlife but there is no mention of the wellbeing of local people.

 

·         Residents have endured noise from the works at Prioress Mill for many years.  Intermittent noise is creating a negative impact on local people’s lives.

 

·         Planning Policy Wales states that infrastructure that is poorly designed or badly located can exacerbate problems rather than solve them. The Environmental Health officer’s report states that the application will only potentially improve noise issues.

 

·         There will be the potential for noise from the eight extractor fans which will point south directly towards local residents. This is not good design and they should be relocated to the west side.

 

Mr. R. Wightman, representing local objectors to the application, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

 

·         The application is favourable to wildlife but detrimental to local residents.

 

·         Local residents are only objecting to the specific design solution that Welsh Water and partners have chosen for this site.

 

·         Minimal consultation on the proposal had been undertaken indicating that the proposal was going ahead.

 

·         The planning record had shown that the proposed design had actively ruled out of scope the local community, visual and landscape impacts, architectural input, the history of noise complaints, the presence of listed buildings, the presence of floodlit defences immediately downstream and the risk of flooding from runoff.

 

·         There is no mention of the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act 2015.

 

·         The proposed buildings are unnecessarily tall and are visually intrusive. Twice as tall and three times bigger than the existing buildings.

 

·         For the majority of the time the increased volume will be empty air space.

 

·         Reluctantly, Welsh Water has agreed to add some exterior cladding but the essential problems of the main building still remain.

 

·         Welsh Water’s decision to abandon a less impactful 6.4 metre high design relates to their choice to move to fewer but bigger, noisier pumps.

 

·         Welsh Water has refused to comply with an environmental information regulations inquiry (EIR) to clarify the options analysis around this decision. They give the commercial confidence of their commercial engineering partners as the reason. Last month they announced the reason for the change as lack of space.

 

·         The judicial review that clarified that all water companies are subject to EIR was made in relation to a claim against Welsh Water for refusing to release information about the impact of this site.

 

·         Welsh Water claims that their solution is the only one available but is not willing to prove that.

 

·         No consideration has been given to sound proofing. Major sound emitters which cannot be relocated have been designed to face nearby residents. Reluctantly, Welsh Water has agreed to retrofit some sound proofing.

 

·         At the site inspection, Arcadis demonstrated how the smallest breach in sound proofing transmits a lot of noise.

 

·         The new water intake has been designed without any flood or scour effects modelling.

 

·         Poor quality drawings were made available at the site inspection.

 

·         The objectors therefore urge the Planning Committee to refuse the application for the following reasons:

 

-       The Building location dimensions and profiles have been consistently vague and misrepresented.

 

-       No one can be certain of what will be approved.

 

-       The new Pumping Station will be too big and much more intrusive than necessary.

 

-       It does not meet the best available technique with regard to noise reduction or visual intrusion.

 

-       The noise conditions are weak and most likely unenforceable.

 

-       It remains as a potential threat to flood defences.

 

-       It has no proven overriding public interest arguments to justify its impact.

 

-       It is not supported by the necessary levels of transparency and accountability around decision making for a public body project.

 

-       It does not comply with the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act 2015.

 

Mr. M. Hennessey, Director of Capital Delivery for Welsh Water, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

 

·         The existing pumping station at Prioress Mill was built in 1960 to enable water to be pumped from the River Usk to Llandegfedd Reservoir.

 

·         Llandegfedd Reservoir has no alternative supply of water and is reliant from the water coming from Prioress Mill.

 

·         The investment was made in 1960 to meet a supply / demand need for Cardiff, the Valleys and the surrounding catchments. This need still exists today.

 

·         Over 600,000 customers are reliant on Prioress Mill for their supply of water both now and into the future.

 

·         The existing pumping station is coming to the end of its design life. The structure is deteriorating, becoming unreliable and will not meet some of the environmental factors that are required.

 

·         Welsh Water is a not for profit organisation, owned by its customers and is accountable to its customers to make good investment decisions.  It has a duty to safeguard water supplies for now and for future generations. The design is the best option for achieving that.

 

·         It will provide a water supply for the next 60 years.

 

·         £23 million is being invested in the new pumping station.

 

·         Welsh Water has worked with all of the statutory consultees and the design has been amended on a number of occasions.

 

·         There are no objections outstanding.

 

·         Welsh Water has listened to local residents and communities and tried to alleviate concerns by designing a pumping station that fits into the natural environment and there will be a reduction in noise levels.

 

·         In terms of noise, this will come under the British Standard and will have a low impact assessment with regard to the new installation.

 

·         Protection of the environment and wildlife will be key during the construction process.

 

·         Welsh Water will work with local communities to minimise disruption.

 

·         The new pumping station at Prioress Mill is the right solution for both customers and the environment.

 

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

 

·         The proposed new building will be located a considerable distance from existing properties. It is set well back and is purpose built. Issues relating to the river (scour) are not planning issues but matters to be discussed between Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

 

·         The new pumping station is vitally important to 600,000 people.

 

·         The noise levels will be less intrusive.

 

·         Welsh Water had investigated moving the fans.  However, additional screening in the form of an acoustic screen has been erected.  On a noise basis, the scheme is acceptable. No objection has been received from Environmental Health.

 

·         A condition to impose working hours could be included.

 

·         The proposed scheme will provide an acceptable structure and there are no planning grounds to refuse the application.

 

The following points were noted in which concerns had been raised in respect of the application:

 

·         Some of the views expressed by residents had not been adequately considered in the report.

 

·         There are issues relating to the height of the building.

 

·         Concern was expressed that proper sound proofing was not considered in the original design of the proposed new pumping station. Rejection of the application should be considered with a view to the applicant coming up with a better designed scheme to deal with the issues of sound proofing and re-location of the fans.

 

·         Narrowing of the river will exacerbate flood defence issues by creating faster flowing water which could lead to more erosion.

 

·         The issues raised have not been adequately dealt with.

 

·         The site is a sensitive location.  The scale of the building is an issue and concern was expressed regarding the need for an additional four metres in height.

 

·         The landscaping will take 15 years to mature, which is a long time for local residents to wait. The proposed building will be located close to the Wye Valley Walk. A bund with planting on top might be a solution to alleviate this issue.

 

·         There is a lack of information regarding erosion of river banks and potential scouring.

 

·         Deferral of the application would allow for the issues raised to be addressed with the applicant.

 

The Head of Planning, Housing and Place Shaping informed the Committee that water extraction is not within the Planning Committee’s remit and would be dealt with by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Welsh Water. The proposed building has been designed with noise and residential amenity in mind. In terms of noise, the proposed new pumping station will create less of an impact to local residents than the existing pumping station.

 

Members were informed that the working hours are 7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday and 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday with no work taking place on a Sunday or Bank Holidays.

 

The local Member summed up as follows:

 

·         A problem exists relating to noise which is having a detrimental effect on local residents.

 

·         Residents matter.  Good design should resolve the issues raised.

 

·         The local Member asked the Committee to add an additional condition to seek further consultation with Welsh Water with a view to establishing a better scheme.

 

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed, it was proposed by County Councillor P. Murphy and seconded by County Councillor R. Harris that application DC/2017/000027 be approved subject to the 18 conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to an additional condition regarding the following working hours:

 

7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday.

8am to 1.00pm on Saturdays.

No working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

 

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

 

For approval              -           9

Against approval      -           3

Abstentions               -           2

 

The proposition was carried.

 

We resolved that application DC/2017/000027 be approved subject to the 18 conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to an additional condition regarding the following working hours:

 

7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday.

8am to 1.00pm on Saturdays.

No working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.