Issue - meetings

Erection of new 2400mm high wire mesh fence to part of playing field boundary

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Ioan Thomas

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION:

⁠To defer to conduct a site visit

Erect a new 2400mm high fence around part of the playing field boundary.

a)    The Senior Planning Officer stated that it was a full application for the erection of a fence around part of the playing field boundary at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen.

The application was submitted to the Planning Committee because the Local Member had declared an interest and provided comments on the application. 

It was highlighted that comments from the statutory and public consultation mostly referred to concerns arising from neighbours stating that it was an unnecessary development creating a visual impact, an impact on residential amenities and a human rights impact. A letter had also been received supporting the fence because there were problems with stones being thrown, trespassing on private property and litter being thrown into gardens.

Reference was made to Policy ISA 2, which relates to community facilities, including schools, and states that the LDP will assist in the maintenance and improvement of community facilities. The proposal would be located on the boundaries of an existing school, and the fence would be needed around the building to improve security within the school grounds. In terms of principle, the proposal was considered to be reasonable and in line with the principle of Policy ISA 2 of the LDP.

The proposed fence would be a green "weldmesh", which is a see-through fence and therefore it was considered that it would not create a closed or oppressive view of the school or the surrounding houses. As it was in keeping with the existing school fencing and allowed visibility, it was considered that it would not create a visual impact in the area, and it therefore complied with policy PCYFF 3.

It was reported that some neighbouring residents had objected on the grounds of visual impact and oppressive feeling, but it was noted that fencing of this type was common in schools to protect staff and pupils. As similar fencing already existed around the site, the proposal was consistent with the environment. The new fence would be approximately 4–5 metres from the rear of the houses, providing an adequate gap so that it did not have a significant impact on private amenities. It was reiterated that consideration had to be given to the need to protect pupils and school grounds as well as the land outside the school from damage, and on balance it was considered that this type of fence would not cause significant harm to the amenities of the local neighbourhood, and therefore it complied with Policy PCYFF 2 of the LDP. In addition, it was highlighted that trees had a protection order along the boundary with a condition to be imposed to ensure that no work on the trees was carried out without prior permission – this would protect the trees as part of the development.

The proposal did not meet the thresholds for the submission of a Welsh Language Statement or a Welsh Language Impact Assessment Report; however it was not considered to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7