Agenda, decisions and minutes

To accept any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Cai Larsen and Huw Rowlands. Cllr Linda Ann Jones (Local Member for application 6.1)

To receive any declaration of personal interest and to note protocol matters.

a)         The following member declared that he was a local member in relation to the item noted:

·         Councillor Alan Jones Evans (not a member of this Planning Committee) in relation to item 5 on the agenda (application for an order under the Traffic Management Act).

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

As a matter of course, it was reported that since the Chair was joining the meeting virtually, the Legal Officer would announce the results of the voting on the applications.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee, held on the 20^th of May, 2024, be signed as a true record.

The Chair accepted the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee, held on 25 May 2024, as a true record.

To approve the submission of a clearway order on the B4403 between Llanuwchllyn and Bala in its entirety.

DECISION:

Approve to submit a clearway plan on the B4403 between Llanuwchllyn and Bala in its entirety.

Llangywer Community                       Ward: Llanuwchllyn and Llangywer

Proposal: Cyngor Gwynedd Order (24 hour Clearway Order) Llangywer 2023

A report was presented by the Traffic and Projects Service Manager detailing the proposal to introduce a traffic control order on the Class II Road - B4403 (Llangywer), in response to complaints and concerns received by the Traffic Unit from National Park Officers and members of Llangywer Parish Council. Concerns were expressed about the detrimental impact of inconsiderate parking that had led to traffic congestion, which was an annoyance of local residents, but also hampered the response time of emergency services. The Transportation Unit proposed to implement a clearway restriction on the road, and this proposal was subject to consultation between March and April 2023. During the consultation period, one objection had been received to the proposal from a member of the public. Reference was made to the objection that noted that the order took extreme measures to resolve the problem, together with the Council's response to the recommendations.

It was highlighted that the Local Member had also submitted views on the situation, echoing the concerns of the National Park's officers and the local community.

It was proposed and seconded to introduce the order.

During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by members:

·         There were severe problems in the area during the summer months

·         Road safety must be prioritised

·         Consideration should be given to installing relevant signs to highlight that the road must be kept clear for emergency vehicles - in accordance with Government guidelines

·         This was a local opportunity to create a parking area that would alleviate the problem

RESOLVED

To approve to submit a clearway plan on the B4403 between Llanuwchllyn and Bala in its entirety.

To submit the report of the Head of Environment Department.

The Committee considered the following applications for development. Details of the applications were expanded upon and questions were answered in relation to the plans and policy aspects.

Application under Section 73 to vary condition 2 on planning permission 5/59/500 (Extension of Slate Quarry and Realignment of Quarry Roads) so as to extend the time for the winning and working of material to 2048 at Cwt y Bugail Quarry, Cwm Teigl, Llan Ffestiniog 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Linda Ann Jones

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION:

To delegate powers to the Assistant Head of the Environment Department to approve the application, with conditions relating to the following:

·       The work to come to an end on 31/12/2048, restore the site by 31/12/2049.

·       Permitted activities and compliance with the submitted drawing / details / plans / information.

·       Mark the boundary of the site and mineral extraction zones and tipping areas. 

·       Revoke GPDO Part 19 & 21 rights for fixed plant or machinery, buildings and structures and mineral waste.

·        15,000 tonnes per annum export limit.     

·        Exported material restricted to existing public highway.           

·        Tipping operations to be directed towards final landform.        

·        Updated tipping capacity.   

·        Control of noise limitations.           

·        Restrict blasting 07:00 to 20:00 Monday to Saturday. No blasting on Sundays, bank holidays or public holidays.

·        Peak particle velocity restricted to 50mm/s for 95% of overburden blasts over a three-month period and not exceed 60mm/s at any time.”         

·        Peak particle velocity must be measured at the closest point to the blast site within the shaded area shown in Drawing Reference WCYBG2312 Drawing No.10

·        Monitoring of blasting operations to record peak particle velocity.     

·        Five yearly reviews of operations.

·        Submit the first report within 12 months.

·        Detailed Restoration Plan.

·        Phased/progressive restoration works.    

·        5-year aftercare/monitoring.           

·        Scheme of landform remodelling shall be applied to North Pole Quarry benches and associated faces as indicated on plans for creation of stable landform and features to match surrounding rock buttresses and scree. 

·        Following cessation of works, clearance of quarry plant/machinery/materials/equipment to be cleared and site to be left in clean/tidy condition, quarry benches prepared, treated and planted with flora of local provenances, haul roads to be removed.  

·        Restrict access of livestock to restored areas.

·        No plant or machinery to be operated without appropriate and properly maintained sound deadening screens, silencers etc.    

·        All vehicles transporting raw material or waste shall be operated in a manner not to generate excessive noise. 

·        No operations to cause raising of fugitive dust and all areas traversed by vehicles to be watered down.   

·        Removal of vegetation, structural repair or demolition of buildings and working of previously stripped/quarried/tipped areas shall be undertaken outside of nesting season for the protection of nesting birds. ⁠Qualified ecologist

·        No operations to be undertaken on surface without stripping and storage of topsoils, subsoils, and peat.   

·        Topsoils and subsoils to be re-used as soon as possible (In restoration).           

·        Topsoils to be stored in mounds not exceeding 2m in height. 

·        ⁠Historic building recording of the art storage facilities and Written Scheme of Investigation.

·        Monitoring and eradication plan of non-native/invasive species.          

An application under Section 73 to vary condition 2 on planning permission 5/59/500 (Extension of Slate Quarry and Realignment of Quarry Roads) so as to extend the time for the winning and working of material to 2048 at Cwt y Bugail Quarry, Cwm Teigl, Llan Ffestiniog

Attention was drawn to the late observations form which contained observations relating to heritage and transport.

a)      The Senior Planning Officer - Minerals and Waste noted that Cwt y Bugail Quarry was located on the Manod Mawr ridge and comprised the quarries of
Manod, Graig Ddu and Bwlch y Slater. ⁠ It was reported that the quarry includes a processing and stocking area located on a plateau (created with tipped slate waste) on the eastern slopes of the mountain. The processing area includes cutting sheds, stocking area, fitting sheds, staff car park, office, and welfare facilities.
For clarity, it was added that the quarry processing area, cutting sheds, workshops, staff car park and other associated infrastructure to the east of the quarry void were not included within planning permission 5/59/500. However, the related Section 106 Agreement was relevant to the whole site and ensured that restoration proposals were implemented.
 ⁠

It was explained that the accumulated area of the quarry works (included in the planning application) exceeded 25ha, therefore exceed the threshold of Schedule 1 developments under The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessments) Regulations 2017. An Environmental Statement (ES) was submitted as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in response to this requirement. 

In the context of the principle of the development, it was noted that the current relevant local planning policies were Strategic Minerals Policy P22 and Policy MWYN 3 in the Anglesey and Gwynedd  Joint Local Development Plan 2011 (LDP). Policy PS 22 stated that the Council would contribute to the permanent demand locally and regionally for the supply of minerals in accordance with the key objectives of sustainable development. It was also noted that Planning Policy Wales - Edition 12 (PPW 12) incorporated Welsh Government planning policies for minerals developments in Minerals Planning Policy Wales (2001).  In accordance with PPW 12, Cyngor Gwynedd, as the Mineral Planning Authority had a duty to ensure that mineral resources were exploited in a sustainable way so that they could make an appropriate contribution to the area’s construction materials requirements. It was added that the application complied with the criteria of Policy MWYN 3 which permitted development proposals for mineral exploration, mining or extensions to existing operations to maintain the Plan area’s landbank of aggregates, or to meet a need for other minerals. ⁠ ⁠

In the context of the landscape's visual amenities, it was noted that the proposed development would cause direct impacts to the landscape of the application site which were unavoidable due to the nature of mineral extraction.  As part of the supplementary documents, the applicant had provided a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVIA) which considered the sensitivity of surrounding landscape designations, residential areas and recreational receptors. ⁠Natural Resources Wales (NRW)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.