Change of
use of agricultural land to proposed touring caravan park (40nr pitches)
including amenities block, access track and access entrance
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Anwen J Davies
Decision:
To defer in order to discuss the amended plans
regarding the entrance
Minutes:
Change of use of agricultural land into a proposed
touring caravan park (40 pitches) including amenity block, track and access
Attention was drawn to
the late observations form.
a)
The Development Control
Officer highlighted that this was an application to change the use of
agricultural land, approximately one third of an existing pasture, to a touring
caravan park. The work would include:
·
40 informal grassed pitches measuring at least 8m x 8m
·
3.6m wide hardcore access road forming a one-way network through the site
- there will also be space for charging electric cars.
·
Safe play area in the centre of the site.
·
Amenity block providing toilets, showers and washing facilities - this would
be a timber building with a flat roof, 11.4m x 6.8m in surface area and 2.6m
high.
·
Creating a new clawdd
along the site's western boundary - this would be formed with 2m of soil and
planted with indigenous hedgerow plants.
It was explained that the site was located in open countryside
approximately 1.1km to the west of the Llannor
cluster as defined by the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan;
approximately 300m along the road, which was partly private and partly
unclassified, from the A497 highway leading from Pwllheli to Nefyn.
Attention was drawn to
the observations of the Biodiversity Unit, which noted that there were several
records of birds listed under section 7 of the Environment Act (2016) on or
nearby the site and they suggested that the applicant should provide a
Preliminary Ecological Assessment of the site. Concern was also expressed
regarding the impact of improving access to the site on the nearby trees and
hedges. It was reported that no information regarding these matters had been
received by the applicant; however, it was considered that by setting
conditions to ensure appropriate mitigation measures, that this proposal could
be acceptable in terms of its impact on biodiversity and in the long run, it
could satisfy the requirements of policy PS 19.
In response to the
original observations of the Transportation Unit, further proposals had been
submitted to ensure safe access to the site. However, despite the proposed
improvements, the Transportation Unit's concerns remained in relation to the
scheme. It was considered that the development was likely to attract more
traffic along the narrow road to the site, and, although recognising the
proposal to introduce an additional passing place on the unclassified road and
introducing road markings on its junction with the private road, concern
remained about the lack of visibility on the junction, between the unclassified
road and the A497. The proposals made, namely to cut the hedge on the A498 near
the junction to a height of 1.1m for 100 yards to the direction of Nefyn, were not enough to overcome safety issues resulting
from lack of visibility on the road which was much lower than the ideal
standards. It was highlighted that the Service had now received an amended plan
for the junction and the recommendation was now to defer the decision so that
these plans could be discussed with the applicant.
b) It was proposed and seconded to defer the application.
RESOLVED to defer the application in order to discuss the amended plans
regarding the access.
Supporting documents: