Agenda item

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

Link to relevant background documents

To defer in order to discuss the amended plans regarding the entrance

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.