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 Davies

Link to relevant background documents

 

DECISION: To approve the application subject to the following conditions:

 

1.    Commence within five years

2.    In accordance with submitted plans.

3.    The number of units on the site at any one time to be restricted to 40

4.    Restrict the season to between 1 March and 31 October

5.    Holiday use only

6.    Maintain a register of users

7.    No caravans to be stored on the site outside the season

8.    All internal and external signs to be in Welsh only or bilingual with a priority given to the Welsh language

9.    The recommendations of the Ecological Assessment Report must be observed 

10.  The visibility with the A497 must be maintained to the standards shown on the plans on an ongoing basis

11.  Welsh Water Condition

12.  Landscaping conditions

 

·         Note - Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, Licensing Unit

 

Change of use of agricultural land into a proposed touring caravan park including amenity block, access track and entrance

 

a)    The Development Control Officer highlighted that this was an application to change the use of agricultural land, to a touring caravan park.  The work would include:

·         Installing 40 informal grassed pitches measuring at least 8m x 8m

·         Creating a 3.6m wide hardcore access road forming a one-way network through the site

·         Construction of amenity block providing toilets, showers and washing facilities.

·         Creating a new 'clawdd' along the western boundary of the site

 

It was reported that the application had been submitted to committee on 22 November, 2021, when a decision was made to defer the application to allow officers to consider additional information received and to further discuss the details of the development with the applicant.

 

It was explained that the site was located in open countryside approximately 300m along the road, which is partly private and partly unclassified, from the A497 highway leading from Pwllheli to Nefyn.

 

Members were reminded of the concerns referred to at the previous meeting, namely the lack of consideration to biodiversity matters and access to the caravan park.  In response, it was noted that additional information had been submitted:

·         An Initial Ecological Assessment that included measures to protect ancient trees together with an ecological improvement plan to include the planting of native hedgerow, growing flowers and erecting bird boxes. It was noted that the Biodiversity Unit was satisfied with the proposals.

·         An amended plan for the junction with the A497, which would involve widening the grass verge near the road, felling two trees and managing the height of the 'clawdd' in order to create a visibility splay of up to 160m to the west. It was noted that the Transportation Unit was satisfied with the proposals and the Planning Officers accepted that the amendments overcame the safety issues.

 

It was considered that the proposal with the additional submitted information, met with the requirements for developing a new seasonal camping site as noted in Policy TWR 5 of the LDP and by imposing appropriate conditions in order to ensure the required changes to the highway access and mitigation steps to protect biodiversity, that the development would meet the requirements of the relevant policies in the LDP.

 

b)  Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant noted the following observations:

 

·         That he came from a Welsh farming family with Welsh values. 

·         His family had lived and farmed in north Wales for over 200 years and he himself had farmed at Bodvel for over 50 years.

·         During this period his policy was always to support the values of the local community, the local people themselves, and local businesses and services.

·         He had always employed local people from local families and stated with pride that generations of the same local families had worked on the farm and had been directly responsible for managing agricultural aspects and care of farm animals.

·         He had been involved with a number of businesses in the area including restaurants, hotels, riding schools, a building company, garage and a visitors' centre in Bodvel. With every business he had adhered to the same principle of keeping everything local.  He would continue with these values if the application was successful.

·         It would also be his honour to host the 2023 National Eisteddfod at the farm in Bodvel. This would allow him to promote his ethos of supporting the Welsh language together with its traditions, values and way of life - not only locally but with a much wider audience by promoting the Welsh way of life to future generations.

 

c)    It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

 

d)    It was highlighted that the Local Member, Councillor Anwen Davies, declared an interest as she was the owner of a touring caravan park

 

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

·         That improvements to visibility matters from the access to the A497 were acceptable

·         That biodiversity matters had been addressed

 

RESOLVED to approve the application subject to the following conditions: 

         

1.       Commence within five years

2.       In accordance with submitted plans

3.       The number of units on the site at any one time to be restricted to 40

4.       Restrict the season to between 1 March and 31 October

5.       Holiday use only

6.       Maintain a register of users

7.       No caravans to be stored on the site outside the season

8.       All internal and external signs to be in Welsh only or bilingual with a priority given to the Welsh language

9.       The recommendations of the Ecological Assessment Report must be observed 

10.     The visibility with the A497 must be maintained to the standards shown on the plans on an ongoing basis

11.     Welsh Water Condition

12.     Landscaping conditions

 

• Note - Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, Licensing Unit