Agenda item

Change of use to green waste composting.

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an application for the change of use to green waste composting at Joint Stocks Landfill Site, Quarrington Hill Road, Coxhoe (for copy see file of Minutes).

Chris Shields, Senior Planning Officer provided a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location map, aerial photograph, a view looking south across the site and a view of the compost pad.

The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee that Councillor Dunn, local Member, had requested that a condition be placed on the permission to restrict HGVs to only use the haul road to avoid travelling through Coxhoe.  While most vehicles accessing the site already did this, there were currently no restrictions in place.  While HGVs could be instructed to use the haul road, a condition would not be enforceable because the origin of the journey of any HGV was not known.

D Wafer, Strategic Traffic Manager informed the Committee that there was currently a weight restriction to the south of Coxhoe.  While a restriction on the type of vehicle could not be imposed it was within the gift of the Council to instruct HGVs on their route to the site because they would be County Council vehicles.

Councillor Richardson moved that the application be approved.

Councillor Wilkes informed the Committee that the local Member had requested the condition because of concerns he had about potential impact on the community.  Councillor Wilkes asked why the Council could not Condition itself by placing such a restriction on the permission.

Councillor Robinson replied that this was not a planning issue but the Council could have a policy of instructing its vehicles to use Hall Lane for access.  C Cuskin, Planning and Development Solicitor informed the Committee that any condition must meet certain tests, including to make the development acceptable, and must be enforceable.  Councillor Wilkes asked whether the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Local Partnerships to ensure that Council vehicles accessing the site used the haul road to do so.  Councillor Robinson confirmed he would do this.

Resolved:

(i)            That the application be approved subject to the conditions contained within the report;

(ii)          That the Chairman write to the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Local Partnerships to request that Council vehicles accessing the site be instructed to use the haul road to do so.