Variation of condition (01) of planning permission DF4477/V to allow visibility splays of 87m. distant to the north and 85m. distant to the south

Variation of condition (01) of planning permission DF4477/V to allow visibility splays of 87m. distant to the north and 85m. distant to the south

Principal Planning Officer, Emma Norgate, referred members to the late material that had been circulated at the start of the meeting and said that the additional representations had raised no new issues. Neil Troughton from Gloucestershire County Council (Highways) was in attendance at the meeting to answer any questions on technical highway issues relating to the application.

Please refer to the late material circulated before the start of the meeting

Committee consideration

Local member, Councillor Philip Burford asked Neil Troughton from Gloucestershire County Council (Highways) several questions before proposing that the application be deferred for a site visit. He asked; in what circumstances was the Department for Transport’s document ‘Manual for Streets’ used, and likewise, when was the Design Guide for Roads and Bridges used? He also enquired into the average speed limit for this location and whether or not it was good practice to have two access roads joining the main road, when located opposite one another.

Referring to a report that had been undertaken by a traffic management and safety consultancy company in preparation of the Manual of Streets Project, Councillor Burford drew members’ attention to the report and said that it appeared to question the suitability of the Manual for Streets in relation to this application. (A copy of the report is available on the council website).

Mr Troughton said that the Manual for Streets was applicable to all streets that were not trunk roads or motorways, irrespective of the speed limit for the area. However, on roads with a speed limit of 40 mph or above, which he confirmed this one was, local context was relevant. In relation to the access roads located opposite the site, Mr Troughton said that there were no plans to change the access arrangements and that the planning inspector had raised no concerns in relation to this issue. Several other members said that they had been confused by some of the information they had received prior to this meeting and questioned why the highway authority had changed their approach to such matters. Mr Troughton said that the policies had changed over time and that many of the old standards had been replaced. He said that, following the introduction of new national guidance, the evaluation process was a completely different process.

Following a detailed account of how the highway authority had reached their conclusions, Mr Troughton informed members that the application should be considered in light of the new National Planning Policy Framework where, ‘decisions should take account of whether safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all people’ and, ‘development should only be prevented or refused on transport grounds where the residual cumulative impacts of development were severe’.

Vote

Councillor Philip Burford proposed that the application be deferred for members to visit the site, with a request for the distances relating to the variation of the condition being clearly marked for members to see. Councillor Norman Stephens said that, having heard the information from the highway authority, he would like to consider the proposals in person before confirming his decision. Seconding the proposal, Councillor Stephens said that it might be useful to have a representative from the highway authority in attendance at the site visit and suggested sending an invitation to Gloucestershire County Council (Highways). Group Manager for Planning and Housing, Peter Williams, said that he would send the invitation but was unable to guarantee whether anyone would attend. A recorded vote was taken and members,

RESOLVED to defer consideration of the application to allow members to visit the site

For (14)

Councillors James Bevan, Philip Burford, Judy Davis, Frankie Evans, Val Hobman, Jane Horne, Brian Jones, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Paul McMahon, Graham Morgan, Norman Stephens, Lynn Sterry, Arthur Thomas and David Thompson

Against (1)

Councillor Terry Glastonbury

Abstentions (0)