Concerns fail to stop planning (From Gazette Series)

Concerns fail to stop planning

A CONTROVERSIAL planning application has been given the go-ahead by district planners despite concerns about access for emergency vehicles.

Members of Stroud District Council's development control committee met recently to discuss the application for approval of reserved matters of land to the rear of 13 Woodland Avenue, Dursley following the approval of an application for the erection of a dwelling, garage and access.

Members of the committee raised various concerns about the plan during a debate on the application, including the size of the development and access.

Cllr Brian Marsh (Dursley, Lib Dem) said: "About three months ago when this application came up last time I took a drive to Woodland Avenue. I found that there were at least 30 cars parked on that road. At the end of the cul-de-sac I had a job to turn my car around.

"In no way could an ambulance or fire engine get down that road in the evening. We would have to move all the cars before we could get to where it was needed. We have got to refuse this on highway grounds."

In moving to refuse the application Cllr Paul Smith (Wotton-under-Edge, Lib Dem) said: "I feel this is an appalling site particularly for those around it. I think the fact they have lowered the building by 1.25 metres is minimal. I feel quite strongly about this site. I realise it has been reduced but the mass of the building is far too big for the site.

Members were warned by staff from the council's planning department that they could face a risk assessment and planning appeals if they did not approve the plan.

Ian Gobey, the council's development control manager, said: "If we refuse this application we could end up with two appeals. They could decide to appeal against the last refusal too.

"We have to decide this based on policy and planning law because there is a valid outline planning on that site. We have to make this decision knowing that."

Approval of the plan was made after a move to have the application refused was defeated.