Issue - meetings

To consider the above planning application.

Note: Councillor M Jones (the Leader of the Council), who had registered an intention to speak, attended the meeting and addressed the Committee with respect to Gypsy and Traveller sites in general.

Note: Having declared that her son lived opposite the site and that she had discussed the application, Councillor P Butterill withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item.

Note: Councillor Rachel Bailey (Ward Councillor) attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this matter.

The Committee considered a report regarding the above planning application, a written update and an oral update by the Southern Area Manager – Development Management.

Committee Members also noted that in the officer’s report ‘industrial purposes’ in the second paragraph under ‘Amenity’ should read ‘residential purposes’.

RESOLVED – That, contrary to the planning officer’s recommendation for approval, the application be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.    The location of the site represents an unsustainable form of development due to the distance from local services and facilities contrary to Policies RES13 (Sites for Gypsies and Travelling Showpeople) of the adopted Borough of Crewe and Nantwich Replacement Local Plan 2011 and Policy HOU6 (Gypsy Caravan Sites) of the Cheshire Structure Plan and the guidance contained within paragraph 23 of Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.

2.    In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposed development will have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the open countryside which is not outweighedby need contrary to Policies NE.2 (Open Countryside) and RES.13 (Sites for Gypsies and Travelling Showpeople) of the adopted Borough of Crewe and Nantwich Replacement Local Plan 2011.