PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE (04/02/10)

PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE HELD 4th FEBRUARY 2010 (By Graham France) With just three applications seeking planning permission this month’s meeting of the Planning and Building Committee, the “open” part lasting barely twenty-five minutes, is believed by the writer to be the shortest since it first met in early 1991. The first submission to be considered, deposited by Alexander Arkhipkin, was for the erection of a 1.8 metre-high fence on roadside boundaries at 13 Biggs Road. Prior consultation with the Director of Public Services showed no problems were likely with highway visibility and accordingly planning permission was granted subject to the standard condition. Next was a proposal submitted by Sarah Crofts, the Community Services Officer on behalf of Falklands Conservation, for the erection of an oiled wildlife rehabilitation facility near to the Department of Agriculture “Green Shed” at Eliza Cove Road. Some discussion took place over the proposed condition requiring the installation of an interceptor to trap oil wastes given, it was stated, there would be a very limited amount of oil from birds to be treated at the facility. Nevertheless, permission was granted subject to the inclusion of that interceptor in the drainage system. The third application was submitted Keith and Marilyn Grimmer who proposed the building of a one-and-a-half-storey dwelling at 19 Brandon Road. Antony Payne, the Environmental Planning Officer, provided members with a detailed account of the circumstances relating to the site which included mention of an outline consent granted to the current applicants in July 2008. This was conditional that the proposed house should be no more than one-storey in height with the gross floor area not to exceed 88 square metres, the condition being necessary in the interests of visual amenity and the appearance of the area. Concerns over loss of privacy were expressed in a letter received then, which were repeated for the current application, and members gave due consideration to these and resolved to accept the recommendation it be refused. Grounds for refusal included that the development “will give rise to a significant loss of amenity and does not safeguard built heritage by virtue of it location and design relative to a designated building (15 Pioneer Row, Stanley).” There was just one application for an Off-Street Parking Grant – this was made by Gary McGill for work at 15 Brandon Road and was approved. In the course of the meeting mention was made of the approval by ExCo of new Lay Member Jacky Cotter and members were told she would attend her first meeting in April. The next meeting of the committee, at which there are currently eleven new applications to be considered, is scheduled to be held in the Liberation Room on Thursday 4th March commencing at 8.30am.