Planning & Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Wednesday 7 June 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors  Blair,  Campbell,  Hunter, McCormick, McGhee and Morrison (M).

Chair:  Councillor McGhee presided.

In attendance:  Mr C Clelland (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Planning Services and Mr G Cooper (for Head of Transportation & Roads Service).

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Sub-Committee.

      557

PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR CONTINUED CONSIDERATION

557

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2000 by the Head of Planning Services regarding an application by Tilbury Douglas Homes plc for a proposed increase in the level of the play area platform (in retrospect) at Hill Farm, Inverkip (IC/99/384), consideration of which had been continued from the meeting held on 1 March 2000 to allow the Head of Planning Services to discuss the application with the developers in terms of the original planning consent.  The report advised that the applicant had subsequently confirmed that the application had been withdrawn and that it was intended to re-establish the levels of the play area platform as previously approved.

Noted

      558

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

558

There were submitted reports by the Head of Planning Services on the following applications which were submitted, together with letters of objection and support where submitted, and dealt with as follows:-

      (a)

Erection of 46 Dwellinghouses (amendment to reserved matters approval IC/99/171):

Levan Farm, Gourock (IC/99/377R)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted subject to the condition that no development shall commence until samples of all external materials have been submitted to and approved by the Head of Planning Services in writing, to ensure that the materials used are in keeping with the character of this prominent edge of settlement location.

      (b)

Erection of 3 Dwellinghouses (in outline):

Aileymill Gardens, Greenock (IC/00/1)

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

      558

Decided:  that planning permission be refused as, due to the failure of the applicant to submit information on the degree of ground level change required to accommodate the housing, it is not possible to ascertain the suitability of the site for the proposed development.¼

558

      (c)

Installation of Ventilation Ducting and Air Conditioning Unit (in retrospect):

70 Lynedoch Street, Greenock (IC/00/99)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted.

      (d)

Re-roofing of Lean to Stores Using Profile Cladding (in retrospect):

High Street, Kilmacolm (IC/00/77)

Decided:  that planning permission be granted.

      (e)

Erection of Business Centre:

Smithy Brae, Kilmacolm (IC/00/65)

Councillor Calvert was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

Decided:

(a)  that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:-

(1)  that no development shall commence until samples of all external materials, including colour, fully detailed landscaping proposals, boundary treatment and car park access control have been submitted to and approved by the Head of Planning Services in writing, to ensure that the materials used in the development are sympathetic to the existing built form of Smithy Brae, that a high quality landscaping scheme is provided and to ensure that management of the car park provides appropriate car parking for business centre uses;

(2)  that the business centre shall not be occupied until the car park layout detailed in docquetted drawing REL 002-100 is completed to the satisfaction of the Head of Planning Services,  to maintain road safety on Smithy Brae;

(3)  that prior to the commencement of work on site the applicant shall carry out a CCTV survey of the culvert running through the site, the CCTV survey shall be submitted to the Head of Planning Services and any repair or drainage improvement required shall be implemented prior to the business centre being brought into operation, to prevent flooding on Smithy Brae affecting the business centre and existing properties and in the interests of public safety;

(4)  that the business centre shall not operate outwith the hours 8.00am - 11.00pm, to ensure that residents in the surrounding properties are not disturbed by night time activity;

(5)  that the developer shall secure the implementation of an archaeological watching brief to be carried out by an archaeological organisation acceptable to the planning authority during development work: the retained archaeological organisation shall be afforded access at all reasonable times and allowed to record and recover items of interest and finds,  terms of reference for the watching brief will be supplied by the West of Scotland Archaeology Service and the name of the archaeological organisation retained by the developer shall be given to the planning authority and to the West of Scotland Archaeology Service in writing not less than 14 days before development commences, to allow the archaeological significance of the site to ½be assessed;

(6)  that the approved scheme of landscaping shall be implemented in the first planting season following completion of the business centre and any specimens that in the subsequent 5 years die become diseased or are damaged shall be replaced in the next planting season with a similar specimen unless the Head of Planning Services gives his prior written consent to any variation that may be sought, to maintain a quality landscape setting for the business centre; and

(7)   that pedestrian access shall be maintained through the site from Whitelea Court to Smithy Brae at all times, to maintain the existing established pedestrian link across the site; and

(b)  that the Head of Planning Services raise with the developer the Sub-Committee’s concerns in respect of right turning vehicles at the entrance and exit of the site during the construction period and clarify with the developer that so far as practicable, and having regard to Health and Safety requirements, condition (7) requires that appropriate arrangements be made to maintain access through the site from Whitelea Court to Smithy Brae at all times including during the construction period.

      559

PLANNING APPEAL

559

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2000 by the Head of Planning Services advising that following the decision of the Sub-Committee at the meeting held on 3 November 1999 to refuse an application to amend the opening hours of the shop premises at 128 Eldon Street, Greenock (IC/99/280), and the subsequent appeal by the applicant to the First Minister against that refusal, the Reporter appointed by the First Minister had issued his decision which was to uphold the appeal.

Noted

      560

Advertisement Appeal

560

There was submitted a report dated 23 May 2000 by the Head of Planning Services advising that following the decision of the Sub-Committee at the meeting held on 5 January 2000 to refuse an application for the erection of 2 illuminated advertising hoardings at Drumfrochar Road, Greenock (CA/99/55), and the subsequent appeal by the applicant to the First Minister against that refusal, the Reporter appointed by the First Minister had issued his decision which was to dismiss the appeal.

Noted

      561

Telecommunication Masts - Requirements for Planning Permission

561

There was submitted a report by the Head of Planning Services (1) on current planning legislation relative to telecommunication apparatus including telecommunication masts and (2) providing an update on the Scottish Executive’s response to recent concern on the possible health implications.

Decided: 

(1) that the current position with regard to the permitted development rights of telecommunication operators be noted and that it be remitted to the Head of Planning Services to submit a further report on any future legislative and procedural changes by the Scottish Executive; and

(2)  that, in the interim, the Head of Planning Services submit all planning applications for telecommunication development to the Sub-Committee for determination.

      562

Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders - 12 Bridges, Various Locations: 24 Tonne Weight Restriction

562

There was submitted a report dated 19 May 2000 by the Director of Legal and Support Services recommending the making of Traffic Regulation Orders to introduce a 24 tonne weight restriction on a number of bridges.

Decided:  that the Inverclyde Council be recommended to make Resolutions under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in relation to Traffic Regulation Orders to introduce a 24 tonne weight restriction on the following bridges:-

Chalmers Street, Gourock

Duncan Street, Greenock

Bogston Station, Greenock

Kelburn Terrace, Port Glasgow

Port Glasgow Station, Port Glasgow

Drumfrochar Road, Greenock

Manor Crescent, Gourock

Pennyfern Road, Greenock

Bearhope Street, Greenock

Millhouse Road, Inverkip

Brachelston Street, Greenock

Mearns Street, Greenock

and thereafter that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service and the Director of Legal and Support Services to arrange for implementation of the Orders.

      563

Proposed Traffic Regulation Order - A770 Cloch Road, Gourock:  Waiting Restrictions Revocation

563

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2000 by the Director of Legal and Support Services recommending the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to revoke waiting restrictions currently in force on the A770 Cloch Road, Gourock.

Decided:  that the Inverclyde Council be recommended to make a Resolution under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in relation to a Traffic Regulation Order to revoke waiting restrictions currently in force on the A770 Cloch Road, Gourock and thereafter that it be remitted to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service and the Director of Legal and Support Services to arrange for implementation of the Order.