Shropshire Council website

This is the website of Shropshire Council

Contact information

E-mail

customer.service@shropshire.gov.uk

Telephone

0345 678 9000

Postal Address

Shropshire Council
Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6ND

Agenda item

Proposed Development Land To The West Of Meole Brace Retail Park, Shrewsbury - 17/05587/FUL

Erection of Class A1/A3 Use unit with drive through, provision of parking, servicing, landscaping and all associated works

Minutes:

 

Councillor Ted Clarke as local ward Councillor vacated the Chair and Councillor Nat Green as Vice-Chairman presided as Chairman for this item. 

 

In accordance with his declaration at Minute No. 23 Councillor Tony Parsons as local ward Councillor left the table during consideration of this item, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.

 

In accordance with his declaration at Minute No. 23 Councillor Clarke as local ward Councillor made a statement and then left the table did not take part in the debate and did not vote on this application.

 

The Planning Officer introduced the application for the erection of class A1/A3 Use unit with drive through, provision of parking, servicing, landscaping and all associated works and confirmed that the Committee had undertaken a site visit that morning to assess the impact of the proposed development on neighbouring properties and the surrounding area.  The Planning Officer drew Members’ attention to the Schedule of Additional Letters.

 

In accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15.1), Councillor Ted Clarke addressed the Committee as the local ward Councillor, made a statement and then left the table, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item. During his statement, a number of points were raised including the following:

 

·         He was concerned that this was another development within the already congested retail park and about the cumulative impact on the access/egress into the retail park and onto the public highway;

·         He felt that this development would increase the number of car journeys joining a busy roundabout and that a drive through in particular would create a different form of traffic, which would be short stay and heavier throughout the day;

·         Nothing has been done to improve the flow of traffic within the retail park;

·         Enough is enough.

 

Ms Hollie Barton, Agent on behalf of the applicant, spoke in favour of the proposal in accordance with Shropshire Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

 

Members raised concerns about increased traffic flow, heavy goods vehicles accessing the site and trespassing on disabled parking spaces, and about the loss of parking spaces for existing businesses.  Members were however pleased that the internal road improvements were being addressed.

 

The Principal Planning Officer explained that although there were issues with the internal circulation he reminded Members that they should only be considering the impact on the public highway and not on the flow of traffic within the retail park as this was a matter for the owners.

 

In response to concerns about reduced safety on the public highway, the Principal Planning Officer explained that safety was the bastion upon which Highways assess all planning applications and although additional traffic may increase waiting times, it would be difficult to argue that the additional traffic would increase waiting times to a point where it would make the highway unsafe, unless it were to back up to other major roundabouts.

 

Having considered the submitted plans and listened to the comments made by the speakers Members unanimously expressed their objection to the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation.

 

 

          RESOLVED:

That planning permission be refused contrary to the Officer’s recommendation for the           following reasons:

 

·           The implications for increased traffic flow and waiting times on the public highway;

 

·           Movement of traffic into, out of and within the development, especially the movement of HGVs across disabled spaces; and

 

·           The adequacy of parking spaces for existing businesses.

Supporting documents:

 

Print this page

Back to top