Agenda item

Provision of 21no. additional car parking spaces on land to the rear of 7 and 9 Green Lane with associated lighting, fence, and trolley shelter. [Westfield] [Site Visit]

Members considered a full application by Mr Gareth Wilkinson of WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC for the provision of 21 additional car parking spaces on land to the rear of 7 and 9 Green Lane with associated lighting, fence and trolley shelter.

Officers drew Members attention to an error in paragraph 1.1 of the report which should have read “land to the rear of 7 and 9 Green Lane” and not “….. Front Street…” as stated. They also advised Members that a letter of objection had been received from a local resident and had been circulated to Members at the meeting. This raised issues regarding the use of the Morrisons car park and advised that a parking use survey be carried out, to assess the extent of non-Morrison parking, and a travel plan for staff agreed and implemented before this application for further parking is determined.

Officers recommended that conditions 6 (illumination of car park), 8 (times of closure of security gate), 10 (details of staff parking) and 12 (provision of CCTC) be amended. (a copy of the officer’s update has been published online with the agenda papers for this meeting)

Representations were received from a local resident of Green Lane in objection to the application. He raised concerns about the potential level of noise from the proposed car park stating that the current car park is used by youths as a meeting place, and although a lockable security gate would prevent vehicles accessing the proposed car park when not in use, it would not prevent people for gaining access. He also expressed concerns that some mature trees had already been felled and more mature trees would require felling. He reminded Members that Morrisons had originally stated that additional parking would not be required and this proposal was in direct opposition to the Council’s policy on promoting green transport. He concluded by stating that Morrisons needed to reduce their parking requirements and undertake to properly manage their existing car park.

Members raised concerns about anti social behaviour and pointed out that the majority of this takes place when the store is open not closed. They queried whether the proposed additional car park could be closed at a specific time in the evening when there is sufficient space in the main car park. Officers suggested that it should be fairly easy to monitor and enforce this arrangement but pointed out that it would only keep cars out and not people..

The Environmental Protection Officer advised that an acoustic report had been submitted and analysed. The acoustic barrier would significantly remove the potential for noise from car movements and although there would be a small increase in noise, it should not affect residential amenity.

Members expressed the view that Morrisons needed to look into some issues with regard to the car park, including the actual need for parking spaces, and to establish a policy to encourage staff not to drive to work. They suggested that they also need to consider, in liaison with officers, the entrance of the car park onto Front Street and the safety of pedestrians crossing this entrance, which had been identified by an access group as an issue. Members also raised concerns about the increased potential for anti social behaviour in the area and stated that this needed to be considered further.

Members agreed that the application should be deferred in order that the applicant could:

i.                      finalise a travel plan especially in relation to staff travel;

ii.                    explore options with officers for improving the entrance of the car park onto Front Street; in order to alleviate safety concerns.

iii.                  consider what hours the car park could be locked; and

iv.                   examine ways of reducing the potential for anti social behaviour in the car park.

RESOLVED:            

That the application be deferred for the above reasons.

REASON:                 

In order that the above information is available to Members and Officers when the application is determined.