Agenda item

Construction of tarmac multi-use games area with fencing surrounds.

An update sheet was tabled and is attached as annex 2.

Officers:

Alan Stones, Planning, Development and Control Team Manager

Nathan Morley, Senior Planning Officer

Nancy El-Shatoury, Principal Lawyer

Kerry James, Principal Transport Development Planning Officer

Speakers:

Barry Evans, a resident of the Firs Sheltered Housing development and the Deputy Chairman of the Firs and Fawcus Close Residents Associationmade representations in objection to the application on behalf of himself and another four residents; Brenda Goldsmith, Ethel Edwards, Bruce Rostron and Sandra Maycock.  The following points were made:

·         Informed the Committee that windows of the Firs was directly facing the school which is a few metres away.

·         Expressed that the grass area closest to the Firs is normally fairly quiet area, using this space for a multi use games area (MUGA) would cause noise and be detrimental to the residents.

·         Expressed that the new application was misleading and included inaccurate information.

·         Expressed that there was no consideration to how to school would mitigate the noise impact.

·         Expressed that the visual impact of the MUGA would not be in keeping with the surrounding area.

·         Disagreed with the Planning Officers determination that there was not another suitable location for the MUGA.

·         Noted the current condition was that the school would use the MUGA between 8.00am and 5.45pm, the school often use facilities later then this and on weekends.

·         Noted that the Firs residents are elderly and very frail, during the summer they sit on the patio directly facing the MUGA, noise will affect the peace and quiet.

·         Expressed that some grass banking could be taken away at the other end of the site and the MUGA placed there.

·         Noted that the Firs Residents are sympathetic to the schools needs but express noise and living conditions need to be bearable, the prolonged application has caused stress and anxiety to the residents.

Darryl Taylor, the Claygate Primary School Head Teacher, made representations in support to the application.  The following points were raised:

·         Informed the Committee that the number of pupils at the school had increased to 460, space had been reduced to accommodate more classrooms meaning as much playground space as possible was needed.

·         Expressed that the chosen location for the MUGA was the only viable option.  Option B would cut the playground off from the MUGA and option C would cut the playground in half.  That could be unsafe for the pupils, the children can be much easily monitored when all in one place.

·         Informed the Committee that the MUGA would be used the same amount as the grass area is currently, children already occupy the grass area outside the Firs at break time.

·         Noted that after school clubs finish at 5.45pm and evening/weekend use would be unauthorised.

·         Additional drainage would be installed in the northern part of the site which would stop runoff water going onto the Firs land.

·         Expressed that the school has a good and considerate relationship with the Firs residents and expressed some residents enjoy seeing the children play.

·         Noted that the Firs previously had an extension built bringing the site closer to the school.

·         Expressed that the school was happy to accept restrictions on the use of the MUGA.

The Local Member did not register to speak.

1.   The Senior Planning Officer introduced the report and reminded the Committee that the application had previously been referred back to the school to look at further options.  The school has supplemented more information to support the reasons why a MUGA is needed in the specified location and to consider three alternative locations.

2.   The Chairman stated that a well attended site visit by the Planning and Regulatory Committee had recently taken place.

3.   The Committee was informed that there would be no significant noise or visual impacts and no increase in the number of children using the site and that the MUGA would only be used by the school.  This was supported by the fact that the plans are acceptable under the National Noise Policy.

4.   A Member questioned why the update sheet stated the Firs residents should close their windows to maintain an appropriate noise levels and it was clarified that this meant to deal with reasonable infrequent noise.  It was added that the only issue with the application was residential amenity.

5.   The Committee expressed the need for the school to have a MUGA and emphasised that the chosen location was the only viable option.  A Member expressed that the condition should remain at 8.00am for permission to use the MUGA from.

6.   Officers informed the Committee that the school gates were locked securely meaning no unauthorised access to the MUGA would be possible.

RESOLVED:

It was agreed that pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992, Application No. EL2012/3285 be PERMITTED subject to conditions for the reasons set out in the report, including an amended condition 5 as recommended in the update sheet.

Action/further information to be provided:

None.