Agenda item

12.1 10C130 – Cable Bay Car Park, Aberffraw

12.2 10C131 – Broad Beach Car Park, Rhosneigr

12.3 18C224A – Fron Hendre, Llanfairynghornwy

12.4 25C255A – Tan Rallt, Carmel

12.5 19LPA1028/CC – 5//5a Stanley Crescent, Holyhead

12.1    10C130 – Full application for the siting of a parking meter at Cable Bay Car Park, Aberffraw

The application is reported to the Planning and Orders Committee as it has been called in for the Committee’s determination by a Local Member due to strong feelings within the local community.

Councillor Ann Griffith stood down as Chair of the Committee for this application in order to address the matter as a Local Member. The Vice-Chair chaired the item.

Ms Sioned Edwards, a Public Speaker addressed the Committee in favour of the application and she said that the application is to site a parking meter at Cable Bay car park the dimensions of which are 1.9m in height by 0.4 meter in width. In order to mitigate the visual impact of the parking meter on the surrounding landscape which is an AONB, the meter will be located near other such structures such as a private land sign and refuse bins. The meter will be screened from the wider landscape by sand dunes and vegetation. The meter will be in the car park in the private ownership of Bodorgan Estate and will be managed by the Estate. The application does not involved change of land use and the current usage of the land as a car park will continue. Neither does it involve changing the car park’s hours of use. The principle of charging for parking in car parks by beaches is accepted in several locations across Anglesey including Llanddwyn and Benllech. Bodorgan Estate has consulted on the intention to levy a parking charge in Summer 2015; the income generated will be used to improve the facilities available to visitors in the area including access to beaches and the coastal path. The Highways Authority has indicated it will prohibit parking on the highway. Letters of objection raise a concern that the car park will be closed overnight. That does not form part of the application.

Councillor Peter Rogers spoke as a Local Member and he emphasised the credentials of Bodorgan Estate as a landowner in terms of the way it services its communities and that the wish to improve standards is the reason for the application. The Highways Department does not object to the proposal. One of the biggest problems is camping by caravans overnight and for extended periods and the resultant debris that produces; the Bodorgan Estate is seeking to control that issue and to make improvements for visitors. The consultation on the intention took place 12 months ago and was carried out with a number of interested parties.

Councillor Ann Griffith also speaking as a Local Member confirmed that she had called in the application due to numerous expressions of concern regarding the proposal both local and from further afield from public users of the beaches. She had also asked for opinions via Facebook which had generated 8 late responses; those had been forwarded to the Planning Department. Councillor Ann Griffith clarified that the area in question is Cable Bay and Tyn Towyn. She said that the main reason for objecting is parking on the highway and she read extracts from objectors’ comments highlighting the prevailing concern that imposing a charge on parking in the car parks will lead to parking on the highway which is a busy road leading to adverse effects, potential road safety issues and may possibly deter the visiting public from using the beach and other facilities with consequent effects for the local economy.

Councillor Richard Dew, a Local Member of a neighbouring electoral area asked the Committee to refuse both this and application 12.2 on the agenda on the basis of the unsuitability of siting parking meters within an AONB; whether there is a need to charge at all and because it will lead to parking on the road. 

The Planning Development Team Leader reported that the application is to site a parking meter in the car park and not to determine either the principle of use of the car park or the principle of levying a parking charge. 8 objections have been received which raise several issues including that the proposal will create a barrier to parking; that is not a part of the application. The car park is in private ownership and the car parking levy is a private matter for the landowner. It is considered that the placement of a parking meter would have a neutral effect on the surrounding landscape and it is sufficiently screened by surrounding dunes and vegetation. Neither is it considered that it will impact the surrounding amenities or any neighbouring properties to a degree that warrants refusal. The Highways Authority raises no objection but has indicated that it will seek to prevent parking on the A4080 using it power under the Highway Act.

The Highways Officer said that there are existing problems with cars parking on the highway and that the Traffic Section has confirmed an intention to improve the highway by imposing measures to prevent parking on the road most probably by the introduction of double yellow lines. That intention is confirmed regardless of the outcome of the application in question.

The Committee was divided by the application with some Members of the opinion that a broader view should be taken being mindful of the possible effects of the proposal not only on local residents but on tourism and consequently on the local economy and that making more car parks free of charge would be more advantageous to the Island and its economy than charging for parking. Other Members highlighted the existence already of a number of charging car parks along the coast many of which are in the Council’s ownership. Placing a parking meter in the park and charging for parking will not affect parking on the highway as that happens already when the car park is full.

Councillor John Griffith proposed that the application be approved and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Vaughan Hughes. Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be refused contrary to the Officer’s recommendation and the proposal was seconded by Councillor W.T. Hughes.

In the subsequent vote, the proposal to refuse the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation was carried by 3 votes to 2 with Councillors John Griffith and Vaughan Hughes voting for the application and Councillors Kenneth Hughes, Victor Hughes and W.T Hughes voting against. Councillor Jeff Evans abstained from voting because he felt he could not determine the application without first knowing what the parking charge was likely to be and the use the income would be put to which he believed were influencing factors.

It was resolved to refuse the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation because of its likely negative effect on local people and on tourism.

(In accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution, the application was automatically deferred to the next meeting to allow Officers the opportunity to prepare a report in respect of the reasons given for approving the application)

12.2    10C131 – Full application for the siting of a parking meter at Broad Beach Car Park, Rhosneigr

The application is reported to the Planning and Orders Committee as it has been called in for the Committee’s determination by a Local Member due to strong feelings within the local community.

Councillor Ann Griffith stood down as Chair of the Committee for this application in order to address the matter as a Local Member. The Vice-Chair chaired the item.

Ms Sioned Edwards, a Public Speaker spoke for the application and said that this is an application to place a parking meter on private land and has nothing to do with the principle of parking on the site. As regards effects on tourism and the local economy, the principle of charging for parking is established in other areas including in car park in the Council’s ownership. Bodorgan Estate does not have to offer the site in question as a car park and the public does not have any automatic rights in relation to the land. As regard local clubs which may wish to use the car park after 7 p.m. e.g. the Surfing Club, she was confident that Bodorgan Estate could accommodate that wish.

Councillor Peter Rogers speaking as a Local Member said that the car park in this instance includes toilet facilities which are maintained by Bodorgan Estate and which are a valuable asset. The placing of a meter will deter parking by caravans for longer periods and the clear up cost which this entails. The income will contribute to resurfacing the whole area in due course thus asking it more attractive to tourists.

Councillor Ann Griffith said that as a Local Member she did not have anything material to add as regards this application but would ask if the Committee is mindful to approve the application that it considers whether there is a way of asking Bodorgan Estate to offer a concession to local people.

The Planning Development Team Leader said that there was no objection to the application from the Officer’s perspective but that the issue of a concession is a private matter and cannot be managed by a condition.

Councillor John Griffith proposed that the application be approved and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Vaughan Hughes.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions set out in the written report.

12.3    18C224A – Full application for conversion of outbuildings into two dwellings together with the installation of a package treatment plant at Fron Hendre, Llanfairynghornwy

The application is reported to the Planning and Orders Committee as it involves Council owned land at the access to the site.

The Planning Development Team Leader reported that amended drawings have been received in response to concerns raised by the Built Environment and Landscape Section and these are confirmed as being acceptable as regards design and impact on the buildings themselves and on the setting of the nearby listed buildings. One letter of objection was received on this basis, otherwise the statutory consultees raise no concerns. It is not considered that the ecological impacts of the scheme are such that they cannot be mitigated and it is not considered that the scheme would impact the AONB to such an extent as to warrant refusal.

Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be approved and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Vaughan Hughes.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions set out in the written report.

12.4    25C255A – Outline application for the erection of a dwelling with all matters reserved on land at Tan Rallt, Carmel

The application is reported to the Planning and Orders Committee as it has been referred to the Committee by a Local Member.

The Chair said that a Local Member, Councillor Llinos Medi Huws had requested a site visit be undertaken. Councillor John Griffith speaking on behalf of Councillor Llinos Medi Huws said that the request was being made so that Members can see the application site for themselves, it being on the boundary of the village but within the 30 mph speed restriction area.

Councillor John Griffith proposed that Members visit the site and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Kenneth Hughes.

It was resolved that a site visit be undertaken in accordance with the Local Member’s request for the reason given.

12.5    19LPA1028/CC – Full application for the siting of an external plaque at 5/5a Stanley Crescent, Holyhead

The application is presented to the Planning and Orders Committee as it is submitted by the County Council.

Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be approved and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Vaughan Hughes.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions set out in the written report and subject also to no adverse representations being received before the expiry of the notification period.