Agenda item

12.1 - 12C266H - ABC Power Marine, Gallows Point, Beaumaris

12.2 - 40C48E/EIA - Lifeboat Station, Moelfre

12.3 - South Stack Public Convenience, South Stack, Holyhead

12.1 12C266H – Application for the variation of conditions (04) and (06) on planning permission reference 12C266G to allow for the details of proposed slab levels of the building(s) and a scheme for the provision and implementation of surface water drainage to be submitted following commencement of works on site at ABC Power Marine, Gallows Point, Beaumaris

The application is reported to the Committee because the Isle of Anglesey Council is the land owner.

The Planning Development Manager informed the Committee that both the Drainage Officer and the Environment Agency have confirmed that the application is acceptable.

Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be approved and he was seconded by Councillor Jim Evans.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions contained within the written report. (Councillor R.L.Owen as the Local Member did not vote on the matter)

12.2 40C48E/EIA – Demolition of the existing life boat house and slipway together with the construction of a new life boat house and slipway at Lifeboat Station, Moelfre

The application is submitted to the Committee as it is the subject of an EIA.

The Chair invited Mr Elfed Jones, an objector to the application to address the Committee.

Mr Jones said that he was speaking from the heart on this matter as a former member of the Moelfre Lifeboat for 36 years and that he was present on behalf of a number of the village’s residents who also object to the application - not because they do not want a new lifeboat but because the proposed building that will house the boat which will be situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is almost twice as large as the present building. If anyone wanted to build a house or wind turbine on the coast in Moelfre, they would not be given consent.  Whilst the matter of the lifeboat is a very sentimental issue – and that is understandable - it is also a fact that the building will be there for a 100 years. The applicants want to close the coastal path for 2 years and build a road – Mr Jones pointed out that the way down to the boathouse is extremely dangerous and cars come down it like “lunatics” when the boat is requisitioned. The feeling is that the RNLI has gone about things in the wrong way and has bought the furniture before building the house. Shouldn’t the Institute have asked for permission to build the house first before bringing in the furniture? Mr Jones said that he believed the Institution had treated the residents of Moelfre disgracefully and that he himself was from Moelfre as was his family. He emphasised that the residents were not against the lifeboat but do not see why Moelfre needs a lifeboat house on the scale proposed. If the Institution had wanted a lifeboat of this standard in the area then it should have been located elsewhere in Amlwch Port.  He asked the Committee’s Members in determining the application, to think about the residents of Moelfre who have to live with the proposed building for the next 100 years and that it represents a horror story.  He asked the Members to consider the application very carefully.

There were no questions to Mr Jones from the Committee’s Members.

The Chair then invited Mr Mathew Croft to speak in support of the application.

Mr Croft introduced himself as Divisional Operations Manager for the RNLI and he explained that he was present on behalf of the advertised speaker, Mr Howard Richings.

Mr Croft said that he was extremely sympathetic to the views of the community in Moelfre and that he thought it was very clear that the RNLI has listened to those views and has modified the plans for the future boathouse after listening to the concerns of people. When the current lifeboat station was bought in 1988 it was a state of the art boat at that time. However, things have moved on and the RNLI has moved on to a newer class of lifeboat – a Tamar Class lifeboat which the Institution believes will secure the future of the search and rescue service at Moelfre for the next 25 years. It is a major sheltering port and it is thought essential that there is search and rescue asset in the shipping corridors that it covers. In the time the lifeboat station has been stationed at Moelfre it has saved 1,441 lives and since 1970 the all-weather lifeboat has launched 532 times. There is therefore clearly a need for the station. The Tamar lifeboat as the replacement for the Time Class lifeboat is safer, more efficient and will provide better safety for the crew to ensure they are able to go out and rescue people in distress. It is for that reason that the Tamar has been chosen. The RNLI as a charity has looked at other options including Amlwch but Tamar constitutes the best option for this station. There will be no change as regards how the boat is operated – the lifeboat will still return to sea with crew as it always has done from the community of Moelfre and no changes are envisaged as regards how that will operate in future. The RNLI is also making a significant investment in the area and it is considered important that the Institution demonstrates that that investment is done so on the basis of need – because it is needed to save lives at sea. A small section of the coastal path will have to be closed for a very limited period and that is on account of the safety of persons walking along the path underneath the arm of the crane. The impact to the community will be minimised as much as possible and every effort will be made to obtain the support of the community to ensure that the Institution works with it for this essential service. Mr Croft went on to say that he had been a life boatman for 20 years and that he was often asked how many times had he rescued people. His reply was 5 because 5 is the number of people he had not been able to save and the new lifeboat will represent the opportunity to change a position of 90% to 97% in terms of getting to rescues faster and more efficiently. Whilst it might not appear to be very high 7% is nevertheless a lifesaving percentage.

There were questions put to Mr Croft by the Committee’s Members in relation to the anticipated duration of the closure of the coastal path; the modification made to the original plans for the lifeboat station to address the community’s concerns and its size.

Mr Croft by way of reply explained that the coastal path will be closed for the least time it takes to ensure that people are safe. The build project is projected to last a maximum of 2 years. The current build at Porth Dinllaen for example is on schedule to be between a 12 and 18 month period and the Institution will seek to work with its contractors to ensure that any disruption and closure will be minimised as much as possible. As regards the design of the proposed development, the initial design included additional space which made the original proposed boathouse larger. It became clear in consultation with the local community that that was unacceptable; the planning application was subsequently withdrawn in order to review the plans and the Institution was able to work in conjunction with the Council to develop extra resources at the Seawatch Centre. That has allowed the Institution to minimise the footprint of the building down to essential space only for part of the boathouse and the crew facilities required. So the footprint has been reduced significantly from the original plans and the plan in its entirety is to house the boat safely and efficiently. The Institution will look to utilising the Seawatch Centre for the activities it would like to undertake to add to the community in Moelfre. Mr Croft confirmed that in his opinion the proposed boathouse is no bigger than it needs to be to provide a safe and efficient operation for the lifeboat to continue for the next period.

Councillor Derlwyn Hughes spoke as the Local Member for Moelfre. He said that there were some valid points raised in the letters of representation which required attention and that his address would refer to those points and the concerns that have added to the delay in determining the application. Councillor Hughes explained that the application is not a sudden one and has been two years in the making and that he hoped it would be determined at today’s meeting. The EIA has been a basis for further consultation with the Environment Agency, Welsh Water and the Countryside Council. The concerns raised were considered and the relevant agencies were satisfied. He believed that the Planning Service had been thorough it its approach - the plans were modified following observations received in several discussions with designers and architects prior to the submission of the definitive plan. Councillor Hughes said that he had not responded individually as he was present at a meeting of the Community Council on 26 September, 2012 when the application was discussed. Having been present at the Community Council meeting then he understood that the usual arrangement is that the Council responds to applications. The support was unanimous. One of the letters of representation objecting to the proposal notes erroneously the link between the local committee and its membership. Two members of the crew serve on the Community Council. Councillor Hughes proceeded to read an extract from the minutes of the meeting illustrating the Community Council’s strong support for the proposal on the basis of the need to retain the lifeboat asset in order to save lives; its integral role as part of the history and tradition of the village; wide recognition for the crew; the valuable skills which young people and volunteers gain from working with this resource; revenue for the village and full time work for 2 persons. It is inevitable that some of the crew and friends of the RNLI serve on various committees within the village and area – that is what makes a community – individuals playing a part and contributing positively for the welfare of its residents. Councillor Hughes said that he was surprised by the reference to locating the lifeboat elsewhere and to using Amlwch Port as a permanent anchorage – the tradition and history of the boat’s establishment is in Moelfre and he hoped that that is where it will continue. The RNLI is an important part of the local community and Moelfre has nailed its proud maritime history on the achievements of the various crews. Whilst the introduction of a new lifeboat is a dramatic event, progress and development are part of the RNLI as everything else. Councillor Hughes asked the Committee to approve the application so as to be able to look forward to an exciting new period in the history of the lifeboat in Moelfre – it is what the area and village expect and hope for following today’s meeting.

The Planning Development Manager informed the Committee that since the report was drafted further letters of representation have been received both for and against the application meaning that there are now in total 13 letters of objection to the proposal and 43 letters of support. The closing date for the receipt of observations is 4th April and should the department receive any further information/ representations following today’s meeting that are materially different then the application will be brought back to Committee at its next meeting. The Highways Service has confirmed that it is satisfied with the development subject to the attachment of conditions requiring prior agreement regarding the method of operation on site. The Officer also highlighted a proposed amendment to Condition (2) within the report to include specific dates for the submission and agreement of the plans referred to under that condition. The Officer went on to say that he gathered from the observations made that those within the local community who oppose the proposal are not against the development in principle but object to the size and design of the proposed boathouse. There have been constructive discussions between the applicant and planning officers regarding the submission of an acceptable design which was the principal factor for Officers in their considerations. The Officer showed the modifications made by reference to an illustration which showed both the original and amended proposals. The original application which was larger was withdrawn as the Officers found it unacceptable. There has been compromise and the amended plan as submitted is acceptable in terms of land usage and the development’s impact on the surrounding landscape. Consequently, the recommendation is one of approval. With regard to the coastal path the Officer clarified that the path will be re-routed around the compound as the building progresses and will not close in its entirety.

The Committee’s Members sought clarification of the dimensions of the amended proposal relative to the original as well as the materials to be used for the roof. Whilst they acknowledged the concerns of some members of the community regarding the size and design of the proposed new boathouse, there was consensus that the proposal should be approved based on the need for it and the improvement in safety and efficiency which the new lifeboat would bring to the search and rescue service at Moelfre. The Planning Development Manager confirmed that the proposed life boathouse stands approximately 1 metre higher than the current building and that its roof will be made of natural copper.

Councillor Kenneth Hughes proposed that the application be approved and Councillor W.J.Chorlton seconded the proposal.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions contained within the written report and with the described amendment to condition (2).

12.3 46LPA972/CC – Full application for the conversion of the former public convenience into a dwelling at South Stack Public Convenience, South Stack, Holyhead

The application is reported to the Committee as it is made by the Council on Council owned land.

Councillor Richard Dew proposed that the application be approved and he was seconded by Councillor E.G.Davies.

It was resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation subject to the conditions contained within the written report. (Councillor Eric Roberts as the Local Member did not vote on the matter)