Planning Committee – 21/6/2011 – Part 3 – APP/11/ 00065 – Townfield Close, Claughton – Demolition of an existing petrol filling station and erection of Class A1 retail unit

The officer introduced this application as one for demolition of a petrol station located to the West of the site (a map was displayed on the screen) and a 13 space car park. There was relevant previous planning permissions including one for a single storey building with four individual retail units. However this had included … Continue reading “Planning Committee – 21/6/2011 – Part 3 – APP/11/ 00065 – Townfield Close, Claughton – Demolition of an existing petrol filling station and erection of Class A1 retail unit”

The officer introduced this application as one for demolition of a petrol station located to the West of the site (a map was displayed on the screen) and a 13 space car park. There was relevant previous planning permissions including one for a single storey building with four individual retail units. However this had included a condition not to merge the units. It was not a designated shopping centre and there was no sequentially preferred site or detrimental impact. Other properties available and impact studies on other centres showed no detrimental impact. They had studied and accepted the conclusion of the information submitted. The concerns of the objectors were in relation to servicing and parking as well as access to the car park. There were windows facing Townfield Close. The hours of the service bay were limited to exclude school hours. The officer said it had to be balanced against its previous use as a petrol station, where large vehicles unrestricted by planning consent visited the site. There were petitions. The petitioner was asked if he wished to speak, he declined. Therefore the applicant wasn’t given the opportunity to speak.

Cllr Foulkes thanked the planning committee for their indulgence in allowing him to speak. He said he was a humble ward councillor and the neighbouring ward Lib Dem councillors in Oxton (except Cllr Stuart Kelly) held a joint view that they were helping and supporting residents. He described it as a “stalking horse” application. Discussion with the agents had led to a difficult situation. He accepted the previous application was for four individual units which would finish off the development.

134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH

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