Planning Committee (Wirral Council) 26th September 2013 Minutes, Declarations of Interest and Site Visits

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) 26th September 2013 Minutes, Declarations of Interest and Site Visits

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Planning Committee (Wirral Council) 26th September 2013 Minutes, Declarations of Interest and Site Visits

                         

After the blurb given by the Chair at the start of the meeting and the minutes of the meeting held on the 22nd August 2013 were agreed, the Planning Committee got to declarations of interest.

Cllr Christina Muspratt declared an interest in item 4 (APP/13/01021: The Cottage, REST HILL ROAD, STORETON, CH63 6HL – Proposed alterations/extensions to existing cottage with associated external works – Amendment to APP/12/00848) and item 15 (APP/13/01005: Safe Harbour Nursing Home, 1 ABBOTS DRIVE, BEBINGTON, CH63 – Two storey extension and layout of alternative parking provisions). Quite what the nature and type of the interest was I really don’t know as despite sitting on the second row underneath one of the speakers I couldn’t hear clearly what she said.

The Chair, Cllr Bernie Mooney declared a prejudicial interest in item 6 (OUT/13/00551: Unused Land, VALLEY ROAD, BIDSTON – Outline application for the construction of indoor skate park with associated facilities including offices, café, flexible learning spaces, business support for young entrepreneurs and car parking) as one of the directors of Rampworx Youth Village 2000 Limited is married to her niece.

There were four requests for site visits, Cllr Wendy Clements requested a site visit for
OUT/13/00826: Paddock, KINLOSS ROAD, GREASBY, CH49 3PS – Outline application for development of 4 residential units, and the provision of amenity open space, Cllr David Elderton requested a site visit for APP/13/00811: Land at 37 OLDFIELD DRIVE, HESWALL, CH60 6SS – Erection of a 2 storey residential property together with new access to Oldfield Drive and an attached garage and Cllr Irene Williams requested a site visit for APP/13/01021: The Cottage, REST HILL ROAD, STORETON, CH63 6HL – Proposed alterations/extensions to existing cottage with associated external works – Amendment to APP/12/00848 and APP/13/01005: Safe Harbour Nursing Home, 1 ABBOTS DRIVE, BEBINGTON, CH63 – Two storey extension and layout of alternative parking provisions. All four site visits were agreed and the people who were here just for those items left.

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Sherlock in Wirral Council and the mysterious case of the £1,725.04 plate

Sherlock in Wirral Council and the mysterious case of the £1,725.04 plate

Colas invoice Wirral Council plate gullies River Streets Birkenhead

Sherlock in Wirral Council and the mysterious case of the £1,437.54 plate

                           

As usual you can click on the invoice for a higher definition and probably easier to read version. This Colas invoice is for a plate over gullies in the River Streets (presumably to stop them gumming up with detritus). River Streets is the local name for an area in Bidston & St. James ward where the roads names are all rivers (Ribble Street, Avon Street, Solway Street etc). The invoice states it is only for one plate, which certainly makes it the most expensive plate I’ve ever heard of! The invoice states that any queries are to be addressed to an Andrew Sherlock of Colas, which makes this blog post “Sherlock in Wirral Council and the mysterious case of the £1,725.04 plate”.

So why did Colas on Wirral Council’s instructions fit a plate to the drainage gullies here? Was detritus a particular problem? Was there a previous plate that was stolen for its scrap value? Sadly I do not have the answers to these particular questions but I’m sure Sherlock would know!

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Tollemache Road greenfield or 12 houses? Planning Committee decides tonight

Tollemache Road greenspace or 12 houses? Planning Committee decides tonight

Tollemache Road greenfield photo 1Tollemache Road greenfield photo 2
Tollemache Road greenfield photo 3

Tollemache Road greenfield or 12 houses? Planning Committee decides tonight

                          

You can click on the photos above for more detailed versions. Earlier this year in a similar case, despite Cllr Ian Lewis’s best efforts, the Planning Committee voted 7 votes to 6 against local resident’s wishes to approve building a play area on some greenspace in Leasowe.

This planning application is for building a dozen houses on this field. The officer’s report to the Planning Committee recommends refusal as they believe it to conflict with policies HS4, GR6, CS42, CS6, CS32 and the National Planning Policy Framework. Normally such an application would be decided by officers. However Cllr George Davies (the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Engagement) has taken it out of their hands and asked for the Planning Committee to decide it instead as Cllr George Davies thinks that the proposed development would “help to address identified housing needs”.

This is unusual in itself as generally this is only done by councillors representing the ward the planning application which in this case is Bidston & St. James ward. Cllr George Davies represents the adjoining Claughton ward. A number of local residents in Bidston and St. James ward have objected to the planning application.

Council officers claim that retaining this open space was a condition of a previous planning consent and that removing it would set a bad precedent. There is a demand for two bedroom properties in the area, however the Planning Committee only last month approved Keepmoat’s application for building 125 houses (a mix of two and three bedroom properties) in the nearby Laird Street area.

The demand for two-bedroom rental properties in the area is because of the “bedroom tax”*/spare room subsidy* (*choose which term you prefer depending on your politics). Although it may go some way to meet this need if approved, building houses there is unpopular with local residents who want the greenspace to stay for the many reasons outlined in the officer’s report.

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Planning Committee decides tonight on Rampworx’s plans for a £6m indoor skateboard park in Bidston

Planning Committee decides tonight on Rampworx’s plans for a £6m indoor skateboard park in Bidston

Planning Committee decides tonight on Rampworx’s plans for a £6m indoor skateboard park in Bidston

                    

Wirral Council’s Planning Committee are tonight expected to approve plans for a £6 million indoor skateboard park in Bidston. Rampworx Youth Village 2000 Ltd, who already run an existing skatepark in Netherton, Liverpool hope to build it on Valley Road between Wirral Tennis and Leisure Centre’s AstroTurf pitch and the Valley Road Business Park.

The plans which are recommended for approval by planning officers also include office space, a café, “flexible learning spaces”, business support for young entrepreneurs and car parking. Rampworx forecast that once up and running it will attract two thousand visitors a week and will be aim to tackle unemployment and helping sixteen to eighteen year olds who are not in education, employment or training. Rampworx have been working with Wirral Council’s “Special Initiatives Team” in the planning of the project. Wirral Council own the land on which Rampworx want to build the skateboard park.

If planning permission is given, Rampworx will be applying for funding from Sport England and the National Lottery to complete it. The plans and supporting documentation are on Wirral Council’s website.

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Refusal by Planning Committee for Wallasey Village Tesco Store is appealed

Refusal by Planning Committee for Wallasey Village Tesco Store is appealed

Refusal by Planning Committee for Wallasey Village Tesco Store is appealed

                       

In August 2013, Wirral Council’s Planning Committee refused an application for a Tesco in Wallasey Village by 11 votes to 2. An appeal against the Planning Committee’s decision has been accepted by the Planning Inspectorate but it’ll be months before the Planning Inspectorate come to a final decision.

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