(Councillors John
Burns and David Smith both declared, in the interests of openness
and transparency, that they had attended Haverhill Town
Council’s meeting when the Town Council considered the
application. However, they stressed they would keep an open mind
and listen to the debate prior to voting on the item.)
Planning application
– creation of a 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) with
landscape bund, perimeter fencing, hardstanding areas, storage
container, floodlights, access footpath with fence and bollard
lighting, acoustic fence and footpath link to north-west
This application was referred to the
Development Control Committee because it was on land owned by West
Suffolk Council.
A Member site visit was held prior to the
meeting and the Officer also showed a video of the site during her
presentation.
Officers were recommending that the
application be approved, subject to conditions as set out in
Paragraph 94 of Report No DEV/WS/23/008.
The Committee was advised that the application
had been subject to a full re-consultation as the red line was
amended to include a footpath to the north-west which provided a
link to the Samuel Ward Academy car park.
Speakers: Mr and Mrs Gant
(neighbouring objectors) spoke against the application
(Neither Mr or Mrs Gant were in attendance to personally address
the Committee and, instead, the Democratic Services Officer read
out a pre-prepared statement on their behalf.)
Councillor John Burns (Ward Member: Haverhill East) spoke on the
application
Peter Betts (Haverhill Community Sports Association - applicant)
spoke in support of the application
During the debate a number of Members
commended the use of the neighbouring car park at Samuel Ward
Academy (outside of school hours) as an overflow car park.
Some questions were posed in respect of the
hours of operation. Attention was drawn to Paragraph 67 of the
report, which explained that Public Health and Housing had
recommended that the hours proposed by the applicant should be
reduced slightly to remove noise impacts between 08.00- 09.00hrs
and 21.00-22.00hrs. Accordingly, the operating hours set out in the
conditions (No 16) aligned with that proposed by Public Health and
Housing.
Discussion also took place on the no whistles
after 7pm policy outlined in condition No 17. Members were advised
that this would mainly affect evening training sessions as the
majority of matches were held earlier in the day.
Councillor John Burns proposed that the
application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation. This
was duly seconded by Councillor Ian Houlder.
Upon being put to the vote and with the vote
being unanimous, it was resolved that
Decision
Planning permission be GRANTED subject
to the following conditions:
1 The development
hereby permitted shall be begun not later than three years from the
date of this permission.
2 The development
hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete
accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and
documents, unless otherwise stated.
3 The strategy for the
disposal of surface water (dated 12th January 2023, ref:
SIS028-09-00) and the Flood Risk Assessment (dated 13th
...
view the full minutes text for item 336.