Issue - meetings

The Chairman introduced the next item of the meeting, item 6b, planning application 146831, for change of use to storage facility for 40 No. Caravans / motorhomes making use of and extending existing hardcore hardstand. Screen tree planting and hedge reinforcement planting and installation of key locked timber clad steel gates, hooped barriers and 2No. 3M high CCTV poles to cover the site plus a 38M x 2M security ditch and boundary wire mesh fence with timber posts, at land off Barton Street, Keelby, DN41 8EP.

The Development Management Team Leader informed Members of the Committee there were a few updates, which included a biodiversity net gain plan, with the summary of the findings being 0.07 biodiversity units. A short presentation on the application was then made.

The Chairman invited the first registered speaker, the Parish Council representative for Keelby Parish Council, Councillor Trevor Wright, to address the Committee.

Councillor Wright thanked the Chairman and the Committee for the opportunity to speak in support of the application. He highlighted that Keelby Parish Council had written a detailed letter of support and were able to further back the application through the recently approved Neighbourhood Plan. He expressed his disappointment that these positive statements had been discarded and the outcome of the report seemed only to focus on the classification of the land to be used. He proceeded to highlight which sections of the Neighbourhood Plan supported the application, referencing section one regarding small businesses, as well as sections within the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, such as sections five and section eight, regarding enhancing the rural economy. He highlighted that there were existing non-arable businesses and stated the clear need within Keelby for the service provided by the application under consideration, with many residents using the site and many more on the waiting list. He highlighted the compound benefits of reduced congestion and on-road parking. He requested the Committee to reject the Officer recommendation, stating it would be a real shame if the influence of the Neighbourhood Plan came to nothing.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Wright for his time and invited the next speaker to address the Committee.

Members heard from the applicant, Joanne Calaby, that the land in question had been in her family for decades and used to be used to home goats that in turn provided milk to the local hospital, for those who had allergies to cows’ milk. She highlighted the history of the site for being community focussed and used for good, later becoming a donkey sanctuary and more recently providing allotment space for people in the village. She explained to the Committee that the land was also used by local groups such as the Scouts and Brownies, as well as being home to trees planted for the Platinum Jubilee and also a memorial orchard. Mrs Calaby explained that she had first allowed family to start using the land to store their caravans, this then escalated to other residents asking the same, as there had been increasing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45