A motor vehicle repairs business at a rural farm off a single-track road has been refused permission.
The retrospective permission to change the use of agricultural land and buildings for vehicle repairs was unanimously refused, after strong local opposition. Traffic unsuitability, in particular with HGVs, was the key reason the proposal at a farm off Jacques Bank in Medge Hall, Crowle, got refused.
The business had already run from the site since last year. A ward councillor and residents reported verge hitting by HGVs that visited it.
Read on below for more on the contentious vehicle repairs application, and other recent planning decisions made in North Lincolnshire.
Crowle vehicle repairs workshop
NLTS UK LTD sought permission for the vehicle repairs facility, which the application form indicates employed four full-time staff. John Bailey, of Keystone Architecture, told councillors the farm area’s previous use was for the storage and repairs of agricultural vehicles and machinery. The applicant had been unaware that the variation in vehicle types required the change in permission, he said.
He noted council officers concluded the vehicle movement numbers would have “low impact”, and added: “Proposed vehicle usage is significantly less on some days than during intensive agricultural harvest operations.”
Medge Hall resident Tracy Croft commented on the unsuitability of single track Jacques Bank and Chapel Road for the business. “If two vehicles wish to pass each other, then the verges must be used.”
She said that “within weeks” HGVs were using the lane every day to go to the business, and hit the verge. There had been over 20 HGVs a day at points, she asserted. “HGVs have been seen back onto the A18,” she stated of traffic tailbacks.
“A lot of residents alerted me to their concerns,” said Axholme North Ward Cllr Julie Reed. “The verges simply cannot sustain the number and size of the vehicles.” Possible repairs made would be funded by taxpayers. “I find this really difficult to justify to my residents in the matter of fairness.”
The planning committee’s Conservative councillors looked set to defer a decision to after a site visit, as is often their preference. But Labour Cllr Max Bell saw no reason to delay.
“I think the weight of evidence if pretty significant. All we’re doing is allowing the applicant to continue operations for another month. Let’s lance the boil now.” Permission was refused, to spontaneous applause from several members of the public.
(Image: Google Streetview)
Belton former pub site to be built on at last?
Less controversial were plans for five homes at the former Sir Solomon Inn in King Edward Street, Belton. Axholme Central Ward Cllr David Robinson noted there were previous approvals for homes on the site. This included for the same five detached homes, and this was a resubmission.
All that had changed since then was an increase in environmental consideration expectations, he summarised. The proposal was a “fully compliant, small physical addition to the ward”.
The planning committee saw no reason to refuse it, though Cllr Mick Grant indicated he hoped the site would not return to planning again. “If this goes through, is this the last we’ll about it? It’s been going on for years.”
Scunthorpe General Hospital RAAC roof replacement
Finally, permission was granted last month to remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) roofing and replace it with a metal deck roof at Scunthorpe General Hospital. The roofing is above where the cardiology department is normally sited.
Greater safety concerns emerged over RAAC use in buildings last year. Scunthorpe General Hospital was named in October among 42 hospitals that had RAAC on part of their sites. Affected areas were closed off to patients.
An application document states the roof’s replacement will “alleviate the operational pressures caused by the temporary relocation of the Cardiology Department”.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
