Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding a planning application to amend conditions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of planning permission 17/01876/CMA at Basingstoke AD Facility LTD., Dummer. (Hours of working, timing of HGV site access, timing of HGV access along Woodbury Road, approved Traffic Management Plan, removal of the temporary time period element relating to vehicle movements, reduction of the aggregate number of permitted vehicle movements)

The Committee considered a report from the Head of Strategic Planning (item 7 in the minute book) regarding an application to amend conditions at the Basingstoke anaerobic digestion facility in Dummer.

The Chairman summarised the report and gave Committee a brief history of the original application. The officer presented Committee with a location plan and it was confirmed that the site generated electricity for approximately 2500 homes. The new conditions would enable the applicant to have more flexibility over vehicle movements but it was noted that the HGV movements were the source of a majority of complaints from local residents. It was explained that the HGV’s from the site constituted only 0.3% of the vehicles on the local roads and most of the breaches in 2018 were relating to vehicles arriving slightly too early or leaving site too late.

The Committee received six deputations on this item. Bill Holt and Stafford Napier both spoke as local residents against the application. They had concerns that smaller vehicles would not be used more as speculated and large HGV’s would continue but in greater numbers. As the application was for permanent permission, it was agreed that it should be considered seriously before approved. Mr Holt also felt that the chart provided to Members showing the vehicle movements was flawed. Councillor Julian Jones from Dummer Parish Council spoke against the application and told Committee that the liaison meetings had been well attended by residents with concerns over the HGV’s as well as odour. The main road was used by school children travelling to and from school and it was felt that they were in danger. Whilst there were cameras installed to monitor the HGV movements, there were frequent failures with the operations of these.

            Councillor Terri Reid, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council also spoke against the application on the grounds of the safety of pedestrians and, in particular, children, along Woodbury Road. The road was very long with HGV’s travelling close to or on the speed limit and Cllr Reid told Committee how there had been an incident involving a child and a car a few days before the meeting. Simon Musther spoke on behalf of the applicant and told Committee how the management and policing of vehicles had greatly improved and how the hours of operation had been changed to avoid school pick-up and drop-off times, mitigating the risk to school children. The new average of 32 HGV movements proposed allowed the applicant to have flexibility whilst the industry was still in its infancy. There were no plans to have more movements of HGV’s as this was not economical.

            The local Hampshire County Councillor, Stephen Reid, thanked the applicant for their communication with local residents, which had been a significant improvement on the previous operator. Cllr Reid enforced the concerns of HGV’s using a road heavily used by children and didn’t feel the extra risk was justified in the application. As the numbers that made up the application could not be changed, Cllr Reid recommended that the application be refused.

During questions of the deputations, the following points were clarified:

• Whilst the hours of operation avoiding school drop-off and pick-up times, there were risks to children using the road at other times.
• There had been four accidents recently, all involving cars
• The operator confirmed smaller vehicles would be used locally to give the applicant flexibility and was also more economical.
• Biogen drivers were banned and fined if caught driving outside of the stated hours.

RESOLVED:

Planning permission was GRANTED subject to the conditions listed in integral appendix B.

Voting:

Favour: 14 (unanimous)