Caravan storage at Beech Hill Farm allowed on appeal

Last year, to the dismay of hundreds of local people who'd signed a petition, the planning committee refused the application to allow land at Beech Hill Farm, Westerleigh to continue to be used for storing caravans. The applicant appealed and this week it was announced that the appeal had been allowed and the use can continue.

To read the decision, go to the planning applications search page and search for the reference number PK15/1339/F. Select the documents tab and click on the image of a document next to "APPEAL DECISION AND COSTS".

Beech Hill Farm refused, Mafeking Hall approved

Yesterday the planning committee turned down the retrospective application for the caravan storage at Beech Hill Farm, Westerleigh. The applicant had asked for the application to be deferred to enable them to bring forward a report on the contamination of the site, which formed part of their Very Special Circumstances argument. However the majority of committee members decided to go with the officer recommendation.

The majority of members also supported the officer recommendation to give the go ahead for the change of use for the pre-school at Mafeking Hall, Serridge Lane. Members did stipulate that they should only be given one month to comply with the conditions related to the highways impacts rather than three as officers had suggested.

Planning committee to consider Beech Hill Farm and Mafeking Hall next week

Next Thursday 10th September the Development Control (East) Planning Committee will be considering applications for Beech Hill Farm and Mafeking Hall in Westerleigh ward.

You can see the agenda online, including links to the officer's reports. Beech Hill Farm is recommended for refusal and Mafeking Hall is recommended for approval with conditions.The meeting starts at 3pm in Kingswood Civic Centre.

Site visit changes - no Boundary Road, now visiting Mafeking Hall

Last week we reported that the DC (East) planning committee would be visiting 20 Boundary Road and Beech Hill Farm tomorrow, Friday 28th August.

The visit to 20 Boundary Road has now been postponed until the next round of site visits on 25th September, with the decision likely to be made at the committee meeting on 8th October. Instead the committee will be visiting Mafeking Hall, to look at the Prior Notification Application for a change of use to allow Coalpit Heath Pre-School to open there.

Planning committee site visits next Friday

Next Friday, 28th August, the Development Control (East) committee will be visiting two sites in Westerleigh ward - 20 Boundary Road (at approximately 10.15am) and Beech Hill Farm (at approximately 10.35am). You can view the agenda, including links to the relevant reports, online.

Planning and tipping applications approved

Yesterday the Development Control (West) planning committee considered the Beech Hill Farm tipping and Mayshill in-vessel composting facility applications. Local councillor Claire Young spoke on residents' concerns on both applications.

After some discussion of the highways issues and how rejected loads should be dealt with, the committee granted a 2 year temporary permission for the Mayshill composting facility. They added a condition requiring a travel plan and, if there isn't more specific legislation covering it, a requirement that rejected loads are taken away immediately in the van that delivered them.

Highways issues were also the main concern with the Beech Hill Farm tipping application, but the committee decided to approve the application in line with the officer's recommendation.

Planning committee to consider tipping and composting applications

On Thursday 9th June, the Development Control (West) planning committee will consider the Beech Hill Farm tipping and Mayshill in-vessel composting facility applications. The case officer has recommended approval for the tipping and a 2 year temporary approval for the composting application.

You can view the agenda for the meeting, with links to the officer's reports, online.

Site visits for Beech Hill tipping and Mayshill composting facility applications

This Friday (1 April) the development control committee will be doing site visits for the Beech Hill tipping and Mayshill in-vessel composting applications that we reported on previously.

They are expected at Beech Hill at 10.20 and Mayshill at 10.50, but obviously these times can only be estimates. Claire Young and the Parish Council will have the opportunity to speak and there are also slots for any supporters or objectors but they are time-limited, so if there are more than one it makes sense to agree on a spokesperson. The committee won't be making any decisions, the visits are just so that they can see the sites and consider anything that it might be difficult to see from the plans. You can see the agenda and read the reports on the South Glos website.

Beech Hill Farm - another application for tipping

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Beech Hill Farm - blue line shows tipping boundary, pointer shows access from Westerleigh Road

Back in 2007 Beech Hill Farm, "the place that sells the fireworks" just under the railway bridge from the Shire Way roundabout, was refused planning permission for significant tipping. They've now submitted another application.The site is just across the railway from Rodborough and Chedworth.

Westerleigh Parish Council and Dodington Parish Council have objected - comments include that the application should be refused on the ground of traffic problems and disturbance to nearby properties. As the alternative approach routes - Westerleigh village and Nibley Lane - have weight limits, this would mean all significant lorry movements coming down through the Dodington/Yate estate roads.

Should permission be approved restricted hours should be imposed, avoiding worstening the dangerous junctions at Nibley Lane and Shire Way mini-roundabout at peak hours, i.e. before 0930 and after 1600 Monday-Friday.

Make your own comments - the Planning Application reference number is PT07/2338/F, and you can submit comments to South Glos here - the closing date is 1 April.