Agenda item

Previously deferred application Y/103/18/PL 10 Acre Field, North of Grevatts Lane, Yapton

Minutes:

            Previously deferred Application Y/103/18/PL – Single Chapel Crematorium with car parking, landscape works, surface water drainage features & associated highway improvements.  This application is a Departure from the Development Plan, 10 Acre Field, North of Grevatts Lane, Yapton

 

            This application had been deferred from the meeting held on 7 August 2019 to enable an independent Road Safety Audit (RSA) to be undertaken, the results of which were outlined in the agenda item.  An officer report update was also circulated at the meeting which detailed:

 

·         the applicant’s response to the RSA

·         West Sussex County Council’s confirmation that the access arrangements had been tracked for a hearse, fire tender, refuse vehicle and articulated HGV

·         An additional representation from SUSTRANS

·         Advice that the S106 legal agreement had not been signed/completed and any approval would need to be delegated to the Group Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and subject to completion of the S106 Agreement and the recommended conditions

 

In entering into debate on the matter, Members were still extremely concerned with regard to road safety issues, particularly the junction onto the A259, and were not convinced that the introduction of signage would be sufficient to prevent accidents along the A259 as a result of traffic slowing down to turn sharply into Grevatts Lane West to access the proposed crematorium.  It was felt that there was a need for a deceleration lane.

 

The County Highways Officer in attendance confirmed that a deceleration lane had not been considered at any point; the visibility to be provided was in line with standards; and the signage suggested by the second RSA would be installed and dealt with at the detailed design stage. 

 

The Group Head of Planning advised Members that the application had been in the system for a considerable time and that it would not be appropriate to have a further deferral for further consultation with County Council Members, as had been suggested in the course of discussion because, had they wished to, they could have made comments through that consultation period.  He confirmed that the geometry of the junction was generous to enable vehicles to turn in and two RSAs had been undertaken to provide evidence that the highway issues would be addressed.  If Members did not agree with the RSAs they needed to come forward with evidence to the contrary as it was not sufficient to just say they did not like what had been presented.  In the absence of such evidence, the advice from the Group Head of Planning was that a refusal of permission on those grounds would not be robust, was unlikely to be able to be defended and could potentially open the Council up to costs at a future appeal.

 

In turning to the vote, the Committee did not agree with the officer recommendation to approve and there was further discussion around a reason for refusal.  The Committee then

 

RESOLVED

 

That the application be refused for the following reasons:-

 

1.    In the absence of a left turn deceleration lane and the potential for rear end shunts on the west bound A259, the proposals would result in severe harm to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists using the A259 in conflict with TSP1 of the Arun Local Plan and paragraphs 108 - 110 of the NPPF.

 

2.    The proposed access from Grevatts Lane West, with the inclusion of a right turn going eastbound onto the A259, would be unsafe and would result in severe harm to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists using the A259 in conflict with TSP1 of the Arun Local Plan and paragraphs 108 - 110 of the NPPF.

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