Address:       Motorcycle Track south of Stanbridge Road, Great Billington (nearest postcode LU7 9JH)

Variation of condition 4 -The proposal is for the hours of operation to be changed to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am till 3pm. Org app SB/95/00176/Full

Applicant: AG Bunker & Sons

The Committee considered a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/02729/VOC for the variation of condition 4 of the original Planning Application No. SB/95/00176/Full to enable the hours of operation to be changed to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10am till 3pm & Sunday 10am till 2pm at the motorcycle track, south of Stanbridge Road, Great Billington.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional consultation/publicity responses and additional comments as set out in the Late Sheet.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received representations from Eaton Bray Parish Council, Stanbridge Parish Council and an objector to the application under the public participation scheme.  Clarification on the points raised by the objector was sought by Members with particular reference to the value and impact of the two hour ‘lunchbreak’ period between 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Mondays – Saturdays when use of the track was not permitted.  The objector emphasised the importance of this restriction in controlling operations at the site and how it had, for the most part, proved a reliable means of doing so.  In response to a further query, however, the objector referred to a series of breaches of the existing conditions relating to the hours of operation, the difficulty in undertaking enforcement action and the current existence of three Breaches of Condition Notices.

The planning officer drew Members’ attention to an error in paragraph 2.3 of her report which incorrectly stated that the hours of operation Monday – Saturday commenced at 10.30 a.m. when they actually started at 10.00 a.m.  She also reminded Members that enforcement activity was not a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The Committee considered the application and in summary discussed the following:

·         The implementation of a previously approved planning application (CB/14/03678/VOC) which allowed the winter operation of the site during 1 October to 30 April.  This was subject to various requirements including an increase in the height of the bunding around the track and no planning permission for such works had been approved.  However, an application to carry out bunding works had been received though it was not envisaged that the winter operation of the site could commence until October 2018 should the application be approved.

·         The variation of condition 4 under the application currently before Members was on a temporary basis until 30 September 2017 only.  There would be no net increase in the operating hours of the track although the lunch break period would be lost.  However, the use of the track on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday would finish earlier, at 3.00 p.m. rather than 5.00 p.m.  Concern remained amongst some Members as to the detrimental impact on local residents arising from the track’s continuous use coupled with the difficulties in enforcing the conditions.  A member of the Committee, in his role as Executive Member for Regeneration, undertook to take up the issue of planning condition breaches.

·         The suggested future requirement for CCTV coverage or similar to be installed at the Motorcycle Track to allow observation of the site to assist in ensuring the operator complied with planning conditions.

·         Preference for a regulated solution involving the use of such sites over one which saw unregulated off road use in the countryside.

·         Assurance that approval of the planning application would not constitute a precedent.

·         That the conditions only applied when motorcycle training and practice took place at the permitted times within the site.  It did not, for example, cover the revving of motorcycle engines in the site’s carpark or the use of the roads around the site.

·         The legal requirement to determine only what was before the meeting.

On being put to the vote 7 Members voted for approval, 5 voted against and 1 abstained.

RESOLVED

that Planning Application No. CB/17/02729/VOC relating to the Motorcycle Track south of Stanbridge Road, Great Billington be approved as set out in the Schedule attached to these minutes.