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ALTON WATER
CAMP SITE - PLANNING APPLICATION
B/07/00932/FUL/CJT - Land to the west of Alton Water Visitor Centre,
Holbrook Road
Change of use from agricultural land to campsite (50 tents) and change of use
of additional land for campsite (for organised groups and associated parking
(grassed) together with provision of facilities (sewage disposal and drinking
water supply).
The Parish Council recommend refusal, due to concerns over ambiguity
of the application, and the following reasons:
- Why does the camping site have to use agricultural land, when plenty of
other non-agricultural land already exists around the reservoir?
- 50 camping pitches are being applied for, yet no showers or toilet facilities.
Anglian Water suggests that they have no desire as yet to include such facilities,
but surely users of the site will demand these?
- Security will be necessary on-site 24 hours a day. If gates are to be
locked after a certain time, how are late arrivals / returnees to be admitted?
Without such security measures, there is a great risk of troublemakers, illegal
travellers, raves and noisy parties etc.
- Application implies use of site is solely for organised groups, but is
it intended to become a public site, and hence escalation to Caravans and
Motor homes?
- Alton Water will be unavailable to members of the public for water sports
if organised groups are camping
- Health & Safety and Supervision arrangements are unspecified. We have
already seen three deaths in water due to late night pranksters. Maintenance
of the site, clearing of rubbish bins and dog litter have not been appropriately
addressed.
- There is a significant fire hazard in the summer due to stoves and barbecues
etc. in close proximity to tinder dry fields of crops
- The village will see a significant increase in traffic along a minor ‘B’ road,
resulting in a loss of tranquillity, due to increase in noise and light pollution.
During term time, road safety due to extra traffic in proximity of school
will become an issue.
- Households along the Holbrook Road have already experienced significant
problems due to insufficient capacity of existing sewers, which will be under
greater strain if used to accommodate ‘temporary’ facilities.
If you wish to write your own letter of complaint, please address your comments,
using this reference number B/07/00932/FUL/CJT, before 8th
August 2007, to:
Christine Thurlow
Chief Planning Control Officer
Babergh District Council
Corks Lane
Hadleigh
Ipswich
IP7 6SJ
In addition you may wish to write to individual members of Babergh District
Council's Development Committee:
Members
Mr C W Arthey
Mr P K Beer
Mr P G Gibson
Mr A J Hinton
Mr P J Holbrook
Mr L S Johnson
Mr P Jones
Mr D H Keane
Mr B L Lazenby
Mr D C Rose
Mr R C Smith
Mr R W Thake
Mrs C A Todd
Mr A J (Trot) Ward (Councillor for Alton ward - our local
representative)
18 New Village, Brantham, Suffolk, CO11 1RL (01206 392060 / 07809 564818)
Mr D B Warner
Representation at the Development Committee by members of the public can be
made - further details here:
PUBLIC SPEAKING ON PLANNING APPLICATIONS AT MEETINGS OF THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
- The Council has a policy of allowing members of the public to speak on planning
applications when they are discussed at meetings of the Development Committee.
- Prior
to the consideration of each application on the planning schedule the
Chairman will
ask whether anyone in the public gallery who is eligible to speak wishes
to address the
Committee.
- If there are, the Chairman will ask the public concerned
to indicate whether they are a
representative from the Town or Parish Council, an objector or either
the applicant or
his/her representative. If there is more than one objector present,
the Chairman will ask
whether they have nominated a spokesperson to speak on their behalf.
If they haven't they
will be asked to leave the meeting to determine a spokesperson and
the Chairman will
move to the next item in the meantime. The objectors will be reminded
that if they are
unable to agree a spokesperson then they will not be able to make
any representations.
- The following procedure and order of business applies
in respect of each item:-
- Introduction of item by Planning Officer.
- Representations by Town or Parish Council representative (or Parish
Meeting where there
is no Parish Council).
- Representations by objector.
- Representations by applicant
or representative.
- Clarification of any points by the Planning
Officer and consideration
of application by
Members.
- Decision by Members.
- Prior to making any representations, speakers will
come forward, one at a time at the
invitation of the Chairman, and sit on one of the raised seats
facing the main chamber and
state their name and who they represent. Speeches cannot exceed
3 minutes and speakers
will be asked to stop immediately if they exceed this period of
time. Speakers will then
return to the public gallery.
- Speakers can only make statements of opinion or fact.
They are not allowed to ask
questions of Members or Officers and equally Members or Officers
are not allowed to ask
questions of them. Furthermore, speakers cannot ask questions
to other speakers.
Speakers can only rely on verbal statements and no presentational
material can be
displayed either on the notice boards or on the overhead projector.
No information or
materials can be handed around the Committee by the speakers
whilst the meeting is in
progress.
- Babergh Councillors are not entitled to speak with regard
to an application or other matter
under this policy. However, a representative of the Councillor
may speak on their behalf
provided they are not a Councillor
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