Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

Contact: Rachel Wilson  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

6.

Apologies/replacement members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs M J Overton MBE.

7.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that all members had received e-mails from various people in regard to both applications that were due to be considered at the meeting including correspondence and photos.  All members had also been handed a leaflet which related to the speech due to be given by the objector.  It was also reported that Councillor C L Strange would be addressing the Committee as the local member rather than a committee member, and therefore would not be taking part in the vote.

 

The Chairman highlighted that he was also Chairman of the Planning Committee for West Lindsey District Council, and all Councillors had received training on how to deal with these applications.

 

 

8.

Minutes of the previous meeting of the Planning and Regulation Committee held on 3 June 2019 pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Minutes:

It was highlighted that in relation to minute number 2, the name of the resident who had sent letters to the Committee was Mr Sparkes, spelt with an 'e'.  I was also commented that the letters were in relation to the 50mph speed limit in Shepeau Stow, not the Spalding Western Relief Road.  Similarly, it was clarified that Cllr N H Pepper had received a number of letters regarding the speed limit in Shepeau Stow and not the Spalding Western Relief Road as stated.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2019 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the above corrections.

9.

County Matter Applications

9a

To vary conditions 3, 4, 6, 12, 16 and 17 of Planning Permission Ref: 137302 to amend the site layout, the management of surface water run-off, the materials for the tertiary containment system, hours of deliveries and operations and security provision at Land to the east of Smithfield Road, North Kelsey Moor, Market Rasen - Barton Willmore LLP - 139426 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report which sought planning permission to vary conditions of 3, 4, 6, 12, 16 and 17 of planning permission ref: 137302.  The proposal sought to amend the conditions in order to enable changes to the site layout; to reflect changes for the management of surface water run-off; to amend the materials to be used in the tertiary containment system and to amend the hours of working associated with deliveries and site operations and security provision at land to the east of Smithfield Road, North Kelsey Moor, Market Rasen.

 

It was reported that two further comments from local residents had been received since the agenda pack had been circulated and were set out in the update which had been circulated to the Committee the previous Friday.

 

Officers guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of this application.

 

Amanda Suddaby, a local resident, spoke as an objector to the application and made the following points:

·         She realised that the Committee could not revoke the 2014 permission, but asked the Committee to think carefully before allowing further concessions, contrary to continued opposition from local communities and growing environmental concern.

·         Once again, four villages and one parish council had objected, and over 100 objections had been received against this and the next item.

·         There was a rapidly diminishing social licence for fossil fuels, and with very good reason as it was not sustainable either environmentally or economically.

·         Record heatwave temperatures had just been witnessed across Europe.  Last month, Lincolnshire suffered extreme flooding – hundreds of farming livelihoods lost.  Thousands of acres of land, damaged (that may not recover) – here, in our own county, the breadbasket of England.  Food & water security would be far more important that security of fuel in the future.

·         These variations heaped yet more adverse impacts on the local community in terms of well-being and amenity.

·         It was anticipated the local community would see increased noise levels, lighting pollution, hours of traffic, working hours, traffic movements, disturbance to wildlife and greater visual impact on the countryside due to security fencing, gates & 24 hour lighting, and on a bigger site if the next item went ahead, and still with no benefit to the local community.

·         As previously, inconsistent drawings and information had been seen and requests for scrutiny had been ignored – as they were when residents warned of the shortcomings of the Bentomat Liner and the Interceptor.

·         To justify increases in traffic, lighting and working hours, Egdon had greatly exaggerated the protests at Biscathorpe which were small, good humoured and utterly peaceful.  Not nearly enough of a threat to warrant relaxing of conditions that were previously deemed necessary to protect us as required by planning law.

·         The proposal was now far away from the one that was approved in 2014, and given current environmental awareness it was hard to imagine that permission would even be granted today.

·         A recent court ruling had shown that Councils  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9a

9b

For the temporary installation of 12 site security and welfare cabins, five water bowsers, generator and associated facilities at Land to the east of Smithfield Road, North Kelsey Moor, Market Rasen - Barton Willmore LLP - 139434 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The Committee received a report which sought planning permission for the temporary installation of 12 site security and welfare cabins, five water bowsers, generator and associated facilities at land to the east of Smithfield Road, North Kelsey Moor, Market Rasen.

 

It was reported that two further comments from local residents had been received since the agenda pack had been circulated and were set out in the update which had been circulated to the Committee the previous Friday.

 

Officers guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of this application.

 

Amanda Suddaby, a local resident, spoke as an objector to the application and made the following points:

·         The Committee were asked to also consider the motivation and reasoning behind this application.

·         Egdon sought to enlarge the site, and add 12 more cabins and other infrastructure, double the number they had at Biscathorpe.  All of which would be brought on site (in winter) without a proper access track or groundwork. Yet more unsuitable loads on a county lane.

·         The peaceful rural landscape was being industrialised and eroded piece by piece.  This site was beginning to resemble a prison compound with its high fencing and lighting towers.

·         To justify this, Egdon cited protests at Biscathorpe and Laughton.  At Laughton there were no protests – only observers, and the protests at Biscathorpe were small, good natured and utterly peaceful, only ever taking place during daylight hours, with only two arrests and as yet no convictions.

·         She was on occasion one of those protestors and never witnessed anything untoward.

·         Were they (Egdon Resources) worried about being observed and monitored? Was this an issue of secrecy rather than security?  Monitoring by the public was very often the only way that breaches came to light.

·         Egdon claimed to be an experienced operator, they claimed that there were protests at Laughton, but had not mentioned them before now.  These provisions could have been last year in their last variation, so why didn’t they?

·         Why had Egdon so exaggerated the threat from protestors at Biscathorpe.  It was queried whether security issues were being used to enlarge the site so they can house all of their staff.  This application revealed that Egdon knew they had no social license for this scheme.

·         Peaceful protestors were not villains, as history had proved.

·         We are in a climate emergency, facing the sixth mass extinction, caused largely by fossil fuels, we cannot afford to burn existing known reserves, let alone seek out more.  We must move away from this retrogressive industry.  It was time to take a leap forward and send a message to the fossil fuel industry.

·         The protests at Biscathorpe had been misrepresented to allow Egdon to expand the site, this was not sustainable development and these measures were not justified.  Please refuse this application.

 

Paul Foster spoke on behalf of the applicant and made the following points:

·         Members would be only too aware that in recent years, onshore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9b

 

 
 
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