Agenda item

The Committee received a report which detailed a request for planning permission to extract sand and gravel in order to create an agricultural irrigation reservoir (part retrospective) at Tithe Farm Pastures, Tithe Farm, Langtoft, Lincolnshire, PE6 9LN.  Officers guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of this application.

Mr S B Rice spoke on behalf of the applicant and made the following points:

·         Met office data showed that the average rainfall this area of Lincolnshire was approximately 60% of the UK average, and so the long term demand for irrigation was likely to increase.  The recent dry spring and summer had made it harder to renew abstraction licenses.

·         It was noted that permission had been granted in 2016 under permitted development rules, which demonstrated that there was a need for the reservoir.

·         The Environment Agency had indicated that it would be likely to object to an above ground reservoir due to the risk of flooding to neighbouring properties.

·         This planning application had been developed with close liaison with planning officers, and any concerns had been responded to.

·         It was planned to extract the mineral as quickly as possible in order to minimise disruption.

·         The proposal complied with planning policies.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the applicant and the following was noted:

·         In terms of the extraction of the mineral, it was queried whether more would be taken out that was necessary.  Members were advised that no more than was needed to create the reservoir would be removed and the bunds that would surround the reservoir would sterilise any minerals below.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was noted that the south of the county was now starting to see a lack of water for growing crops, and as a council needed to do everything possible to support the farming industry.

·         It was suggested that this could be one of many applications coming forward for reservoirs.

·         It was commented that this proposal looked to provide the most sustainable use for the minerals being extracted and also provided for a sustainable use for the water resources of the county.

·         It was highlighted that the applicant did not need permission for the reservoir itself, just the extraction of the minerals.

·         Members were pleased to see that the conditions included hours of operation and it was proposed that the site should have an 8.00am start rather than 7.00am start.

·         It was commented that agriculture was an early start operation and it was felt that 7.00am was a reasonable start time.

·         The environmental assessment did examine potential noise levels, and it was determined that expected noise would fall with acceptable levels.

·         As there was a property nearby, it was proposed and seconded that the report be accepted with the 7.00am start time changed to 8.00am.

On a motion by Councillor T R Ashton and seconded by Councillor P A Skinner it was:-

RESOLVED (12 in favour, 1 abstention)

            That the conditional planning permission be granted with a start time of 8.00am.