Agenda item

Person to contact:                                    Development Control Manager

                                                                        Tel: (01452) 396783

Councillor Hobbs having declared a prejudicial interest left the meeting during consideration of this application.

The Development Control Manager declared a non-prejudicial personal interest in this application as a non-playing member of the Gala Club.

He presented the report which detailed an application for the erection of floodlights, 1 metre concrete hard standing and spectator covered area at the Gala Club, Fairmile Gardens.

He drew Members’ attention to the recommended amendment to Condition 2 within the late material. He advised that twelve representations had been received which were summarised at Paragraph 5.2 of the report.

He noted that although parking could present problems when there was a rugby match at Kingsholm, the average attendance at Wilton AFC matches was 43 and the car parking on site was sufficient.  The football pitch was in Flood Zone 1 and presented no flooding issues. The floodlights may allow noise to continue later than previously but Environmental Health raised no objection having considered the proposed hours of operation. He confirmed that any extension of days and hours of operation would require a further application to be submitted.

Wayne Irvine, Vice Chairman of Wilton AFC addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Mr Irvine, who had responsibility for the planning application, advised Members that that Club had sympathy with the residents’ comments but believed some to be misinformed.

He stated that car parking was adequate as no increase in spectators was anticipated. The average attendance in the previous season was 43 although exceptionally a local derby had resulted in 105. The floodlights would be situated on the 18 yard line with two being on the Clubhouse side and one in front of trees.

The floodlights were to a modern specification and would go on and off quickly. Light levels one metre from the pitch perimeter would be minimal. The floodlights would be used on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and would be switched off by 21.00 hours. He noted that this included an allowance for extra time.

Ben Hill, on behalf of the residents of Fairmile Gardens and High Bank, addressed the Committee in opposition to the application.

Mr Hill believed that the increase in noise would impact particularly on the young and elderly residents. He noted the NHS recommendation that young children should have ten hours sleep each night. He stated that the noise extended beyond full time.

He believed that light pollution would impact on those residents who used their gardens at night as the floodlights would be 30 metres from properties.

Should the club gain promotion to the Hellenic League, traffic and parking problems would increase. He believed that properties would be devalued as a result of the application and asked if it was right that the interests of the club should be put before families and residents.

He believed that it was short-sighted to presume that spectator numbers would not increase and there was a need for compromise between the development of sport and impact on residents.

The Chair noted that property values were not a planning issue and asked Mr Irvine if the issue of noise was new. Mr Irvine advised that matches were already held during the week from 18.30 -20.30 hours when permitted by the hours of daylight.

Alex Mason, Environmental Protection Officer, explained the matrices which had been submitted as part of the planning application. He noted levels of 0.1 and 0.2 around the pitch and almost zero on the remainder of the site. He noted that the football season extended from August to March/April and that there was a reasonable expectation that people would have curtains closed in the evenings for much of that period.

Councillor Chatterton noted that typical light levels from street lamps in a residential street were 5 Lux and 15 Lux for the lighting associated with a main road which was indicated.

Councillor Hilton noted that the light levels at the rear of the properties would remain significantly lower than at the front.

Mr Mason advised that should there be issues it would be a matter for Environmental Health as a possible statutory nuisance. He confirmed that the levels illustrated were within the application site area.

Councillor McLellan asked if the impact of the floodlights on daytime amenity as 18 metre high structures had been taken into account and was advised that officers had no issue with that aspect.

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions in the report subject to the amendment of condition 2 to include reference to read “…and e-mails received on 30^th July, 6^th August 2014 and any other conditions attached this permission.”