Agenda item

Application 19/00247/FUL - Mettis Sports and Social Club Cherry Tree Walk Batchley Redditch - Mr Julian Workman

Site Plan

Minutes:

Provision of a floodlighting system to football pitch comprising 6 no. 15m high mounting columns with 12 floodlights

 

Officers presented the report and outlined the application.  At the invitation of the Chair Miss Zakrina Afzal and Mr John Wormington addressed the Committee under the Council’s Public Speaking rules in objection to the application; Mr Martin Bassett addressed the Committee on behalf of the Applicant.

 

In responding to points made by the public speakers Members raised a number of issues which were clarified by officers including :-

 

·       That Worcestershire Wildlife Trust had raised no objections and had not considered that a bat survey was necessary.

·       That WRS had considered in detail the configuration of the proposed floodlights and the resultant lux levels, and had been satisfied that the scheme complied with the relevant guidance and was therefore acceptable.

·       As such it would not be reasonable to impose additional conditions regarding screening.

·       That Conditions 3 and 4 as worded would limit the use of the floodlights to between the hours of 9 am and 10 pm on match days only.

 

Members noted the wish for the football club (Redditch Borough Football Club) to enhance the facilities at the ground to a higher standard as required by the Football Association (FA), but officers advised that any discussion as to whether the club might be promoted leading to additional usage of the pitch was too speculative.

 

Following further discussion the recommendation was proposed and seconded with the addition of an extra condition as to the design of the cowling for the floodlights, and with extra wording to be included in Condition 4.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

Having regard to the development plan and to all other material considerations planning permission be GRANTED subject to

 

1.     the conditions and informatives set out on pages 15 to 16 of the main agenda subject to the following change to the wording of Condition 4;

 

“Condition 4

 

Use of the floodlights shall only be available to the team from Redditch Borough Football Club currently using the pitch as their home ground (or its successor) and shall be in operation only on match days and shall not be used for training purposes.

 

Reason: in the interests of safeguarding the residential amenities enjoyed by the occupiers of neighbouring properties.”

 

 

And

 

2.     the addition of an additional Condition 5 worded as follows

 

“Condition 5

 

Installation of the floodlights shall not take place until the Council has approved the design of suitable cowling to be fitted to the lights to limit the leakage of light to residential properties in the vicinity.

 

Reason: in the interests of safeguarding the residential amenities enjoyed by the occupiers of neighbouring properties.”

 

[In relation to this agenda item Councillor Andrew Fry declared an Other Disclosable Interest in that he was acquainted with one of the speakers, namely Mr Martin Bassett.  Councillor Fry remained and considered and voted on these matters.

 

In relation to this agenda item Councillor Bill Hartnett declared an Other Disclosable Interest in that he was acquainted with one of the speakers, namely Mr John Wormington.  Councillor Hartnett remained and considered and voted on these matters.]

 

 

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