Minutes

of the Meeting of the

South Area Committee

Wednesday, 14th May 2008

held at the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

 

Meeting Commenced:  6.00 p.m.   Meeting Concluded: 7.35 p.m.

 

Councillors:

 

P  Liz Wells (Chairman)

P  Tim Marter (Vice-Chairman)

 

P  Elfan Ap Rees 

P  Hugh Gregor 

A  Ann Harley 

P  Tony Lake 

P  Tom Leimdorfer 

P  Ian Peddlesden 

P  Ian Porter 

P  Deborah Yamanaka 

 

 

P: Present

A: Apologies for absence submitted

 

Also in attendance: Councillors Jill Iles, Dr Mike Kellaway Marriott, Tony Moulin

 

SAC

1         

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2008-2009 (Agenda Items 1 and 2)

Councillors Liz Wells and Tim Marter had been elected as the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively at the Council Meeting held on 6th May 2008.

 

SAC

2         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mrs Hilary Burn, local resident and spokesperson for Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, addressed the Committee.  She reported that the Government Office of the South West (GOSW) would be reviewing North Somerset Council’s Screening Report decision following representations from objectors.  She said that although GOSW were not reviewing the Council’s assessment that the walkway was “permitted development”, there was evidence that it should not have been classified as such.  In the context of the Airport’s own stated expansion plans, she said that the walkway would enable increased passenger throughput and hence aircraft movements.  She urged Councillors to take the opportunity to regain some control over this development by adding an additional comment that a full planning application and an environmental statement is required; thereby enabling Councillors to set conditions.

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs Burn for her address.

 

SAC

3         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mrs Georgie Bigg, local resident and spokesperson for the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England addressed the Committee.  She urged the Committee to ensure that the development followed proper planning process.  The use of the term “walkway” was misleading as it was ¼ mile long and two stories high.  She said the negative impact of the walkways appearance and lighting which would be clearly visible from the surrounding area including the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty.   Without the opportunity for intervention from the Council, the development would add capacity and therefore increase noise, pollution and road traffic.  She said that the development should be subject to a more rigorous process respecting the rights and needs of local communities and the environment.

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs Bigg for her address.

 

SAC

4         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mrs Jillian Battersby, local resident and Chairman of Cleeve Parish Council addressed the Committee.  She echoed the concerns outlined above and called on the Council to insist that the development be subject to a planning application and that an environmental impact assessment be required.

 

The Chairman thanked Mrs Battersby for her address.

 

SAC

5         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mr Richard Thomas, local resident and Dundry Parish Councillor addressed the Committee.  He was also concerned about the impact of the walkway in the context of the Airports expansion plans.  He also called on the Council to insist that the development be subject to a planning application and that an environmental impact assessment be required.

 

SAC

6         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mr Peter Longden, Local Resident and Winford Parish Councillor addressed the Committee.  He said the proposed development did not meet the Part 18 requirements for Permitted Development.  He added that the walkway was symptomatic of the “creeping” development of the terminal following the installation of the additional mezzanine arrival hall and the external arrival area which he alleged were added after the 15% limit on expansion had been reached and without reference to the Planning Authorities.

 

SAC

7         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mr Alan Davies, Director of Environment and Planning, Bristol International Airport, addressed the Committee.  He explained that the walkway was designed to address logistical and operational issues associated with the airlines’ use of fewer but larger airplanes and would not increase capacity.   The walkway would also meet passenger aspirations as feedback had indicated that the use of coaches were not popular.  As the walkway did not add capacity, it was defined in planning terms as a “pier” and was not therefore subject to a requirement for planning permission.  The airport would be addressing its capacity requirements in planning proposals that it would be submitting in Autumn 2008.

 

The existing use of coaches was resource intensive, the proposal would increase safety and security; reduce air pollution and ground noise; it met operational needs and BIA had no intention of departing from the reports’ recommendation.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Davies for his address.

 

SAC

8         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

07/P/3214/PAI - Aviation consultation; construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington

 

Mr Jeremy Birch, representing North Somerset Friends of the Earth, addressed the Committee.  He gave arguments to support the allegation that the walkway did indeed increase capacity and urged the Council to require that Bristol International Airport submit a full planning application together with an associated environmental impact assessment.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Birch for his address.

 

SAC

9         

Public Speaking at Area Committees (Standing Order 17 and 17a)

Planning Application No. 08/P/0356/F - Variation of condition 2 relating to approval reference 0965/86 to allow for the sale of dairy products, milk, eggs and meat at Greenholm Garden Centre, Smallway, Congresbury

 

Mr John Vanderplank, the applicant, addressed the Committee and spoke in favour of the application.

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Vanderplank for his address.

 

SAC

10    

Declarations of Interest by Members (Agenda Item 5)

 

Councillor Ian Porter – Personal and Prejudicial Interest in all matters relating to Item 7.4.  He receives a pension from the Bristol International Airport and currently provides training at the Airport.

 

SAC

11    

Minutes of the Meeting held on 16th April 2008 (Agenda Item 6)

 

            Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

 

Part 1 – Recommendations to the Planning and

 Regulatory Committee

 

None.

 

Part 2 – Decisions of the Area Committee

SAC

12    

Planning Application No. 08/P/0356/F – Variation of condition 2 relating to approval reference 0965/86 to allow for the sale of dairy products, milk, eggs and meat at Greenholm Garden Centre (Agenda Item 7.1)

 

The Director of Development and Environment’s representative reported on the above application for planning permission.

 

Resolved:  that the application be deferred in order to allow officers to consider conditions in the event that the Committee was minded to grant permission.

SAC

13    

Delegated Decisions (Agenda Item 7.2)

 

The Director of Development and Environment’s representative reported on applications that had been determined by officers under delegated authority during the period 01/04/08 – 22/04/08.

 

Resolved:  that the report be noted.

SAC

14    

Planning Appeals (Agenda Item 7.3)

 

The Director of Development and Environment’s representative reported on the appeal decisions and appeals that had been lodged since the date of the last meeting.

 

Resolved:  that the report be noted.

SAC

15    

07/P/3214/PA1 – Aviation consultation; Construction of walkway between terminal building and western apron at Bristol International Airport, Wrington (Agenda Item 7.4)

 

In discussing the item Members were unconvinced that the proposed walkway would not increase capacity at the Airport and by the conclusion that an environmental assessment would not be necessary.   The airport had indicated that they would be submitting an application related to its expansion plans in Autumn 2008 and members were perplexed as to why the walkway had not been included within that application.

 

The Director’s representative advised the Committee that an aviation consultant’s expert opinion and legal advice had been sought and the officer’s recommendation was based on the views received.  The Committee was advised of Government advice about when Environmental Assessment is required for aviation development and was advised that a screening opinion had already been issued confirming that an Environmental Assessment was not required.  Solicitors acting for objectors had written to GOSW about this but legal advice would be needed on whether the Council could reverse its own screening opinion.

 

In view of its large size and potential impact on airport capacity and the environment, the Committee considered that the walkway was not permitted development and would require planning permission.  

 

Resolved:

 

1.      that Bristol International Airport be told that the proposal is not permitted development and requires a planning application; and

 

2.      that the Council's Solicitor review the screening opinion which has been issued and advise whether an Environmental Impact Assessment can still be required given the Committee's view that additional flights may arise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    ________________________________

                                                                                                                Chairman

                                                                                    ________________________________