Agenda item

(Councillor Longbottom left the room during the consideration of the following item having declared a personal and pecuniary interest in the matter to be discussed. She took no part in the debate or vote on the matter to be determined.)

 

The Planning Team Leader:

 

a)    reported that planning permission was sought for the replacement of two existing cricket practice nets with three new cricket practice nets at Lindum Sports Association, located off St Giles Avenue

 

b)    advised that the site was used for a variety of sports including Cricket, Hockey, Football, Rugby, Clubhouse facilities, Squash Courts, Gymnasium and changing facilities

 

c)    reported that the site was screened by an approximately 2 metre fence which ran around Wragby Road and St Giles Avenue, together with a line of trees located along the Wragby Road boundary, protected by a tree preservation order.

 

d)    advised that the site was bound by the rear gardens of residential properties to the north and east of the area, located just outside the Newport and Nettleham Road Conservation Area No.9

 

e)    highlighted that the application had been called into Planning Committee by Councillor Wells

 

f)     provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

 

·         National Planning Policy Framework      

·         Policy S53: Design and Amenity

·         Policy S64: Local Green Space

·         Policy S65: Important Open Space

 

g)    provided details of the issues pertaining to the application, as follows:

 

·         Local and National Planning Policy

·         Residential Amenity

·         Visual Amenity

·         Effect on the Playing Field Provision

·         Highway Safety

 

h)    outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

 

i)     concluded that:

 

·         The proposal related to replacement cricket nets at an existing sports ground to serve a larger number of practice cricket bays.

·         The proposal was considered not to cause any significant impacts in terms of its design or to local or residential amenity.

·         The proposal would therefore be in accordance with the requirements of Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Policies S64, S65 and S53, as well as guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

Helen Tressler, local resident, addressed Planning Committee in objection to the proposed planning application, covering the following main points:

 

·         Following personal letters received from Lindum Sports Association regarding purchase of new cricket nets, a three figure donation had been made to this cause by local residents.

·         She objected to the proposal based on location/loss of privacy/impact/disturbance/interference.

·         The replacement nets would be higher and wider, directly in front of her back garden.

·         The club would not be spending £60,000 on new nets if they weren’t going to be fully utilised.

·         The new nets would have an affect on our daily lives. We were not able to change the location and size of our homes.

·         There would be an increase in noise associated with the cricketers and bowling machines/associated equipment.

·         There would be substantial noise/interference and disturbance for residents close by.

·         The site was bounded by a fence and tall trees. The new nets would be only 1 metre from their own boundary wall.

·         The proposals would compromise the use of their garden and enjoyment of daily life.

·         There would be an impact on their physical and mental health.

·         The new nets were to be installed on unstable terrain.

·         There was limited access for maintenance of their garden from the cricket field side due to debris and redundant equipment left against their boundary wall.

·         Her neighbour had enjoyed a right of way for 24 years from her garden gate and would be vulnerable to falls using the restricted access.

·         As local residents we deserved consideration to enjoy our homes and gardens.

·         Only minor adjustments to the proposals would be needed to achieve this consideration in changing the location of the new cricket nets.

·         The proposed nets were intrusive and invasive.

 

Councillor Joshua Wells addressed Planning Committee in his capacity as Ward Advocate in relation to the proposed planning application, covering the following main points:

 

·         He had been contacted by local residents expressing concerns regarding plans to move/install new cricket nets closer to their boundary property wall.

·         The residents had helped contribute to the costs of these new nets.

·         He was proud of the sports facilities in his ward but represented his local residents here.

·         The investment in new nets would improve the cricket offer.

·         The existing nets were ready to be replaced.

·         Moving the nets closer to the neighbours boundary would result in noise pollution.

·         The issue here was the ability of the residents to safely maintain their boundary wall.

·         A way forward for both parties would be to relocate the nets near to the hockey pitch on Wragby Road.

·         This would remove neighbours’ concerns and still allow new cricket nets to be installed.

 

Edward Wells Cole, representing Lindum Sports Association addressed Planning Committee in support of the proposed Planning application (he shared the permitted allocated time to questions of 5 minutes), covering the following main points:

 

·         It had taken three years to get to the current position regarding replacement cricket nets at Lindum Sports Association.

·         There was a soak-away in existence behind the hockey pitch which prevented the nets being located there.

·         The new nets would be unnoticeable and not much bigger than those existing now.

·         There would be less noise due to net configuration. There would be less people batting, only 3 nets and no increased talking amongst cricketers.

·         The nets would be covered above resulting in no lost balls in neighbours gardens.

·         One of the objectors had only been resident in the property since 2022 right on the doorstep of the Sports facilities.

·         The proposals would incorporate children and women’s cricket in a team experience.

 

Mr Daniel Taylor, representing the Lindum Sports Association as a cricketer on the Cricket Committee, addressed Planning Committee in support of the proposed Planning application (he shared the permitted allocated time to questions of 5 minutes), covering the following main points:

 

·         Lindum Sports Association had occupied its present grounds since 1856.

·         It currently had over 600 members.

·         Sport was thriving in the City.

·         It drew its membership from all age groups across the community.

·         The new cricket nets would be an improvement to safety and training facilities.

·         The club had also been selected to host high profile trophy games in 2024.

·         It was hoped the proposed improvements would look after existing members and promote high level events.

 

The Committee discussed the content of the report in further detail.

 

The following concerns were raised in relation to the planning application:

 

·         Impact on existing residents resulting from the proposed new nets.

 

The following points were made in support of the planning application:

 

·         The proposals promoted health and participation in sport.

·         Cricket was thriving.

·         The club received immense support.

·         The nets would have an enclosed roof to prevent loss of balls.

·         The proposals promoted improvement to sports activity.

·         The proposals involved only a slight movement in the nets from their current position.

·         There was no reason to warrant refusal of planning permission.

·         Should there be any future element of noise nuisance this could be dealt with through the Anti-Social Behaviour and Public Protection Team.

·         Noise mitigation measures/sound insulation would be used. The nets would not be open.

·         A noise impact assessment had been conducted which had not identified any issues.

·         The site had been a sports field for many years. There would be associated noise, however, this was not considered to be excessive.

 

The following questions were raised in respect of the planning application:

 

·         Did the existence of a soak-away make the location of the nets unviable for the whole of the sports field?

·         Did the proposals result in a garden gate access being blocked?

·         Could the nets be located in an alternative area of the Lindum site as requested by the objector?

 

The Chair reminded Planning Committee members of their remit to examine the application before them this evening on its own merits.

 

The Planning Team Leader offered the following points of clarification to members:

 

·         In terms of the gate and access, entry into the site required permission of the Lindum Sports Association and access rights were a matter to be discussed between the sports association and the neighbour. This was not a material planning consideration, but a private matter between relevant parties.

·         As mentioned by the Chair, the remit of Planning Committee was to discuss the application before them tonight on its own merits.

 

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

 

Standard Conditions

 

• Development commenced within 3 years
• In accordance with the approved plans