Falklands : PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE HELD 6th DECEMBER 2007
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 09.12.2007 (Article Archived on 23.12.2007)
Graham France Tells us what's new at the Planning and Building Committee.
PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE
HELD 6th DECEMBER 2007
(By Graham France)
Members and officers attending this month’s meeting of the Planning and Building Committee stood for a minute’s silence in memory of past-member Graham Middleton who died the day following the last meeting he attended on 2nd November.
The Hon Richard Stevens chaired the meeting and welcomed the writer as new Lay Member replacing Gerald Cheek following completion of the latter’s three years in office. Apologies for absence were recorded for Andrea Wright, the Environmental Planning Officer (EPO), and in her place applications were presented by Ken Snape, the Building Adviser.
Following the usual preliminaries members reviewed first the proposal for the erection of a two-storey dwelling at 2 Goss Road for Ryan Hawksworth, which was deferred at the last meeting over concerns on its potential impact in the area. Discussions had taken place on the possibility of a one-and-a-half-storey design, but it was now agreed that, subject to a condition limiting the height of the roof ridge to no more than 33 metres above mean low water spring tide level, the original proposal could be approved.
New applications
Two new applications which involved seeking the views of members of the Historic Buildings Committee were first considered – Jane Cameron, Government Archivist, and Terence Jaffray of that body attended. First to be looked at was for an extension to the West Store which included a new entrance and car park improvements submitted by the Falkland Islands Company. Following discussion on finishing materials and possible amendments to the south entrance it was agreed to grant conditional planning permission for the development.
The committee then looked at Government’s proposals for internal modifications with removal of existing south extensions and replacement with single-storey extensions, similar to those recently built at the adjoining cottages, to 3, 4, 5 and 6 Police Cottages on Ross Road. This, too, received conditional planning permission.
Moving on to other proposals for new development submitted since the last meeting, members considered the following and granted conditional planning permission: at 2 Allardyce Street for Jeannie McKay, the construction of an extension to the living room and other minor works; an extension with internal alterations to the dwelling at 7 Fitzroy Road East for Paul Freer; demolition of the existing garage and replacement with new at 3 Ross Road East for Mike Harris; and the sub-division of upper floor levels to create an additional flat with the provision of two parking spaces at 34 – 36 Ross Road for The Gift Shop Limited (Lay Member Anna King left the meeting during discussion on this proposal).
One application was refused consent – the outline application submitted by Geoff and Wanda Greenough for the erection of a bungalow with off-street parking on land east of 9 Snake Hill. Prior to the discussion on this submission, members were handed a copy of a letter addressed to the EPO and signed by seven members of the public in which they objected to the proposed development.
It was reported that the attention of the applicants had been drawn to the presence of a water main running through the site, which meant there was need to retain some of the land free of any development to allow for future servicing. It was felt that there would then be insufficient space for the dwelling outside of that area and it was accordingly agreed to refuse planning permission.
Two applications were deferred at the meeting to allow discussion between officers and the applicants. In the matter of the proposal to site three Portakabins and tarmac 1,500 square metres of ground for use as a go-karting recreational area near to Stanley Airport (west of the Fire & Rescue Section Warehouse), submitted by Russell Morrison and James Bates, further information is to be sought including the potential level of noise and the provision of toilet accommodation. Members commented they did not wish to appear negative to such forms of entrepreneurial investment, but did feel it necessary to seek more details before reaching a decision.
As to the Department of Agriculture’s proposal to locate a container for use by the Veterinary Section for monitoring of animal disease, members were reminded of earlier decisions to refuse permission for the location of dog kennels not far from the proposed siting. It was understood that the proposed structure would be used only occasionally as kennels for quarantine to monitor illness but the committee felt more information was needed, including the possible provision of cage(s) to be attached.
Ken Snape then answered a small number of questions on the twenty-five applications listed seeking building permits, the majority of which he had been able to issue.
Part one of the meeting then closed with the agreement on the date of the next which is Thursday, 10th January 2008, to commence at 8.30am in the Liberation Room.
Graham France 7th December 2007
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