Agenda item

(1)       Mr T Gates informed the Committee that he had taken no part in discussion of this item at Faversham TC and that he had also attended a meeting between the School and local residents which had discussed the proposal.  He had not given a view during this meeting and was therefore in a position to approach the proposal with a fresh mind.

(2)       The Head of Planning Applications Group advised the Committee that, although Swale BC was not due to discuss the application until after the Committee meeting, the Borough Council’s Planning Officers were recommending that there should be no objection.  The Head of Planning Applications Group also reported the receipt of late letters of objection from 5 neighbouring residents.

(3)       Mrs M McCreedy and Mr S Curling addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposal. Mrs C Woodend (Head Teacher) and Mr S Finlan (Director of Sports) of Abbey School spoke in reply.

(4)       In agreeing the Head of Planning Applications Group’s recommendations, the Committee asked for an Informative to advise the School of the need for careful irrigation measures for the proposed bund.

(5)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)            subject to the views of Swale Borough Council, permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions, including conditions covering a 3 year time limit for implementation; the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details; colour and specification of fencing and surfacing; precise details of the bunding, including its landscaped appearance; a detailed scheme of landscaping, including a maintenance programme; protection of the trees which are to be retained; further details of the exact positioning of the acoustic barrier; an acoustic barrier to be constructed in accordance with the specification provided and installed on site prior to first use of the floodlit pitch; hours of use to be restricted to between 0700 and 2130 Monday to Friday, between 0900 and 1800 on Saturdays, and between 1000 to 1800 on Sundays and Bank Holidays; all lighting on site (except security lighting) being extinguished by 2130, or 15 minutes after last use of the facility if earlier; extinguishing of lighting when the pitch is not in use; the level of use of the facilities  according with the submitted details; lighting being installed in accordance with approved details, and checked on site; lighting levels not exceeding those specified within the application; no further lighting being installed without planning permission; land contamination and drainage; car parking being completed and operational prior to first use of the floodlit pitch; submission of a revised School Travel Plan; parking being available out of school hours for community use; hours of working during construction being restricted to between 0800 and 1800 Monday to Friday and 0900 and 1300 on Saturdays, with no operations on Sundays and Bank Holidays; measures to prevent mud and debris on the highway; and a construction code of practice; and

(b)               the applicants be informed by Informative of the Committee’s    view of the need for careful irrigation measures for the permitted bund.