Agenda item

(1)       Mr K Smith informed the Committee that he was acquainted with some of the people who had corresponded about the application.  None of these acquaintanceships was a close association.  He was therefore able to approach the application with a fresh mind.

(2)        Mr R J Parry made a declaration of Personal Interest in that the company which employed him was located near to the site of the application.

(3)       Mr L B Ridings was present for this item pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.21 and spoke.

(4)       The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of three late representations from local residents in objection to the application.

(5)       The Head of Planning Applications Group explained to the Committee that Planning Policy MPS1 stated that an application of this nature should be considered on its own merits, which should not include any hypothetical future proposal for development of the oil or gas resource.

(6)       Mr Andrew Ogden from CPRE addressed the Committee in a personal capacity.  He spoke in opposition to the application, as did Mrs Rosemary Rechter from “Deal With It”. Mr Gerwyn Williams (Chief Executive Officer – Coastal Oil and Gas Ltd) spoke in reply. `

(7)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       permission be granted to the application subject to Conditions  including Conditions covering the development being carried out in accordance with the submitted plans and any approved pursuant to the conditions set out below; operations commencing within 5 years; the applicant providing written confirmation of the start date on site;  the temporary use once commenced on site ceasing within 12 weeks, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the County Planning Authority;  use of the borehole being restricted to obtaining core samples only; all structures and materials being removed from site within two weeks of the cessation of operations; the prior submission and approval of a scheme and timetable for the reinstatement of the site, including the replacement of any topsoil and re-seeding; the prior submission and approval of external lighting details; the implementation of the recommendations set out within the Ecological Scoping and Phase 1 Habitat Survey; a control on night-time noise to ensure it does not exceed the background noise levels; all liquid and solid waste generated by the proposed operation being captured and stored until it can be disposed of within an appropriately licensed waste disposal facility;  the maintenance of sight lines at the access from the A257;  the provision of vehicle parking on site;  a restriction on HGV movements to avoid peak travel times; measures to ensure that mud and debris is not tracked onto the highway;  the borehole being drilled in accordance with the principles of the methodology received;  the borehole being completely backfilled and sealed in accordance with the principles of the methodology received;  geological survey information obtained from the core samples (excluding any commercially sensitive data) being made available to the County Planning Authority; and copy of decision and approved documents being available on site; and

(b)       the applicant be advised by way of Informatives (amongst other matters) of:-

(i)                 the views of the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive; and

(ii)        the Committee’s recommendation that (as agreed) during the set up and decommissioning periods of the site,  the applicant should route large delivery vehicles via the A265 outside the identified peak travel times.