Agenda item

(1)       Mrs E M Tweed addressed the Committee as the Local Member. She took no further part in the decision making process for this application.

(2)       Mr J N Wedgbury was present for this item pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.27 and spoke. He informed the Committee that he was the Vice-Chairman of Ashford Borough Council’s Planning Committee but was speaking on this occasion in his capacity as a Local Member from the adjoining ward. 

(3)       The Committee agreed that if permission were granted, there would be no deliveries before 7.00 am.

(4)       On being put to the vote, there were 6 votes for and 6 votes against the amended recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group.

(5)       Pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.26 (2), the Chairman immediately declared that he was using his casting vote in favour of the recommendations as amended.

(6)       RESOLVED that permission be granted to the application subject to conditions, including conditions covering a 5 year implementation period; the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details; a maximum throughput of 60,000 tonnes of ferrous and 10,000 tonnes of non-ferrous metals per year); details/specification of external materials of site fencing (including details of the front false building façade) being submitted for prior approval; the erection of all site fencing prior to the commencement of any operations and the maintenance of this fencing in a good state of repair for the perpetuity of the development; tree protection measures during the construction of the development; details of the landscaping scheme (including new tree and shrub planting) being submitted for approval prior to the commencement of any operations (landscape planting being undertaken thereafter within the first planting season following the first operation of the site and being maintained for a period of not less than 5 years); the hours of operation being 07:00 to 18:00 hours on Mondays to Fridays and 07:00 to 13:00 hours on Saturdays with no working on Saturday afternoon, Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays and no vehicle deliveries taking place before 07:00 hours on any day); the hours of construction being 07:00 to 18:00 hours on Mondays to Fridays and 07:00 to 13:00 hours on Saturdays with no working on Saturday afternoon, Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays; the height of material stockpiles and skip storage being restricted to no more than 6m above ground level, and plant and machinery being operated from ground level rather than from stockpiles; details of a remediation strategy to deal with risks associated with contamination being submitted for prior approval; no piling or foundation designs using penetrative methods taking place other than with the prior approval of the Waste Planning Authority; the maximum number of operational vehicle movements associated with the metal recycling facility being limited to 200 per day (200 in / 200 out); provision being made within the site for construction vehicles parking, loading, off-loading and manoeuvring space during construction activities; details of on-site parking and turning space for personnel/operatives/visitors being submitted for prior approval; details of surface water drainage to be submitted for prior approval; measures to prevent mud and debris being deposited on the highway; a requirement to provide 3 cycle spaces within the site prior to first operations; new access being provided in accordance with the details submitted prior to the first use of the development and being maintained in perpetuity thereafter for the life of the development; a restriction on the rating noise level emanating from the facility on nearby noise sensitive residential properties when assessed in accordance with BS:4142 to no more than the existing background noise level; details of a lighting scheme being submitted for prior approval; and materials being stored and handled in those areas proposed.