Decision details

This item was brought forward and considered after item 3 of the agenda.

A report was presented on an application for an extension to the car park at Astley Park School, Harrington Road, Chorley.

The Committee was reminded that at their last meeting held on 24 January 2018, they had deferred consideration of the application pending a site visit.

The Committee visited the site on 5 March 2018.

The report included the views of Chorley Borough Council, LCC Highways Development Control, Sport England, the Coal Authority and details of four letters of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown photographs of the existing car park, the proposed car park extension and vehicles parked on the surrounding residential roads.

The Officer reported that a letter had been received from a resident of Harrington Road raising the following points:-

·  The school has reached capacity in terms of the numbers of staff now required to support pupil numbers

·  There has been a significant increase in the numbers of vehicles providing transport for children including in parent's vehicles which is leading to unacceptable levels of congestion at either end of the school day, the flouting of parking restrictions and blocking of resident's drive ways

·  The parking issues cause problems for emergency vehicle access.

The same resident addressed the Committee at the meeting and reiterated the above points. She also felt that if the proposed school car park extension were to include a significantly improved traffic management scheme which allowed the mini buses and taxis to park and wait on school premises, this may alleviate many of the concerns expressed by the residents.

Following debate with regard to the size and the location of the proposed car park, the proposed landscaping and traffic congestion on the surrounding residential roads, it was:

Resolved: That planning permission be Granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the Committee.