Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Service Manager – Development and Estates.

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Development & Estates.

The Officer advised that the report had been requested at the last Committee as Members deferred the application to gain responses from local Police, Tredegar Town Council and the Fire Authority as well as seek further clarification on reasons for refusal. The Officer spoke to the report and provided an overview of the key points.

It was reported that the main concerns raised by local Members were the problems experienced in the Town Centre from similar establishments. However, the Officer reported that the facility of concern had planning permission for a hostel and pointed out that the current application was for B&B and conditions have been proposed which may address concerns. If the applicant wished to change the use further planning permission would be required.

Therefore, the Officer stated that her recommendation remained unchanged and the application be granted.

The Chair invited the Ward Member to address the Committee at this juncture.

Councillor S. Thomas, Tredegar, Central and West Ward welcomed the comments received from the Local Police in respect of the application. The information provided supported concerns raised by local Members and the Ward Member felt that it would be difficult for the Police and Local Authority to monitor proper uses. The Ward Member stated that if the application was granted the people of Tredegar would have very little recourse to refuse the development.

The Ward Member advised that the developer operated similar establishments in other areas under the guest house application which were used similarly as the facility in the Town Centre. The report detailed the costs of appeal, however in this instance the refusal would be supported by the Local Police, local Members and the community.

The Ward Member offered his support if the decision was appealed and would be happy to provide the necessary evidence. The Ward Member thereupon asked the Committee to refuse the application due to the current issues being experience in Tredegar Town Centre.

Another local Member supported the comments raised and felt that it was not a suitable local for a B&B. The Member welcomed tourism to Tredegar, however this building was more suited to offices rather than a B&B. It was felt that when applications for businesses within Town Centres are submitted it would be good to see business plans to ascertain what the applicant had planned for the development and how it would bring benefits to the Town Centre. The Member supported the Ward Member that the application be refused.

It was proposed and seconded that the application be refused. The reason for refusal was that the development would have an unacceptable impact on the surrounding area given existing issues that exist.

Therefore, upon a vote being taken 12 voted in favour of the amendment and 1 abstained from voting. It was thereupon,

RESOLVED that planning permission be REFUSED.