Senior Planning Officer Memorandum

Department Of Local Government And The Environment ### Memorandum FROM: Mr B Sinden, Senior Planning Officer TO: Mrs C Christian MLC DATE: 14.09.06 --- PA 05/00843/B - Application to create permanent car park / hardstanding, and to extend current parking area, Part Field 385, Adjacent Filling Station, Main Road, Kirk Michael 1. The minister's decision letter in respect of the above application not only refuses permission for the permanent use and extension of the car-parking area in field 385, but also requires the submission of a scheme for reinstating the land to grazing use. 2. This "scheme" should have been submitted by the 22nd August 2006. We have received, on the 6th September 2006, a written proposal which involves re-building the boundary wall, removing the fence around the parking area, and retaining the hard-standing as an area for storing hay bales. This use is supported / requested by the owner / farmer of the land. 3. In assessing this "scheme", the following points are material:- a) there is not planning permission for the retention of the hard-standing; such permission could be granted only in response to an application therefore; b) the use for the storage of hay bales may arguably be an agricultural use, although it should be noted that recent use of the remainder of the field was for horses, and that the hardstanding is not closely related to agricultural buildings. 4. Since the "scheme" does not comply with the decision letter (in that it would not return the land to grazing use), and since roadside hardstanding would almost inevitably lead to roadside storage of one sort or another (with the consequent visual impact), I recommend that we reject the "scheme" and require the submission of a revised scheme which accords with the decision letter within one month. Brian Sinden Senior Planning Officer