Issue - meetings

New gates to paddock and creation of a new access at 238 Wateringbury Road, East Malling.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)     Planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.     The proposed gates, by virtue of their height, location and design, and the access, by virtue of its width, amount of hardstanding and loss of hedgerow, appear to be visually incongruous and suburban features within the rural street scene, detracting from the historic character of the rural lane and are as a result harmful to the visual amenity of the locality and wider rural landscape.  The proposal is therefore contrary to policies CP1 and CP24 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007, policies SQ1 and DC6 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Managing Development and the Environment DPD 2010 and paragraphs 17, 56, 57, 60 and 64 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2012).

2.     The 2.5 metre set back of the gates combined with the location of the access within 5 metres of the junction of The Heath and Wateringbury Road results in a significant highway safety hazard.  The development is therefore contrary to policy SQ8 of the Managing Development and the Environment DPD 2010.

(2)     An Enforcement Notice BE ISSUED, the detailed wording of which to be agreed with the Director of Central Services, requiring the cessation of the use of the land for the storage of lorries, the removal of the access and gates and the removal of the hardcore hardstanding from the land and the reinstatement of the hedge.