Issue - meetings

Camping and Caravanning at Gibraltar Farm, Silverdale

 

 

Meeting: 06/01/2014 - Planning Regulatory Committee (Item 107)

107 Camping and Caravanning at Gibraltar Farm, Silverdale pdf icon PDF 67 KB

This report informs elected Members of the conclusion of a legal agreement to resolve a planning dispute into camping and caravanning activities at Gibraltar Farm, Silverdale.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Regeneration and Planning) submitted a report to inform members of the conclusion of a legal agreement to resolve a planning dispute into camping and caravanning activities at Gibraltar Farm, Silverdale.

 

Members were advised of the actions taken by officers following resolutions made by the committee in March 2013, to resolve a planning dispute concerning camping and caravanning at Gibraltar Farm, Silverdale.   The details of the legal agreement that had been concluded between the city council and the owners of the camping and caravan site were presented to the committee in detail.

 

The key aspects and benefits of the legal agreement were outlined to members as follows:

 

 

Planning matter

Benefits

1

Site owners and City Council have agreed clear identification of caravan and camping areas, with all land areas and features mapped.   Caravan numbers limited to 60 (except for rallies, see (4) below): tent numbers limited to 60. These capacities tied to the City Council’s Environmental Health site licences.

All parties know the permitted numbers and agree the specific areas to be used for tents and caravans.   Any changes to the agreed numbers will require planning consent and amended Environmental Health site licences.

2

Site owners have agreed not to hold events which require an events licence.

This aspect of the agreement deals with one of the principal concerns of local residents, relating to noise generated by events held on the site.

3

Site owners have agreed that the caravan site will be used for holiday purposes only.

This ensures that the site will not be used for residential purposes.

4

Site owners and City Council have agreed to allow caravan rallies on land at Gibraltar Farm for 28 days a year by Exempted Organisations, up to a maximum of 50 caravans.

This regularises the times and numbers of caravans allowed on the land at levels lower than have used the site in the recent past.  These are agreed to be restricted to the area which has been used in the past and not to spread over other parts of the site.

5

Site owners have also agreed to relinquish their permitted development rights on all other open land currently used for agriculture at Gibraltar Farm.

This distinguishes the boundaries of the caravan park from the farm land and makes clear the City Council’s intent to prevent camping and caravan use spreading to the land in open agricultural use.

6

Site owners and City Council have agreed a number of detailed matters including the number of electrical hook-ups (60), hard standings (37), and the location of the main access tracks to service the site.  It also ensures that no tents or caravans will be positioned within the woodland areas.

This clarifies some of the detailed matters, for the avoidance of doubt.

7

Site owners will allow the City Council to monitor the agreement, to check compliance.

This will be undertaken by occasional pre-arranged and un-announced visits.

 

It was advised that two aspects of the committee’s resolution had not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107