Agenda item

(Under the scheme of public participation, Rowland Parker, Peter Yates, Michael Rothwell  and Lesley Ann Sharples addressed the Committee as supporters of the application.  Isobel Taylor, the applicant, reiterated her support for the application.)

Rowland Parker addressed the Committee and advised Members that he could not stress strongly enough how important it was that the dance school continued.  Through no fault of the owner, she had to leave the previous premises and was struggling to find a new location.  The dance school was unique to the Carnforth area.  Carnforth did not have the same venues as Lancaster and Morecambe, and it suffered from a lack of entertainment for young people and had no youth club.  The TV programme ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ had resulted in children wanting to attend the dance school.  They were responsible children, with responsible parents.  Whilst some places were unsafe to attend at night, the dance classes took place during the day.  The dance school had been based at Carnforth for some 13 years.  He had been strongly involved with it, as a policeman in the local community.  The Committee should be keen to encourage such a facility and therefore grant the application.

Peter Yates addressed the Committee and informed Members that he operated a vehicle recovery operation and was committed to community-led projects.  He had grown up in Carnforth, and had walked to school past the Old Co-op Yard.  The vehicle recovery operation dealt with accidents and he knew of none at the Old Co-op Yard.  He suggested that road conditions were no worse than elsewhere and not bad enough to prevent the application being granted.  The school had been forced out of its previous premises and he believed that more dangers existed on Lancaster Road than the proposed location.  The dance school was an asset to the community and its young people.  There was no historical evidence to support the suggestion that the entrance road to the proposed premises was unsafe and unfit.

Michael Rothwell addressed the Committee and advised Members that he was speaking at Committee to prevent refusal of the application.  His daughter was 16 years old and had attended the school since the age of 4.  He was therefore qualified to comment.  The school used to be on Oxford Street.  There was less traffic on Kellet Road and he would be less concerned regarding turning there than on the A6.  The proposed new premises were safer than the Oxford Street ones.  Numbers in classes ranged from 1 to 10, therefore a small trickle of traffic was generated.  When his daughter was 4 years old, she had been delivered and collected from the dance school, but now travelled by bus from her school and walked the rest of the way, encountering no more danger.  Parents were capable of arranging for pupils to attend the dance school.  A balancing act between the need for the dance school and the access was required.  The dance school had found it hard to find suitable premises and he was concerned what would happen to his daughter if the application was refused, as he did not want her hanging round the streets of Warton.

Lesley Ann Sharples addressed the Committee and informed Members that she was a parent of one of the children who attended the dance school and understood the concerns raised and hoped to be able to alleviate them.  Classes were small and comprised typically of 8 to 10 pupils.  Only a small number of comings and goings were generated from them.  Pupils were required to travel from Carnforth High School and walk up past the crossing and cross Kellet Road to classes, which took place at 3.30 p.m. or 4.30 p.m., the latter being a one-to-one class.  The parents of children attending classes had organised a petition, which had been signed by 41 parents indicating that they intended to escort their children to and from the new premises and that, if they were driving to the dance school, would park their cars on the car park at Carnforth High School, or any other recommended car park, and then escort their children to and from the dance school.  Over 200 children were already crossing the road unsupervised.  Whilst she understood that the Authority had concerns, in view of the measures proposed, she hoped that the Committee would vote to grant the application.

Isobel Taylor, Principal of the Dance School, addressed the Committee and advised Members that due to plans for her former premises, it had been necessary for her to find alternative accommodation.  This had been difficult in Carnforth.  She had approached all of the parents of pupils and not one of them could understand the Authority’s concerns.  The classes were of different genres and it was therefore necessary to find permanent premises in order to be able to maintain the school’s small class policy.  Though there would be challenges to adults, the school would have a central base.  Concerns regarding highway safety had never been a problem.  Parents were concerned regarding the safety of their children and would be responsible in regard to this.  If no premises could be found, classes would be fragmented.  Granting the application would ensure the continuity and security of the school.

It was proposed by Councillor Quinton and seconded by Councillor Helme:

“That the application be granted, subject to conditions.”

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be carried, subject to the following additional conditions (suitably worded):

(1)            Standard Time Condition

(2)        Built in accordance with the approved plans

(3)        Hours of Use

(4)        Dance School Only

(5)            Provision of remote car parking

(6)        Noise Assessment

(7)        Cycle Parking

Advice Note:  Regarding child safety.