Planning: Councillor to quit committee and accuses ELDC of ignoring locals

A Horncastle town councillor says he is quitting his role as planning committee member and taken a swipe at the district council for ignoring local opinions.
An architect’s drawing of what the main acess road to the care home could look like featuring cottages and the main facility itself.An architect’s drawing of what the main acess road to the care home could look like featuring cottages and the main facility itself.
An architect’s drawing of what the main acess road to the care home could look like featuring cottages and the main facility itself.

Coun Richard Barker says the town council is ‘wasting its time’ objecting to planning applications in Horncastle

He says he will not be ‘offering his services’ to the committee next year.

His comments come after planners at East Lindsey District Council gave the go-ahead for a new care home to be built in Horncastle – despite strong objections from local councillors and residents.

The area marked in red shows the site of the care home with the BB1191 (Thimbleby Hill) at the top left of the plan.The area marked in red shows the site of the care home with the BB1191 (Thimbleby Hill) at the top left of the plan.
The area marked in red shows the site of the care home with the BB1191 (Thimbleby Hill) at the top left of the plan.

Under national legislation, town and parish councils can comment on applications but a final decision rests with district councils.

Horncastle is one of only a handful of town councils to have been given permission to make decisions – but only with regard to small applications like home improvements.

Coun Barker said: “I feel that we are wasting much of our time making comments on applications, especially larger ones – like the new care home.

“We raised properly worded concerns and recommendations, only to be ignored by ELDC with absolutely no feedback.”

Coun Barker outlined a number of previous objections when local concerns were swept aside – notably concerning new housing estates.

He added: “Mareham Road and Langton Hill (housing applications ) showed that consultation with residents by the town’s planning committee came to nothing.”

Several other councillors have expressed frustration with the current system.

Planning committee chairman Coun Brian Burbidge recently said local concerns were rarely taken into account, notably drainage and traffic issues.

Regarding the new care home – which will be built on Thimbleby Hill – the town council listed a number of injections which were included in a report by a planning officer.

They included: -

• recognition there is a need for the type of development but question site chosen (steep hill/accessibility issues);

•lack of information from Highways and Anglian Water;

•concerns about width of entrance road;

·adequate car parking provision;

•public transport/infrastructure is limited;

•full traffic plan should be provided;

•congestion at Thimbleby Hill junction (with A158);

•Parking restrictions on Thimbleby Hill should be considered;

•Noise and light pollution – also location of waste facilities;

•Flooding risks.

The report also noted concerns raised by more than 20 residents including:

•loss of privacy;

•lack of car parking spaces;

•drainage issues;

• highway dangers;

•24 hour use will create excess noise and disturbance;

•immediate area is already over-developed.

However, as part of the approval process, a planning officer concluded: “The proposed development is considered to respond positively to requirements of the Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

“It will provide a needed residential care facility on a sustainable located site within the built up area of Horncastle.

“The proposal has been carefully considered to provide a built form of development that can be satisfactorily accommodated within the site – without undue harm to amenity or character.

“Furthermore, there are no technical issues restricting the development that can’t be suitably addressed by planning conditions.

“This conclusion has been arrived at having taken into account all other relevant material considerations, none of which outweigh the reasons for recommendation.”

The report noted the site had historically benefited from planning permission.

One of the main concerns raised by councillors and residents is an increase in traffic.

The site of the new care home is just off the B1191 (Thimbleby Hill).

There are already lengthy delays at its junction with the A158, the main route for traffic heading from Lincoln to and from the coast.

Town councillors have previously outlined how dangerous the junction is. However, a report – in support of the application and considered by planning officers – confirms there are no significant safety issues and that the level of additional traffic is unlikely to be significant.

The planning permission is for the erection of a 60-bed care home and six ‘care cottages’ with associated parking, bin store, cycle store and landscaping on the site of existing buildings which will be demolished.

The applicants are Glenholme Healthcare,

A report submitted to planners ahead of the final decision, says Glenholme are a specialist care provider with nearly 30 years of experience.

It adds the company provides personalised care for elderly residents, including people with dementia and adults with severe learning disabilities and various complex needs.

Glenholme already runs homes at 22 locations across the UK.

The report says there is an under-supply of 124 care beds in the Horncastle area and that figure will rise to a 154 bed shortfall by 2025.

The development will provide 60 single occupancy bedrooms set on a lower ground floor and ground floor level.

Facilities mentioned in the application include a small bar, bistro, cinema, library, shop and a hair salon.

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