Agenda item

The Planning Manager Andy Bates updated the Committee that he had received a petition of names and addresses of 30 supporters.  He added that although the Council acknowledged the potential community benefit of the boot sale in providing additional income for the school, the detrimental impacts on residential amenity and highway safety were considered unacceptable and contrary to adopted policy SH28 of the Unitary Development Plan 2004 for the reasons set out in the main report.  He therefore reiterated the recommendation for refusal.

Mr Crosley an objector stated that although he had some sympathy with the school’s need for extra funding, there was every need for the local residents to enjoy their residential amenities, free of noise nuisance from the car boot sale.  He added that the car boot sale would lead to an increase in traffic and congestion and illegal parking on residents’ driveways.

Mr Mark Barnett objected to the operation of the car boot sale on grounds of noise nuisance, additional parking to the detriment of residential amenities, pollution and litter.  He claimed that the operators were organising shuttle bus services from Kilburn High Road to the car boot sale, an arrangement which he said could only worsen the impact on residential amenities.

Mr Simon Pollard, a Governor of Malorees Infants’ School and a supporter of the application for a car boot sale stated that it would not create noise nuisance as claimed by some speakers.  He added that despite the lack of consultation of the proposal with the Infants’ school he felt it would be illegal to disallow the school from using its own site. 

In accordance with the provisions of the Planning Code of Practice, Councillor Shaw, a ward member stated that she had been approached by local residents in connection with this application.  Councillor Shaw claimed that local residents were not consulted on the application.  She raised objections to the application on the grounds that it would lead to an obstruction to the entrance to the school, increase in traffic congestion and thus detrimental to highway safety and the safety of children.  Councillor Shaw continued that the operation of the car boot sale which would be contrary to the UDP policy HS20 would materially alter the character of the area.

Mr Rainbow, Deputy Head of the school started by saying that the school had worked with all agencies within the Council to ensure that the car boot sale would be operated within acceptable guidelines.  He informed the Committee that only 37 vehicles would be allowed into the school grounds and that 5 car attendants would be engaged to marshal traffic flow.  He added that the above measures coupled with the fact that there were no residential dwellings close to the school, meant that the impact on residential amenities and traffic would not be significant as to a warrant refusal.  Mr Rainbow continued that rubbish resulting from the car boot sale would be removed and taken to rubbish centres thus preventing litter in the school grounds and within the local area.  

In the ensuing discussion, Councillor Hashmi noted the concerns expressed by the Council’s Transportation Unit in the report including the detriment to highway safety particularly as the CPZ hours of operation were outside the times when the car boot sale took place.  He noted whilst the operation would result in high on-street parking there was no management plan in place to eliminate the impact.  Councillor Thomas suggested a temporary permission for 6 months to enable officers to review the operation.  Councillor Anwar added that as the operation of the car boot sale commenced very early on Saturday mornings, it would cause noise nuisance to the local residents and undermine their peace and quiet enjoyment of their weekends.  In bringing the discussion to a close, the Chair commented that the car boot sale would create an undue disturbance to the amenities of neighbouring residents and endorsed the officer’s reasons for recommending a refusal.