Agenda item
Kingsbury High School and Roe Green Park, Princes Avenue, London, NW9 9JR (Ref. 15/1508)
Decision:
Granted planning permission as recommended subject to an additional Grampian condition regarding works to ensure the section of public footpath on Bacon Lane to the south of the proposed path has a minimum width of 2.2 m. Condition 7 to be amended to be Grampian style.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL:
Installation of 2.2m wide pedestrian path from Bacon Lane to Kingsbury High School, partly through Roe Green Park and partly Kingsbury High School grounds, removal (in part) of existing hedge and erection of metal gates, new lighting and CCTV column, and installation x 2 bollards together with removal of existing gates fronting Bacon Lane and their replacement with fencing and hedge (as amended).
RECOMMENDATION: Grant planning permission subject to conditions as set out in the draft decision notice.
The application was deferred at the last meeting to allow further consultation on the location of the path as shown in the site plan. David Glover (Area Planning Manager) outlined the scheme and in reference to the tabled supplementary report provided responses to the objections submitted by a local resident. He stated that the provision of a formal path would discourage the students from straying off onto the adjacent grassed area and that the use of tarmac was in keeping with the existing paths through Roe Green park.
Dan Hulsman (objector) stated that the proposal would effect the park and remove a section of ecologically valuable mature hedge and, as a wide public pavement already existed for use by the students, the proposal was not necessary. He considered that the current Travel Plan discouraged car usage and that the current footpath which needed to be protected was not being maintained particularly during winter months. In response to members’ questions, the objector stated that to his knowledge there had been no accident in the area of the public footpath and that the dropping off times were between 2.00 and 4.00pm.
Stephen Moore (Director of Resources, Kingsbury High School) informed the Committee that as there were about four daily movements of children between the 2 sites of the school and thus the proposal would assist with the safety of the students. He added that as the pavement was not wide enough it resulted in conflict with passing vehicles to the detriment of the students’ safety. In response to members’ questions, Stephen Moore confirmed that residents had not complained about student movements between sites and that, although security guards were used, the proposal would help pupils to move more safely.
The chair asked the applicant's representative whether widening the footpath between Bacon Lane and the new path would help improve the safety of the schoolchildren. The applicant's representative agreed that widening the footpath would help to safeguard the children and indicated the applicant would be willing to financially contribute to such works.
Stephen Weeks (Head of Planning) recommended an amendment to condition 7 for a ‘Grampian condition’ (or negative conditions to control development under a planning permission where works are to be carried out off-site) regarding works to ensure the section of public footpath on Bacon Lane to the south of the proposed path had a minimum width of 2.2m. Grampian (or negative) conditions have been used to control development under a planning permission where works are to be carried out off-site
DECISION: Granted planning permission as recommended subject to an additional ‘Grampian condition’ regarding works to ensure the section of public footpath on Bacon Lane to the south of the proposed path has a minimum width of 2.2m to which the applicant was willing to contribute.
Supporting documents: