Councillors Justin Tomlinson & Peter Stoddart Join Local Residents
Celebrating The 'First' Victory On May 24th
Following the decision for the planning committee to 'refuse' planning permission for the KFC site on the 24th May, subject to suitable legal reasons being found at last nights planning meeting.
The report which was brought to planning recommended the KFC plans were granted, as the officers felt that was not sufficient legal grounds to enforce a refusal. Officers also presented the developers designs for the KFC.
Councillor Justin Tomlinson (Conservative, Abbey Meads), represented the local residents, summarising both his own, and the 8 residents speeches, who spoke at the planning meeting on the 24th May. This focused on concerns over:
Councillor Justin Tomlinson also condemned the developers potential alternative design for the KFC, "It is a bit like a dentist offering you a new, or old pair of pliers to pull out your teeth - both are still a fast food outlet, so both are totally inappropriate for a residential area!"
The debate then moved onto the planning committee.
Councillor Doreen Dart, (Conservative, Blunsdon) highlighted the concerns of Haydon Wick & Blunsdon Parish Council, and urged members to vote for refusal.
Councillor Peter Greenhalgh, (Conservative, Freshbrook & Grange Park) highlighted concerns over design and smell, and urged members to vote for refusal.
Councillor Peter Stoddart, (Conservative, Abbey Meads) focused on the concerns of the Abbey Meads residents he represents along with Councillors Justin Tomlinson & Owen Lister, and urged member to vote for refusal.
Councillor Chris Van Roon, (Conservative, Stratton St. Margaret) focused on road side use arguing that this was not a site off a motorway or on an industrial estate so would be an inappropriate site. Due to the negative impact on the quality of lives for local residentsm he urged members to vote for refusal.
Councillor David Glaholm, (Labour, Penhill) argued that residents had no right to complain as when they bought their houses they knew the potential risks (members of the public made it clear they disagreed with this!), and urged members to vote for approval.
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VOTE TO GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION
Councillor David Glaholm, (Labour, Penhill) then asked for a vote to accept the application.
Councillor Maureen Dilley, (Labour, Covingham & Nythe) agreed to second the motion to accept the application.
This was defeated with every single Conservative voting against granting planning permission, joined by Councillor John Ballman, (Labour, Gorsehill & Pinehurst)
VOTE TO REFUSE PLANNING PERMISSION
Councillor Doreen Dart, (Conservative, Blunsdon) then asked for a vote to refuse the application.
Councillor Chris Van Roon, (Conservative, Stratton) agreed to second the motion to refuse the application.
This motion was accepted with every single Conservative voting for refusing planning permission, joined again by Councillor John Ballman, (Labour, Gorsehill & Pinehurst)
Councillor Justin Tomlinson, "I am delighted that the planning committee stuck to the initial decision of refusal. I am baffled why some Labour Councillors felt local residents should accept this totally inappropriate development so close to a residential area - it shows just how out of touch with local issues in Abbey Meads they are. This decision was one of common sense, and a just reward for all the hard work of local residents who made their objections to these plans so clear."