Page No 1
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT -
6 February 2012
Community / Code No / Applicant / Recommendation / Page NoCHI / P/ 2010/0952 / GLYN VALLEY TRAMWAY
MR DAVIDCOOPER / GRANT / 3-17
BRN / P/ 2011/0402 / D.J. HUXLEY FARMS LTD
MR ROBINHUXLEY / GRANT / 18-23
BRO / P/ 2011/0670 / MR ANDREWCASH / GRANT / 24-38
GWE / P/ 2011/0709 / S G ESTATES LTD
MR SGRIFFIN / GRANT / 39-51
WRA / P/ 2011/0749 / WREXHAMCOUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL / GRANT / 52-57
WRR / P/ 2011/0792 / MR DJARVIS / GRANT / 58-66
LLA / P/ 2011/0834 / MRS MELANIEHALL / GRANT / 67-70
HOL / P/ 2011/0849 / MR ATHORNLEY / REFUSE / 71-75
WRO / P/ 2011/0854 / WALES & WEST HOUSING
MR CRAIGSPARROW / GRANT / 76-89
GWE / P/ 2011/0857 / R & B BIKES
MR RBOLTON / GRANT / 90-93
WRC / P/ 2011/0872 / MR ROBERTSTULIGLOWA / GRANT / 94-96
GRE / P/ 2011/0875 / MR TREESE / GRANT / 97-107
WRA / P/ 2011/0881 / MR NIGELROBERTS / GRANT / 108-112
WRA
WRC / P/ 2011/0890
P/2011/0896 / MR NIGEL BURNS
MR L DAVIES / GRANT
GRANT / 113-116
117-121
BAN / P/ 2011/0907 / MR GARRYMACKINLAY / GRANT / 122-128
BAN / P/ 2011/0910 / MR & MRS AINGE / GRANT / 129-132
WRA / P/ 2011/0919 / WREXHAMCOUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
MR LAWRENCEISTED / GRANT / 133-139
WRC / P/ 2012/0025 / WREXHAMCOUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL / GRANT / 140-142
Total Number of Applications Included in Report: 19
All plans included in this report are re-produced from Ordnance Survey Mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.
WCBC Licence No. LA0902IL
All plans are intended to be illustrative only and should be used only to identify the location of the proposal and the surrounding features. The scale of the plans will vary. Full details may be viewed on the case files.
APPLICATION NO:P/2010 /0952
COMMUNITY:
Chirk
WARD:
Chirk South / LOCATION:
CHIRK STATIONSTATION AVENUECHIRKWREXHAM
LL14 5LT
DESCRIPTION:
RE-INSTALLATION OF RAILWAY, ERECTION OF STATION BUILDINGS, OPERATION OF RAILWAY, EXTENSION TO EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE, REPLACEMENT FOOTBRIDGE, CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, EXTENSION TO CADBURYS VISITORS CAR PARK TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR RAILWAY USERS, PROVISION OF LAY-BY, ALTERATION TO EXISTING VEHICULAR FIELD ACCESS AND ACCESS TRACKWAY AND OTHER GENERAL ASSOCIATED ANCILLARY WORKS
APPLICANT(S) NAME:
MRDAVIDCOOPERGLYN VALLEY TRAMWAY / DATE RECEIVED:
16/11/2010
CASE OFFICER:
KH
AGENT NAME:
GLYN VALLEY TRAMWAY
MR DAVID COOPER
______
THE SITE
One mile reinstatement of tramway between Chirk Station at the western end of Station Avenue, travelling south east running parallel with Station Road before turning south west to run parallel with the B4500 (Chirk to Glyn Ceiriog Road) until Pontfaen and then travelling east and ending at the proposed Pontfaen Station, directly north of Chirk Fisheries.
PROPOSAL
Involves the re-opening of a section of the original Glyn Valley Tramway which closed in 1935. A one mile section of tramway would be reinstated between Chirk and Pontfaen. The proposal would include the laying of a narrow gauge (2’ 6” gauge) railway, construction of a new building to provide covered storage of railway rolling stock and to allow minor running repairs, reconstruction of the original station building on the original site, a small building at Pontfaen, construction of platforms, construction of parking facilities and construction of a new level access to the GVT station, which will have the dual purpose of providing disabled access to the mainline station.
HISTORY
None.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Car park, new station building at Chirk Station and alterations to the bridge are within the settlement limit. The rolling stock building in close proximity to the proposed rebuilt original station and small station at Pontfaen would be within a Special Landscape Area. Proposals must also be considered in terms of the World Heritage Site. Policies PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, GDP1, EC5, EC6, EC13, CLF7, T1, T8 of the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan refer. TAN 13 Tourism and PPW(2010) Chapter 11, particularly paragraphs 11.1.1. – 11.1.2 and 11.3.1. and 11.3.2. No policy objections.
CONSULTATIONS
Community Council:No objections
Local Member:Notified 16.11.10
Adj Community Council:Consulted 25.11.10
Adj Local Member:Notified 25.11.10
Public Protection:No objections subject to conditions regarding noise
and disturbance.
Highways:No objections subject to conditions regarding parking, construction details of extended footbridge, details of existing retaining walls along sections of the track and full details of crossing point at Pontfaen.
National Trust:Supports application as a heritage project and new building based on sound historical research.
British Waterways:No objections subject to conditions – structural assessment of the canal tunnel, investigations into known and unknown tunnel construction shafts and regime of inspections throughout the works.
Network Rail:Consulted 25.11.10
Arriva Trains Wales:Consulted 25.11.10
CADW (Historic Gardens):Consulted 25.11.10
CADW (Welsh Historic
Monuments):Consulted 22.12.10
Welsh Water:Consulted 16.11.10
Ramblers:Consulted 25.11.10
Environment Agency:No objections subject to any contamination or ecology issues being addressed. Notes required re. surface water run-off and culverting watercourse.
CCW:No objections on the basis of the submission of appropriate surveys for protected species and accompanying mitigation and compensation conditions required.
Rights of Way:Where railway crosses Chirk Footpath 18, the railway should be fenced out from the footpath – with self-closing pedestrian gales. Boarding/surfacing at the same level as top of the rail to enable level crossing.
CPAT:No objections. The proposed restoration scheme will primarily impact on the line of the late C19 Glyn Valley Tramway. The scheme will only have a moderate to slight indirect impact on the World Heritage Site and nearby ChirkCastle parkland and heritage assets.
The only direct impact would appear to be on the foundations of the original GVT station building and a watching brief will be required.
Shropshire CC:Consulted 22.12.10
Department for Culture,
Media and Sport:Consulted 22.12.10
Other Representations:Two letters not objecting but one resident requesting that double yellow lines should be extended for the length of Station Avenue, as the road is already busy and parking on the road obstructs the movement of vehicles and the proposal would compound problems. A second resident welcomes the toilets but they will need to be kept clean. Third letter raises a number of concerns/objections:-
-The width of Station Avenue is already substandard and in recent years traffic movements have increased with National Trust visitors, Caravan Club movements, Canal Wood Industrial Estate, motorists looking for the golf club, new residential development at Telford Rise/Castle Walks, alterations to road layout has seen traffic movements in relation to Glyn Ceiriog travelling along Station Avenue and Station Road and improved rail, bus and taxi provision. The proposal would compound congestion.
-Pedestrian provision in and around the site is not ideal with a footpath of reduced width and uneven on Station Avenue.
-Concern that because applicants have no long-term control over car park, if the company closes parking no longer available.
-May not use car park but choose to park indiscriminately on Station Avenue or Canal Wood Industrial Estate Road, with increased congestion, noise and disturbance.
-Access to and from site for wheelchair users needs to be carefully considered and disabled parking spaces need to be provided within the car park.
-Existing footbridge over main railway appears to be substandard.
-Access from extended footbridge down to platform is described as long and narrow in the accompanying statement.
-Ramp needs to be acceptable.
-Area already suffers from noise and pollution and proposals will compound.
Press Notice:Expired 07.01.11
Site Notices:Expired 10.12.10
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/ISSUES
Conservation: The proposals must be considered in terms of the impact upon the setting of adjacent heritage assets and the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site. In general terms the proposals will undoubtedly bring economic benefits to the area and contribute to the wider visitor experience. Additional pressure on existing parking and increased traffic generation could potentially detract from the setting of the World Heritage Site and the nearby Chirk Conservation Area, though the provision of the additional car park at Cadburys will reduce any overall impact.
An archaeological assessment submitted with the application has measured the value of the nearby cultural and heritage assets and the magnitude and significance of the likely impact from the proposed development. I would concur with the assessment that the proposal will have a limited impact. The reconstruction of the track over the Scheduled and Listed Chirk tunnel would require Scheduled Monument Consent.
In regard to the new structures, design of the new station building is based on sound historical evidence and seeks to recreate the original building on the original site, in terms of size and materials. The new rolling stock building will have a greater impact given its scale and appearance (30m in length, 6m width and an overall height of 6m – timber and corrugated sheet roof). However, the building is set below the adjacent level of the road and with an existing boundary hedge the impact will be significantly reduced. The building at Pontfaen given its limited size will have a minimal impact on the rural environment. The extension to the footbridge will be contemporary in design, steel and glass to differentiate the structure from the original features and reduce the visual impact on the stone arch bridge.
The scheme overall will have a positive impact on the surrounding area and not compromise the integrity of the heritage assets.
Special Landscape Area: The new rolling stock building and small building at Pontfaen will be located within a Special Landscape Area. The impact of the rolling stock building will be minimised due to the building being at a lower level to the adjoining carriageway and in close proximity to other station buildings. Whilst existing trees will be lost to the rear (west) to the building, new planting will help further integrate the building into the rural environment. The structure at Pontfaen is of limited size and will be seen against a backdrop of mature trees. I am satisfied the character of the Special Landscape Area will not be compromised.
Highways: The main highways issues relate to the alteration to a field access onto Hand Lane, a new footbridge extension across the main line, parking provision and a pedestrian crossing point at the proposed Pontfaen Station.
The proposed altered field access to the south of the road bridge at Chirk Station will be utilised to transfer rail vehicles to road and vice versa. Whilst the access cannot be improved significantly, the use is limited and would be conditioned to the proposed limited use described in the application documentation.
An additional car park will be provided with an extension to the Cadbury/Kraft Visitors car park. A plan has been submitted to indicate the layout and will provide 42 car spaces and parking and turning provision for 2 buses. This will ensure adequate off street parking to avoid additional congestion and ensure the free flow of traffic on Station Avenue. I am awaiting confirmation that they will be able to maintain a long term interest in retaining the car park and a planning condition will be required to ensure its long-term use.
There is no footpath on the road bridge across the railway at Chirk Station, with consequently no safe level walking route, for users of the main line station, to access the down platform or for general pedestrians to access the canal or road to ChirkCastle. Entry to the site will be via an extension to the existing station footbridge and a new footway to the north end of the down platform. Visitors will enter the site on the original platform where they can visit the rebuilt station. All walking routes within the site will be suitable for all users and will have equal and convenient access to and from the station. A planning condition will be required to deal with the structural aspects of the bridge and the link to the footpath near the Canal Wood Industrial Estate.
Occasionally it will be necessary to provide a location where rail vehicles can be transferred to road and vice versa. An existing field access on Hand Lane to the south of the proposed station will be improved marginally but given the limited use of the access highways are not objecting to its use.
A small station building and platform is proposed at Pontfaen, with the intention of enabling passengers to disembark and to have access from the train to Chirk Fisheries. However, this would involve pedestrians crossing the B4500 (Chirk to Glyn Ceiriog Road) and the road has a 60mph speed limit.
Extensive discussions have taken place between the applicant and the Highways Department to achieve a suitable scheme. Ramped access will be provided from the proposed platform to the highway. Markings will be required on the highway, with advanced flashing lights warning vehicles of the likelihood of pedestrians crossing the highway. Subject to a condition requiring the specific details, Highways have no objections to the proposal.
I am satisfied that from a highway perspective subject to being able to gain long-term control over the car park and a number of planning conditions, the proposal is acceptable.
Trees: A significant number of trees will be lost on the trackbed and adjoining embankments, including an existing treeline on the western side of the proposed new track directly to the south of the HandLaneBridge. However an extensive planting scheme is proposed to provide new hedgerow and tree planting to the rear (west) of the rolling stock building and a significant scheme being proposed for Baddy’s Wood will mitigate the loss of existing trees. A number of tree conditions are proposed.
Ecology: The site runs through Baddy’s Wood and consideration is required of the impact of the proposal on the integrity of the habitat, the protection of any European protected species and the potential for pollution of the water environment, River Dee (SSSI) and Bala Lake (SAC). Trees are proposed to be removed and adequate protection of trees to remain and compensation for the lost trees will be required.
Various concerns had initially been raised by the council’s ecology section and the Countryside Council for Wales. Additional surveys and reports have subsequently been submitted to support the application to address the concerns.
I am satisfied that given the majority of trees in the woodland, particularly those along or adjacent to the route of the track are self seeded, none of the trees requiring removal (within Baddy’s Wood) have the potential to support saproxylic invertibrates, which rely on decaying and dead wood.
There is no evidence of otters and it would be unlikely for otters to leave the route of the river across the B4500 (Chirk to Glyn Ceiriog). Where daytime activity is common it is likely the otters would be nocturnal and construction work and the operation of the tram would only be in daylight hours. Great Crested Newts have been recorded within the vicinity of the Chirk Castle Estate and whilst it is unlikely that newts would be present a Reasonable Avoidance Scheme is proposed prior to works being carried out. Similarly whilst no notable or protected species of birds were noted during survey of the site, works will not be carried out during the nesting season.
A bat survey has been carried out which concludes that the majority of trees offer no suitable roost areas which could be used by species of bat. Four trees however have been identified as having potential for roosting and mitigation measures will be required as part of the proposed works within the area and an appropriate condition is attached.
I am satisfied that the detailed surveys and proposed mitigation measures have demonstrated that the works will not compromise protected species or general habitat. CCW have raised no objections to the proposal subject to appropriate conditions.
Noise/Pollution: Concerns have been expressed that the proposal will increase noise and pollution. A Noise and Disturbance Statement and Pollution Statement accompany the application.
With regard to noise the statement covers construction noise, operational noise, maintenance and road traffic. Control measures are proposed which covers the hours the site is open (access to buildings, work within buildings etc) 0800 to 1800 weekdays and 0900 to 1700 weekends, and standard public opening hours 1100 to 1800 (when tramway is publically operating). Standard operating days will be restricted to 160. Operations outside of the above hours will be restricted to up to 12 additional days per annum when extended hours will apply by agreement. Typical actual frequency within each day would be – arrivals 6 per day – departures 7 per day (allowing for shunting at end of day).
I am satisfied that given the restriction of hours, the number of operating days, the frequency of movements and existing background noise levels, there will be no significant impact on residential amenity.
Adequate measures are proposed with the application documentation to deal with surface water run-off, waste water, potential sources of pollution, during the construction phase and operational phase.