Agenda item

The following applications (Minutes 78 and 79) were the subject of a single presentation as both related to the same site. Public speaking time was extended to take account of there being two applications.

Considered

The reports of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Service requesting Members to determine applications to extend Settrington Quarry with restoration to nature conservation habitat on land at Settrington Quarry, Back Lane, Settrington, Malton, YO17 8NX.

and

to vary condition No. 1 of Planning Permission Ref. C3/19/01386/CPO to allow an extension of time to recover remaining mineral resources on land at Settrington Quarry, Back Lane, Settrington, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8NX

The applications related to a sizeable quarry operation that were subject to objections raised in respect of a range of material planning issues and were, therefore reported to the Committee for determination.

A Planning Officer presented the two Committee reports, highlighting the proposals; the site location and description; the context to the applications; planning guidance; and policy and planning considerations. The reports also provided conclusions and recommendations.

Updates to the reports highlighted alterations to Conditions 2 and 9, an increase in the number of objections and details of a further objection received after the publication of the reports.

Kenelm Storey a local resident objecting to the proposals addressed the Committee highlighting the following.

·        Settrington was a quiet rural village • The quarry should now be for restoration only.

·        The workings at the quarry, particularly the blasting and pecking, had been a major inconvenience for those in the village, specifically those that lived nearby, for many years.

·        There had been previous complaints regarding noise, local residents did not agree with the issues set out by the Case Officer and the reports under exaggerated the impact of the work on the local community.

·        The restoration plan was unacceptable.

·        There were large numbers of HGVs entering and leaving the site on a daily basis, beyond what was detailed in the report. These were damaging the local roads and verges and creating pollution. There had been a recent fatal accident near to the site.

·        The quarry was close to a number of sensitive areas, including an SSI, and Settrington was a conservation area.

·        The negatives of the continuation of the quarry far outweighed the benefits and much tighter conditions would be required should the applications be approved.

·        The suggested working hours were beyond what could be tolerated by the local community.

Councillor Dean Wise the Vice-Chair of Settrington Parish Council addressed the Committee highlighting the following.

·        The conditions should be amended to reflect the nuisance caused to the local community.

·        He outlined preferred conditions for the routing of HGVs, the number of vehicles per day in and out of the quarry avoiding school times, working time restrictions. • Insist that details are provided in relation to when blasting and extractions were to take place.

·        Some noise could be accepted but details of when that was to occur, within the suggested revised working times, would be of benefit to the local community.

·        He emphasised the need to control traffic movements, ensure that the local community was satisfied with the planning conditions and provide details of the restoration programme.

Councillor Caroline Goodrick the Divisional Councillor addressed the Committee highlighting the following.

·        The proposal of the development was well established.

·        The Ryedale Local Plan highlighted the need to protect residential amenity and ensure development did not have a major adverse impact on their lives.

·        The operations in the quarry and the HGV movements did not accord with the Local Plan, therefore.

·        The proposal for vehicle movements. In and out of the quarry, was not sustainable and movements were exceeding the set targets. A further extension of the movements of HGVs, as suggested in the reports, would have a major detrimental effect on the local area.

·        Amendments to the working hours were also suggested.

·        Further consideration of the conditions would be required should the application be approved.

Dan Walker a Chartered Surveyor representing the applicant addressed the Committee highlighting the following.

·        The quarry was a family run business and was well established. • It was in the Council’s Mineral and Waste Plan.

·        There was a lack of the quality of the mineral produced at the quarry in the east of the County.

·        The complaints re blasting had been taken onboard with a revised timetable in place to try and prevent noise nuisance.

·        The applicant had no intention of increasing the number of HGV movements to and from the site nor were there plans to increase the removal of the mineral.

·        There had been no recent HGV movements as the quarry had not been operational.

·        The applications had been subject to robust consultations.

·        Many of the concerns of local residents had been addressed and conditioning ensured that the issues outlined by the public speakers were being taken account of and there was a willingness to co-operate to try and improve the situation.

Members discussed the applications and the following issues were outlined.

·        Why were there three routes out of, and in to, the quarry. In response it was stated that highways did not have any issues with the routes being used as they did not cause any detriment to the local highways network and, therefore, each was acceptable to use. Clarification was provided as to which major road each of the routes connected to.

·        It was suggested that the mineral obtained from the quarry may not be of great need as quarrying operations had been paused from 2022/23. It was noted that during 2022 120 tonnes of mineral had been extracted from the site.

·        It was noted that the applicant operated on the site on a temporary basis to meet the demand for the mineral when it was required. It was suggested that the mineral could be extracted much more effectively should the extraction process be undertaken all at once and then stockpiled for when it was required. This would also shorten the extraction process and be less of a nuisance to the local community. It was noted that the extraction hours had been agreed with Environmental Health in terms of the impact on the local community, although it was suggested that further discussions were required in respect of these given the concerns raised.

·        An adjacent railway track to the site was noted and it was asked whether consideration had been given to using this to move the mineral. In response it was noted that this had not been used previously.

·        Concern was raised regarding vehicle movements that were able to take place from 6am and also on week-ends, as vehicles were likely to arrive early and cause disruption to the local community by waiting to access the site.

·        Initially there was a proposal to refuse the applications based on the impacts on the local community detailed at this meeting. It was emphasised, however, that despite reservations around the applications in view of the serious impacts on the local area, the principle of the applications and the nature of the work carried out at the site were well established and it was an allotted sit for this purpose in the Local Plan. Members emphasised, therefore, that there was a need to undertake further consultation between the applicant and the local community, including elected representatives, to develop a solution that would take account of the health and wellbeing of those in the local area.

Resolved

That that the applications referred to at Minute Numbers 78 and 79 be DEFERRED for further consideration at a subsequent meeting of the Committee to allow further consultation, on the issues raised during consideration of these applications, between the applicant and the local community, including elected representatives, to develop a solution that would take account of the health and wellbeing of those in the local area.

Councillor Hugill left the meeting.