Weir Quay Community Watersports Hub Club

Notes to accompany the completed Planning Application Form for a dinghy park, boatshed, and outboard engine store

Note re Q. 5. Pre-Application advice.

Pre- application advice meetings were held as follows:

19 November 2009. Jane Hart and Edward Persse.
The officers welcomed the early contact and gave advice re the sensitive nature of the area of the proposed development and of the need to consult widely with statutory and non-statutory bodies. They offered to attend a site meeting to examine a number of proposed sites.

12.April 2010 Jane Hart and Edward Persse.
Site meeting to assess the potential locations for the development proposed. Advice given was that all sites except the finally selected site in the field to the north of the former silver mine would be controversial and difficult to support.

08. September 2010 Jane Hart and Ben Dancer.
Advice given re the amount and nature of the information required for a planning application, and on the nature of the type, appearance, scale and distribution of any buildings that may be considered acceptable.

30 November 2010
Email correspondence from Jane Hart, Senior Planning Officer, advising that planning policy, at all levels, draws a very clear distinction between appropriate developments of benefit to the local community and other types of more commercially motivated development, including housing, and that the Local Plan maintains a strong presumption against residential development outside settlements and resists other forms of development that would be harmful to the environment of the AONB. Accordingly, a firm assurance was given that if planning permission were to be given for a building on the basis of its community benefit it would most certainly not set any precedent for allowing other types of development in the vicinity.

26. January 2011
Email correspondence from Ben Dancer to Peter Silcock outlining the possible approaches to making either outline or full planning applications for the clubhouse element of the proposal.

28. January 2011
Telephone conversation between Ben Dancer and Michael Street clarifying some points raised in his email as above.

11th February 2011. Ben Dancer.
Advice received relating to the format of a planning application, ie the advantages and disadvantages of full versus outline planning applications, the material planning considerations upon which valid objections may be made, and the likely timescales for determination of an application.

18th may 2011 Ben Dancer and Charlotte Luscombe
Advice received re the changes to the LDF and the policy implications thereof, in particular the need to consider strategic policies eg the need to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying the proposed development and any enhanced conservation benefits. Also advised of the requirement for a Phase 1 Ecological Survey and the possible cost implications of having this independently assessed.

Note re Q20 – use and hours of opening.
The boat park would be accessible to club members at any time, though use would normally be limited to daylight hours, with more frequent daily access in the summer months than in the winter. For example, there are usually three morning and three evening gig rowing sessions per week, and sessions on both weekend days in summer.

The proposed future clubhouse would not have any set opening hours. It would be used for short periods during the daytime by rowers on a more or less daily basis through the spring, summer and autumn months, by the junior rowers and cadets undergoing sail training on Friday evenings in summer, and for 2 – 3 hours in the evenings in winter for fitness training sessions. Other than that, the use would be intermittent by dinghy and cruiser sailing members during spring, summer and autumn, for occasional evening committee meetings, club barbecues the annual regatta, sailing and rowing events with other local clubs, and in winter for a series of monthly evening lectures etc. Other members of the public who already use the area, eg canoeists and kayakers, would be able to make occasional use of the facilities.