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From: To: Balmer, Chris; DEFA, Planning Subject: PLANNING COMMITTEE item 5.7 - PA 20/00894/A Date: 05 October 2020 09:05:37 Importance: High Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links. Albeit a very late comment I would appreciate it if the Planning Committee would take into consideration the following. Ballaragh Old Farm barn is very prominent in the landscape as viewed from the Raad Ny Foillan on the west, the public footpath on the south, and the Manx Electric Railway and A2 on the east. From the MER in particular these are not just brief viewpoints; it is prominent skyline view for the whole of the section of MER along this section of coast. From the latter it is frequently commented how could such inappropriate development as has been allowed on either side - three storey structures with picture windows in Ballargh old Farm farmhouse and Wheatcroft - have been considered appropriate in the context of the old barns and Ballaragh village as a whole. The old barns are probably the oldest structure remaining in Ballaragh and should be protected. Between the barn and the road on the west is the surviving horsewalk and all its associated machinery. To remove this to provide access to the proposal will result in major earthworks. All this would be undesirable given the whole site also is directly opposite a unique Ancient Monument - the spiral stone. Regardless of whether or not Ballaragh is considered a village in planning policy terms, respect should be given to traditional features in An Area of High Landscape Value and Scenic Significance and also the importance of the barns on the street scene. The only reason that permission was sought previously by the owners of the barn to demolish it was because planning would not permit conversion of the barn and replacement extension to provide gable window on its east side - a somewhat ironic situation in view of what has happened on either side. No structural survey has been undertaken to prove that the barn could not be renovated and this should surely be a priority given its prominent visual presence, its historical importance to Ballaragh. It is believed that it has been suggested for consideration for Registration in the past. If permission is given then it should be subject to a full historical photographic and archaeological recording of the buildings and associated structure. Kind regards 2 Glen View, South Cape, Laxey Redacted Redacted