Comments 1-12

These letters have been signed by every person who has a house on the access lane affected by building works. They all strongly oppose this proposed development.

Department of Local Government & The Environment Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas

David Partington 13 Westminster Dr Douglas 5th April 2016

• 1 APR 2016

DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Dear Sir,

With reference to planning application number 16/00283/B I would like to voice my concerns as to the erection of two garages to the rear of 15 Westminster Drive, Douglas, and to object to the application.

As local residents we are concerned about the impact any garages may have upon the amenity of the local area as well as safety and quality of life. As the owner of the immediately adjacent property 13 Westminster Drive, where I reside with my young family, I am also concerned about the impact this development would have upon my own property.

• The proposed double garage with hard-standing to the front (which would provide space for 4 vehicles) is not owned by (or connected to) any of the neighboring residential properties (this plot of land having been sold off separately from the house to which it was once attached. The garage would therefore not be used in conjunction with any of the residential properties, and would therefore not assist in providing off-road parking for residents' cars which would otherwise be parked on the road.

• The proposed garages would presumably be either let to others, or used by the owner of that parcel of land for his own purposes. The garages would be too far away from the commercial centre of Douglas to be usefully let for "whole day parking", and as the owner of the plot does not live anywhere remotely nearby he would not likely be using the proposed garages merely for parking.

• I am concerned that the proposed garages will end up being used either for commercial purposes, or for people wishing to fix up or tinker with cars. I am also concerned that the proposed garages would not in fact be used as garages, but as a small office space or commercial use (the internal layout shows a large "L" shaped room and smaller "garage" divided off by an internal wall).

• That the proposed garages are not associated with any of the residential properties inevitably means that they will cause an increase in traffic and noise by bringing additional vehicles into the area, and in particular down the narrow access lane, in an area where there is both a school and residential housing.

• The proposed garage would be built very close to my boundary, and would be visually detrimental to my property. It would also cast a shadow over what is the sunny art of my garden where I have my patio and BBQ area. The proposed development would seriously impact upon the amenity of my home.

• My neighbours and I are concerned that this will cause disruption in what is a residential neighbourhood consisting of the usual mix of elderly residents and families with young children. I myself have two children age 4 and 6 who understandably play in the area of the lane. We live at the end of a bend on a busy access road to the largest secondary school on the Island with countless children walking past our house daily (ref google map). I personally would be concerned about the safety of not only my children but all the others that use this route, due to unnecessary extra traffic.

• Extra noise disturbance and revving of engines that may be caused by people 'toying' with vehicles or behaving in any way they might not usually behave on 'their own patch'.

• The proposed garages are on the corner of the lane and the request is for the parking of 4 vehicles. We believe that this will inevitably be disruptive at some times, leading to obstructions in the lane.

• To support these points may I refer to the reasons for refusal of a similar

proposal on the same site (01/726).

• My garden and the proposed site are habitat to two protected species, frogs and bats. I have been in contact with the Manx Conservation Trust (and Manx Bat Group) who support this and are prepared to write a supporting letter if asked. My frog pond is approximately 1 metre from the border (re pic 1 & 2) and the proposed construction 'would adversely affect the ponds ecological value'. Bats have nested in the immediate vicinity as long as I have been resident (2001) and further construction will disrupt their familiar flight paths and the large open spaces they require. The construction work itself is likely to adversely impact the wildlife in my pond and garden, as any leaching of concrete or building materials into the water would likely destroy the wildlife.
• The proposed construction has an interior dimension of 2440cm excluding the roof. Once this has been included it will be around 2500cm. A building of this size will throw a shadow across the sunniest part of our garden, where our patio is located.
• The proposed construction would lead to the destruction of 2 large and mature palm trees which provide not only a pleasurable view but also some screen of privacy for the residents of 15 Westminster Drive from the pupils in Ballakermeen High School.

In summary, and due to the reasons detailed above, we object to the planning application. Yours Sincerely David Partington The undersigned neighbours also support this objection, and for the same reasons object:

1. [name] W J McDowell

[signature] W J McDowell [address] 18 WESTMINSTER DRIVE

1. [name] A. V. JONES

[signature] A. J. JONES [address] 21 WESTMINSTER DRIVE

1. [name] DAVID LEWIN

[signature] DAVID LEWIN [address] 17 WESTMINSTER DRIVE, DOUGLAS, MI 467

1. [name] JOHN FELGUSON

[signature] J. FELGUSON [address] 37 WESTMINSTER DRIVE

1. [name] MICHAEL MOORE

[signature] MICHAEL MOORE 19 WESTMINSTER DRIVE

Dear Sir,

With reference to planning application number 16/00283/B I would like to voice my concerns as to the erection of two garages to the rear of 15 Westminster Drive, Douglas, and to object to the application.

As local residents we are concerned about the impact any garages may have upon the amenity of the local area as well as safety and quality of life. As the owner of the immediately adjacent property 13 Westminster Drive, where I reside with my young family, I am also concerned about the impact this development would have upon my own property.

• The proposed double garage with hard-standing to the front (which would provide space for 4 vehicles) is not owned by (or connected to) any of the neighboring residential properties (this plot of land having been sold off separately from the house to which it was once attached. The garage would therefore not be used in conjunction with any of the residential properties, and would therefore not assist in providing off-road parking for residents’ cars which would otherwise be parked on the road.

• The proposed garages would presumably be either let to others, or used by the owner of that parcel of land for his own purposes. The garages would be too far away from the commercial centre of Douglas to be usefully let for “whole day parking”, and as the owner of the plot does not live anywhere remotely nearby he would not likely be using the proposed garages merely for parking.

• I am concerned that the proposed garages will end up being used either for commercial purposes, or for people wishing to fix up or tinker with cars. I am also concerned that the proposed garages would not in fact be used as garages, but as a small office space or commercial use (the internal layout shows a large “L” shaped room and smaller “garage” divided off by an internal wall).

• That the proposed garages are not associated with any of the residential properties inevitably means that they will cause an increase in traffic and noise by bringing additional vehicles into the area, and in particular down the narrow access lane, in an area where there is both a school and residential housing.

• The proposed garage would be built very close to my boundary, and would be visually detrimental to my property. It would also cast a shadow over what is the sunny art of my garden where I have my patio and BBQ area. The proposed development would seriously impact upon the amenity of my home.

• My neighbours and I are concerned that this will cause disruption in what is a residential neighbourhood consisting of the usual mix of elderly residents and families with young children. I myself have two children age 4 and 6 who understandably play in the area of the lane. We live at the end of a bend on a busy access road to the largest secondary school on the island with countless children walking past our house daily (ref google map). I personally would be concerned about the safety of not only my children but all the others that use this route, due to unnecessary extra traffic.

• Extra noise disturbance and revving of engines that may be caused by people ‘toying’ with vehicles or behaving in any way they might not usually behave on ‘their own patch’.

• The proposed garages are on the corner of the lane and the request is for the parking of 4 vehicles. We believe that this will inevitably be disruptive at some times, leading to obstructions in the lane.

• To support these points may I refer to the reasons for refusal of a similar

proposal on the same site (01/726).

• My garden and the proposed site are habitat to two protected species, frogs and bats. I have been in contact with the Manx Conservation Trust (and Manx Bat Group) who support this and are prepared to write a supporting letter if asked. My frog pond is approximately 1 metre from the border (re pic 1 & 2) and the proposed construction 'would adversely affect the ponds ecological value'. Bats have nested in the immediate vicinity as long as I have been resident (2001) and further construction will disrupt their familiar flight paths and the large open spaces they require. The construction work itself is likely to adversely impact the wildlife in my pond and garden, as any leaching of concrete or building materials into the water would likely destroy the wildlife.

• The proposed construction has an interior dimension of 2440cm excluding the roof. Once this has been included it will be around 2500cm. A building of this size will throw a shadow across the sunniest part of our garden, where our patio is located.

• The proposed construction would lead to the destruction of 2 large and mature palm trees which provide not only a pleasurable view but also some screen of privacy for the residents of 15 Westminster Drive from the pupils in Ballakermeen High School.

In summary, and due to the reasons detailed above, we object to the planning application. Yours Sincerely David Partington (13 Westminster Dr.) The undersigned neighbours also support this objection, and for the same reasons object:

1. [name] PAUL CRAINE

[signature] [Name: [Address]] 35 WESTMINSTER DRIVE.

1. [name] DOROTHY MOORE

[signature] [Name: [Address]] 35 WESTMINSTER DRIVE.

1. [name] MARY MOREIS

[signature] [Name: [Address]] 31 WESTMINSTER DRIVE, DAYGLAS.

1. [name] W. BEELEY

[signature] 25 WESTMINSTER DRIVE [address] [Address: [Name: [Address]]

1. [name] Alex Wilson

[signature] [Name: [Address]] [address] 27 WESTMINSTER DRIVE

1. Sean COQUETT

39 WESTMINSTER DRIVE