PA 14/00242/C Supporting Statement

1746:02

PROPOSED TEMPORARY CAMPSITE

at

BALLAKAIGHEN FARM, WHITEBRIDGE ROAD, ONCHANT

for

Mr ANDREW CLAGUE

RECEIVED ON 14 JAN 2015

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE

PA 14/00242/C: SUPPORTING STATEMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Dear Mr Balmer

In reply to your queries we write on behalf of Mr Clague. Our responses are as follows.

Impact of TT Festival and Festival of Motorcycling

Over the 10 years that Mr Clague has been running his business he has found without exception that the TT fortnight is their quietest time. He believes this is down to a number of factors:

• The roads are closed for long periods for practice and races and many people are trapped within the course;
• Many people don't like to travel because of slow-moving traffic, congestion on roads and the additional risk of travel at that time; and
• Many people find other competing activities during the TT festival to attend such as the Fair on the Promenade, Peel Day etc

Mr Clague estimates his business reduces by as much as 90% during the TT and the formerly named Grand Prix festivals. He says people just don't make bookings during these periods and this obviously has a detrimental effect on their business. Mr Clague says that if temporary camping were permitted during these periods it would be an enormous help, providing an essential income through what has become an annually difficult business period.

As his normal business reduces by 90% during these periods, so the traffic to the site reduces by a corresponding amount. Mr Clague also believes he can reduce the amount of travelling by his guest campers by providing hot and cold food and drinks throughout the daytime and into the evening; meaning that campers do not have to continually leave and return the campsite in search of food and drinks during the day and evening. Therefore if camping were permitted during the two festivals Mr Clague is of the opinion that any camping traffic would simply replace the absent normal business traffic; and there would be no adverse impact on neighbouring properties off Whitebridge Road.

The Selection of the Field for the Campsite:

Mr Clague believes this was the most appropriate field in the land in his ownership. The field is the flattest, best drained, and nearest the catering and toilet/showering facilities that he would be providing. It is also near to the car park. The other fields in Mr Clague's ownership are too steep or more remote or have another activity already on the field. Mr Clague has set the camping area away from neighbouring properties and the Whitebridge Road. The site of the proposed camping is some 49 metres away from the edge of the Whitebridge Road and approximately 64 metres away from the front wall of the nearest neighbouring property Sunnyside. Mr Clague believes by setting it away from the road and neighbouring properties there will be no detrimental impact from the campsite.

Mr Clague, as a goodwill gesture to allow the monitoring of any impacts, is willing to agree to a two year temporary period of approval.

Finally Mr Clague believes that he needs the additional income that a temporary camping facility would provide, to make his business more sustainable, and he is firmly of the opinion the facility will not have any detriment to local residents, and respectfully requests that his application be approved.