Lewin Review Planning Statement

South View

Stiles, Ella

From: Stiles, Ella Sent: 17 May 2004 09:13 To: '[email protected]' Subject: planning application 04/00193 Mr D G Lewin Dear Mr Lloyd Davies,

Thank you for faxing to me the review submission for the above planning application. Please could you send the photographs hard copy as well, as they are unclear on my copy.

Kind regards,

Ella

Reviews Officer 685912

Review Statement

Application No: 04/00193/B Proposal: Creation of Additional Vehicle and Hardstanding and Access Address: Westwood, Douglas Road, Ballabeg, Castletown IM9 4EF Applicant: Mr D G Lewin

Prepared by : Cornerstone Architects 79 Parliament Street Ramsey Isle of Man IM8 IAQ

Further to your committee's initial decision to refuse this application we submit the following report on behalf of Mr Lewin.

Planning approval is sought for the creation of an additional vehicle hardstanding and access to Westwood, Douglas Road, Ballabeg, Castletown. The application has been refused on the grounds that "...sightlines proposed for the additional driveway do not conform with the Highway Authority standards, in any event, the sightline in the Ballasalla direction relies on land outside of the site; the proposal would entail reversing on to or off the highway which is a busy secondary route, contrary to the interests of road safety." We would respectfully advise that the Planning Committee have been misled by the nature of the applicant's drawn information. This application is for the provision of a single driveway on to the highway and should not be considered as requiring formal visibility splays. If assessing these requirements with reference to Manx Roads I - A Guide to the Design of Residential Roads, Footpaths, Parking and Services, we would refer the Committee to Paragraph 11.19 which reads:

"...a vehicular/pedestrian sight splay of 2.1 x 2.1 will normally be required giving clear visibility above a height of 600mm where the parking space abuts the highway. No pedestrian/vehicular splays are required within shared service roads and courts."

If you consider the content of this paragraph the application is flawed in that the applicant has sought detail for visibility splays of considerable dimensions. This is not the case and we would therefore request that the Planning Committee reconsider their decision and approve the application for access to this single plot.

In order to aid the Committee in their deliberations we attach photographs A & B identifying the existing situation occurring on Douglas Road, Ballabeg. The situation is clearly not satisfactory at present in that the majority of the owners of properties on the Douglas Road park their vehicles on the road adjacent to Westwood and other properties. Our proposal will mitigate this situation to a certain extent by removing vehicles from the area in front of the property. At present the mere nature of the parking arrangements are self governing in terms of traffic calming measures, the situation could be considered as being inherently dangerous and will be helped by the provision of an additional access on to the Douglas Road. Clearly driving with caution remains the best solution to an awkward problem.

We ask that Committee reconsiders their decision and overturn the initial decision thereby approving the application at review.

We apologise for any inconvenience the misrepresentation on the initial application may provide. Should you wish us to we can provide revised drawings we will be only too delighted to produce this for consideration at the review hearing.

North View - Westwood {{image:356060}}

South View