Vehicular access and parking at Capel Smyrna Chapel, Llangefni

What was proposed

The application sought a new vehicular access and parking area at Smyrna Chapel.

“Description: Full application for the construction of a vehicular access together with creating a parking area at…”

“This is a full application for the construction of a new vehicular access together with creating a parking area at Capel Smyrna, Glanhwfa Road, Llangefni.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The chapel and hall are Grade II listed buildings beside a busy Class A highway approaching Llangefni.

“The proposed access would be directly onto the Class A highway, which forms one of the principal approaches into Llangefni from the South. The highway in front of Capel Smyrna carries a high volume of traffic, service and delivery vehicles, and functions as a key distributor within the local highway network. The highway narrows within close proximity of the proposed access, and this would pose a substantial risk of conflict with through-traffic.”

“The Smyrna Congregational Chapel and Hall are Grade II Listed Buildings. The building dates back to 1903 is set back slightly from the West side of Glanhwfa Road, Opposite Shire Hall.”

Officer report

Earlier approvals

Earlier permissions covered conversion of the school hall into a dwelling, office space and minor external works.

“FPL/2024/153 - Full application for the conversion of the school hall into a dwelling together with the conversion of part of the Chapel into office space (Use Class B1) at - Capel Smyrna, Lon Glanhwfa, Llangefni – Permit 11/10/24”

“LBC/2024/11 – Listed Building Consent for the Conversion of Capel Smyrna school hall into a 2 bedroom dwelling together with the removal of pew seating to allow bookbinding station and studio desks at Capel Smyrna, Lon Glanhwfa, Llangefni - Permit 02/09/2024”

Officer report

The recommendation

Officers recommended refusal because vehicles could not safely manoeuvre and would reverse onto the highway, harming highway and pedestrian safety.

“Vehicles approaching from the North (town centre direction) would need to reverse into the car parking area to avoid reversing out. However, reversing into a narrow access from a heavily trafficked A class road would be impractical and unsafe. It is foreseen that vehicles would enter the car parking spaces in a forward gear and would result in vehicles reversing onto the highway.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The Highways Authority recommended refusal, while the heritage and drainage consultees raised no equivalent objection; the Town Council had highway concerns.

“Consultee Response Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Approval recommended subject to a condition that no surface water is to be drained directly or indirectly into the public sewerage system. Ymgynghorydd Treftadaeth / Heritage Advisor Confirmation that the proposal will not have any impact upon the Listed Building or Conservation Area. Priffyrdd a Trafnidiaeth / Highways and Transportation Recommendation of Refusal due to highway safety. Cynhorydd Geraint Ap Ifan Bebb No response.”

“The proposal has been advertised through the distribution of personal letters of notification to the occupiers of neighbouring properties and a notice was also placed in the local newspaper. The latest date for the receipt of any representation was the 23/7/23. At the time of writing this report, no letters of representation had been received at the department.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A public speaker supported the application, the Planning Development Manager explained the safety issue, and two councillors supported refusal.

The decision

The committee refused the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation because the access and parking area would harm highway and pedestrian safety.

“The proposal for the construction of a vehicular access together with creating a parking area would be detrimental to Highway and Pedestrian Safety for reasons set out in the main body of the report. The proposal is contrary to Policy TRA4, PCYFF2 and Technical Advice Note 18”

“(01)The Local Planning Authority considers that the construction of a new vehicular access and parking area would be detrimental to highway and pedestrian safety contrary to Policy TRA4 and PCYFF2 of the Joint Local Development Plan and Technical Advice Note 18.”

Officer report

The vote

Councillor Geraint Bebb proposed refusal, Councillor Kenneth P Hughes seconded it, and the committee resolved to refuse the application.

“Councillor Geraint Bebb, and a Local Member said that several accidents have occurred near this site and vehicles entering the town tend to speed to avoid traffic leaving the town. Councillor Bebb proposed that the application be refused in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.”

“Councillor Kenneth P Hughes said that the access to the site is narrow, and vehicles would be unable to turn around within the site, and the only solution would be to create a turntable. Councillor Hughes seconded the proposal of refusal.”

Minutes