Belton coach park plan refused

Officials have reiterated the importance of getting council planning advice in writing after both sides in a planning debate struggled to make their position clear.

Officials have reiterated the importance of getting council planning advice in writing after both sides in a planning debate struggled to make their position clear.

Confusion surrounded a retrospective application by Tony Boyne of Swift Taxis to park 10 coaches at Stepshort, Belton.

During the debate at Tuesday's development control committee meeting, Mr Boyne claimed he was told by council planners in 2005 that he did not need permission.

An objector worried about traffic movements at the busy junction, claimed to have been told the same last year. There were also contradictory reports about how long Swift had been parking its 49-seater coaches at Fairview Farm.

Senior planner Dean Minns, said: “From a planning point of view we are recommending refusal because of the impact

on the environment and neighbourhood.”

Mr Boyne told the committee: “In 2005, I was told by the council I did not need planning. We have been using the site since 2000, the first coaches in 2005.”

Councillors Bert Collins and Gerry Cook said Mr Boyne should have asked for the information in writing.

Objector Bernard Williamson said access, start-up noise and danger to pedestrian traffic were all concerns. To his knowledge, the coaches had only arrived last year.

The committee heard that officers had tried, unsuccessfully, to clear up the discrepancies.

Margaret Greenacre of Belton Parish Council also spoke against the plans, saying she was worried about so many coach movements at peak times on a busy route to school.

Mr Minns said the council did everything in writing to avoid confusion. The application was refused.