Knocking down ‘Dunnies’ to make room for a site entrance

I don’t normally comment on planning applications (I leave that sort of thing to Cllr Campbell) but the recent application for hoardings and site entrance to the new ‘Care Home’ on Bridge St left me with little option.

Here’s what I wrote

‘The entrance and siting to the ‘compound’ and car parking is wholly inappropriate. Council Highways officers are asked to minded of and considerate of issues of safety for other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

This junction has a long history and recognition of safety concerns with regards to children walking to and from Prince Henry’s Grammar School and to the catholic primary school in Manor Sq. It is also the main thoroughfare for residents and visitors walking to Wharfemeadows Park and it should be noted that this park is one of the most visited parks in the Leeds area.

Both LCC and Otley Town Council continue to explore safety solutions for crossing from ‘Manor Garth’ park and across the Mill Lane junction with Bridge St.

These solutions to pedestrian safety have as yet been found due to the nature of the narrow humped backed medieval bridge and the sharp decline from the brow of the bridge down to ‘hollow’ of the Mill Lane / Bridge St junction before rising again towards the town.

The siting of the entrance and the impact of ‘workman’ vehicles at the beginning and end of the school day will exacerbate these safety concerns.

The hoarding is not in keeping with the conservation area that the property sits within. The garish colour and the overbearing abundance of ‘advertisement’ is not in keeping with the site.

A quick search of the internet clearly indicate that hoarding can be provided in a more elegant, tasteful and appropriate scheme more in keeping with the riverside and conservation area(s).

No time-scale nor limits have been indicated within the application and one would not wish to see the site ‘cordoned’ off but no works being brought forward, as has happened at the Summercross pub on Pool Rd.

The crane is proposed to be positioned in a prominent position and regard should be given to whether this is the most appropriate position. Its proximity to the ‘thoroughfare’ of Bridge St and the bridge means that it will be highly visible.

In conclusion, this application should be refused until safety concerns with regard to access and egress from the site are addressed. The hoarding and signage should be more in keeping with the conservation area and the positioning of the ‘site crane’ should be revisited.

Finally, strict time limits and enforcement should be conditioned with regards to not just commencement on site but also completion on site of the care home. We do not want another Summercross where work ‘was started’ to comply with planning but has now been effectively abandoned’.

Comments on this application can be made and/or seen here

The original Gladman Care Home planning application (which was refused) can be seen here

Gladman’s successful appeal against refusal, can be seen here