Agenda item

Recommendation: Grant of prior approval subject to informatives

Proposal: Application for Prior Approval under Part 18, Class A of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 for the erection of a single span footbridge following demolition of 2 existing footbridges.

Applicant: Network Rail

The Committee considered a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 393 to 418.

The Committee were advised that updates contained within the Supplementary Planning Agenda included:

·         Minor correction to paragraph 9, to include the word ‘not’;

·         Reference to a supplementary statement received from the Applicant;

·         An updated statement from Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC’s) Highways department.

Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, Wokingham Town Council, spoke in objection to the application. Imogen stated that the Town Council would support measures to include ramped access within the final designs. Imogen added that the Town Council still had concerns over the use of perforated steel, which was notoriously hard to clean graffiti from.

Alex Cran, resident, spoke in objection to the application. Alex thanked the Committee for raising issues relating to the design and appearance of the bridge at the previous meeting, which had encouraged the applicant to consider a more suitable design. Alex stated that Members had represented the strong community feelings on this issue, and had proved that differences could be made even when faced with restrictive legislation. Alex hoped that additional progress could be made if the Council could acquire additional land to enable ramped access to be installed, and asked that Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) undertake all possible works to enable the right bridge to be delivered within tight timescales.

Natalie Wilson, resident, spoke in objection to the application. Natalie thanked the Committee for their support at the previous meeting, and felt that the deferral had allowed for meaningful differences to be made to this application. Natalie was of the opinion that the existing temporary structure should not be the baseline used to determine whether the new structure was an improvement in terms of design and accessibility. Natalie implored all parties to deliver the correct bridge at the first attempt within tight timescales, and stated that she and other residents were dreaming of more active travel facilitated by the delivery of an accessible bridge.

Damian Haynus, applicant, spoke in support of the application. Damian stated that the position of the applicant was that there were no permissible reasons to refuse prior approval. Damian added that Network Rail had agreed to the previous deferral to allow the opportunity to address some of the concerns raised at the previous Committee. Damian stated that Network Rail were an arm’s length public body, and contrary to some of the views expressed the applicant was not required to take positive steps towards equality but to have due regard to protected characteristics. In the exercise of this duty, a diversity impact assessment had been carried out to estimate the level of detriment to users via the provision of a footbridge in place of the level crossing. To the fundamental question of should crossings over the railway be accessible, the answer would always be yes. Damian stated that the memorandum of understanding entered into between WBC and Network Rail set up the framework for collaboration between the two parties, and a subsequent diversity impact assessment had been undertaken for the impacts as a result of a move from two bridges to a single span footbridge. Damian stated that a single span footbridge was a material improvement compared to the current arrangement, and the design would allow for retrofitting of ramps whilst a feasibility study was underway to see if this was possible. Damian asked that the Committee grant prior approval.

David Cornish was of the opinion that the Planning Committee was working at their best when considering this item at the last Committee. David hoped that an accessible bridge could be delivered in very tight timescales with each party working towards this goal.

John Kaiser stated that the Committee had gone as far as they could on this issue, and urged WBC, Network Rail and Wokingham Town Council to continue engagement to deliver an accessible footbridge.

Al Neal commented that if the bridge was not delivered and the right of way was lost, that would be a devastating situation.

John Kaiser proposed that the application be approved as per the officer recommendation and subject to ongoing engagement between Wokingham Borough Council, Wokingham Town Council and Network Rail. This was seconded by David Cornish.

RESOLVED That application number 223493 be approved, subject to informatives as set out on agenda pages 397 to 398, and subject to ongoing engagement between Wokingham Borough Council, Wokingham Town Council and Network Rail.