Agenda item

Construction of a new single platform railway station including pedestrian lift, new highway access; modifications to existing highways including pedestrian footways; provision of parking for cars, electric vehicles, motorcycles, cycles, and taxis and other associated works including new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists. Construction of facilities ancillary to the station including, lighting, soft and hard landscaping, surface and subsurface drainage, utilities and other services, boundary treatment and other associated works.

Station Yard Car Park North, Wansbeck Square, Station Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9XH

Construction of a new single platform railway station including pedestrian lift, new highway access; modifications to existing highways including pedestrian footways; provision of parking for cars, electric vehicles, motorcycles, cycles and taxis and other associated works including new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists. Construction of facilities ancillary to the station including lighting, soft and hard landscaping, surface and subsurface drainage, utilities and other services, boundary treatment and other associated works.

Station Yard Car Park North, Wansbeck Square, Station Road, Ashington, Northumberland. NE643 9XH

G Halliday, Consultant Planner provided an introduction to the application with the aid of a power point presentation.  Updates were provided as follows:-

·       An additional letter of objection had been received from Mr Billinghurst on behalf of residents in Seaton Delaval which had been circulated to Members in advance of the meeting and uploaded to the planning portal, setting out their opposition to the proposed car parking arrangements.

·       The report stated that no response had been received from Ashington Town Council.  The Town Clerk telephoned Mr Halliday to state verbally that Ashington Town  Council had no objection and fully supported the opening of the Northumberland Line and the development of the station.  This had not been received in writing, although it had been requested.

·       Paragraph 7.38 – the first sentence should be deleted.

·       Condition 6 – the last sentence should be amended to read  ….. no later than the first planting season and completed not later than the third planting season after the development is brought into use.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee the following information was provided:-

·       The Grampian condition related to the land acquisition had been included in the recommended conditions as the car parking as assessed formed an integral part of the development and currently the land was not owned by the applicant.  It was appropriate to have this condition as the development of the car park could not commence until the land was acquired. 

·       It was thought that the proposed car park would be well used, regardless of the Cabinet decision to review the no-charging policy after 12 months of use and was of an appropriate size for the intended number of passengers wishing to park in addition to visitors to the town centre.

·       The appearance and design of the stations had been through a variety of development and consultation stages and the proposals were as submitted. The design of the stations and their facilities were similar to those used at some Metro stations.

·       The proposed car park would service both the new station and the town centre. No decision had been made on the management of the new car parks on the line and it was possible it would not be the same at each location.  The current car park at this location was managed by NCC.   Any changes to the charging strategy would need to be agreed by the Local Planning Authority.

·       Various conditions were recommended by the Highways Authority for the safe ingress and egress from surroundings roads and the operation of the car park.  The number of electric vehicle charging points was in line with national policy  however an informative attached to the permission advised that the demand could change to reflect the take up of electric vehicles.

·       The planting of trees at People’s Park would not encroach on any of the land used for sport or recreational uses and the condition would ensure that trees were replaced if necessary within the two years.

Councillors Flux, Hill and Renner-Thompson left at this point – 5.57 pm

·       Pedestrian access to Wansbeck Square would be maintained but did not form part of this scheme as it was outside the red line boundary

·       Highways recognised that the streets surrounding the proposed station would be busier at certain times of the day but there was nothing to suggest that there would be capacity issues or additional on-street parking.   The road was of a sufficient width to allow two-way traffic and the proposals would not jeopardise traffic movement within Ashington.

·       The Highways team had spoken to the Local Infrastructure Team regarding cycling and walking connectivity to the Station and were keen to see a strategy come forward.  This was the site of the previous station and was well served with bus routes, was close to the town centre and was the most sustainable location to serve the needs of Ashington.  It was noted that trains only had the capacity to allow two cycles on at the current time with Ashington on the national cycling route and Northumberland Association of Local Councils keen to increase routes in the area.

Councillor Wallace proposed acceptance of the recommendation to approve the application as outlined in the officer’s report with the amendments to condition 6 as outlined above, which was seconded by Councillor Dodd.

Members welcomed the proposals for the station and the opening of the Northumberland Line which had been through many stages to get to this point and acknowledged and thanked those involved for their work.  This was important for South East Northumberland and the economic benefit it would bring was highlighted.

A vote was taken on the proposal to approve the application and it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED for the reasons and with the conditions as outlined in the report and amendment to Condition 6.