Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the retention of 4 x 15m high floodlight columns and lamps measuring a further 0.5 metres.

Welwyn Rugby Club comprised a large field with three rugby pitches and a clubhouse building and car park adjacent to the Hobbs Way access to the site, in the eastern corner of the premises.  The site was bound on all sides by residential properties.  These were screened from the rugby club by mature vegetation, though it was sparse at certain points.

The application was for the retention of 4 x 15m high floodlight columns and lamps serving the northern-most of the rugby pitches (adjacent to the Turmore Dale, Scotts View and Handside Lane properties).  The lighting columns were sited two either side of the rugby pitch – two fairly centrally located within the site and two adjacent to the boundary of the site with Scotts View.  The closest of these two was around two metres from the rear boundary of 3 Scotts View.  The floodlight columns extended above the tree line.

The lamps would be fitted with cowls to limit the light spill from them.  The cowls would be attached to the top of the columns below the lamps and would be 200mm high and 500mm wide.  The cowls were only proposed on the two columns adjacent to the Scotts View properties.

The floodlights were typically used on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7pm to 9pm during the months of October to March.

The application had been presented to the Development Management Committee because it had been called in by Councillor Bromley.  The statement made by Councillor Bromley was as follows;

‘The new floodlights are significantly higher than the ones which they replaced, by some 7m, and they are also in different positions to the original lights. This has caused significant harm to the residents and the general amenity of the area. The original application did not mention the floodlights being in different positions. This is impacting upon the Conservation and the EMS area. There is substantial visual intrusion day and night. At night, the light spill is far worse than previously, despite the rugby club saying it would be less. This is not the case. The club also seems to be contravening the permission given as to when they may be used’.

Mr Mark Elliott, Applicant, spoke in support of the application and explained that adequate lighting was needed to provide a safe training environment.  He went on to inform the Committee that a timer had been installed to ensure that the lights were only used between the consented hours.  The offer of light shields, which had been refused by residents on the basis of visual amenity, remained open.

Mr Kevin Earl, Objector, spoke against the application raising concerns regarding the current location of the floodlights which was contrary to the application approved in 2016.  Local residents were significantly affected by the visual impact of the floodlights and light spillage.  Mr Earl requested that the Committee deferred the decision to enable local residents to meet with the rugby club and Officers to agree a mutually acceptable solution.

Ward Councillor Fiona Thomson, spoke of the need for the rugby club to coexist harmoniously in a residential area and referred to the distress caused to local residents from the impact on the visual amenity and the light spillage, which were both unacceptable.  Councillor F.Thomson endorsed the request for the deferral of the application to enable the rugby club to provide information on directional lighting.

Following discussion, it was proposed by Councillor H.Bromley, seconded by Councillor S.Kasumu and

RESOLVED:

(Unanimous)

That the application be deferred in order to facilitate further discussion between the rugby club, residents and Officers regarding further potential mitigation for light spillage.