Expansion

[Hadrian]

The Westmorland & Furness Council will decide.

[SKIPPER]

1,000 extra seats in no way equates to 1,000 extra cars. The majority of away fans will either travel by coach or train and even cars will have 2-3 passengers plus the driver. The whole problem looks like a jobsworth who probably hates football trying to make an impression. On the question of EFL punishment, as has been mentioned the requirement is for 2000 seats which we have,doesn't require anyone to sit in them.Will all come out in the wash. Just to mention that there is already a thread on Red Passion ( Wrexham) moaning about how few tickets they may be offered.

[Jonty]

It’s hardly a moan is it, it’s a fact that if we can’t get the stands passed off (and it’s a real concern it’s going to drag) then away allocation will be restricted, unless the club gives up the HSE and I doubt that would happen as fans are buying ST’s for that stand and I think it would cause quite a bit of disgruntlement amongst home fans. One thing for friendlies, but for a home game against Wrexham. Hmmm don’t think so.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

Can someone please clarify who is the ultimate decision maker in all this?

I presume that this highways recommendation for refusal can be considered but not upheld. There’s absolutely no strong basis for supporting the recommendation being made. The ground capacity may increase by 1000 with these seats but there’s not many games where we would have a sell out unless we draw a big side in a cup game.
So where we have had no highways parking requirement previously for a ground capacity of circa 5200 and no issues (refer to Villa game), we now have a recommendation for refusal being made that seems disproportionate to any gain in ground capacity and on any strong examples of any previous issues. Fans disperse in all directions to return to parked cars after the game.

The case officer IE Planning officer in this case Maureen Smith will take all views into consideration and then compiles a report giving her recommendation. They can be outright refusal. Grant permission or grant permission providing certain conditions are met. The planning committee made up of elected councillors would discuss the application and make their decision based on Maureen Smiths report.

[McMark]

Can someone please clarify who is the ultimate decision maker in all this?

I presume that this highways recommendation for refusal can be considered but not upheld. There’s absolutely no strong basis for supporting the recommendation being made. The ground capacity may increase by 1000 with these seats but there’s not many games where we would have a sell out unless we draw a big side in a cup game.
So where we have had no highways parking requirement previously for a ground capacity of circa 5200 and no issues (refer to Villa game), we now have a recommendation for refusal being made that seems disproportionate to any gain in ground capacity and on any strong examples of any previous issues. Fans disperse in all directions to return to parked cars after the game.

The case officer IE Planning officer in this case Maureen Smith will take all views into consideration and then compiles a report giving her recommendation. They can be outright refusal. Grant permission or grant permission providing certain conditions are met. The planning committee made up of elected councillors would discuss the application and make their decision based on Maureen Smiths report.

She was previously the planning officer of Barrow Borough Council.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

The case officer IE Planning officer in this case Maureen Smith will take all views into consideration and then compiles a report giving her recommendation. They can be outright refusal. Grant permission or grant permission providing certain conditions are met. The planning committee made up of elected councillors would discuss the application and make their decision based on Maureen Smiths report.

She was previously the planning officer of Barrow Borough Council.

All the case officers overseeing planning applications in Barrow previously worked for Barrow Borough council. Now they work for W&F. Its the councillors on the committee that have changed as W&F is a Lib Dem led council

[behind the goals]

Hopefully sorted by Christmas, if not away fans get what we can give them.

[Van Der Nipper]

Hopefully sorted by Christmas, if not away fans get what we can give them.

Haha very dramatic

[blue nige]

If anyone bothers to read about the whole planning process then they shouldn't be stressing on here it makes it quite clear ( the government guidelines) that they expect both parties to reach an agreement before entering appeals etc ,it's 100% certain this will be sorted, ffs people calm down and concentrate on the football rather that what if's etc !!

[Bakewell Blue]

I have just been checking the council website and it looks as though the issues have been resolved, so hopefully it is heading for an approval. Main Stand Season Tct's summary of the planning process above was good, but I think this might be determined as a "delegated" application, by the officers, rather than going to a Planning Committee (about 90% of all applications are decided under delegated powers as it is quicker.)

The two issues that were raised by Highways and the Lead Local Flood Authority (both are actually the local council, but different departments from Planning) seem to have been overcome as there are now notes on the file/website, saying there are now no objections on these grounds. However, the one from the LLFA asks for a planning condition to be imposed which requires a drainage scheme to be submitted and agreed before the development commences (which is standard wording for this sort of thing) but that could be tricky as the development is pretty much finished!

There is a diagram which shows the progress of the application (a pyramid) and this seems to show that the officer report has been done. If it is a delegated decision, it will be signed off by a more senior officer (Head of Planning for example). On the point about Barrow Borough Council now being replaced by Westmorland and Furness Council, as someone has said above, most of the officers will just move from one to the other - it is the Councillors who will change.

I will keep an eye on it and post any updates. This is an interesting one for me as it combines my lifetime passion (BAFC) with my day job (Planning)...not often that happens!

[Louis29]

Yes the two responses are dated today (Thursday) saying that they both have no objections. Now get the stands open.

[Etsjb]

I have just been checking the council website and it looks as though the issues have been resolved, so hopefully it is heading for an approval. Main Stand Season Tct's summary of the planning process above was good, but I think this might be determined as a "delegated" application, by the officers, rather than going to a Planning Committee (about 90% of all applications are decided under delegated powers as it is quicker.)

The two issues that were raised by Highways and the Lead Local Flood Authority (both are actually the local council, but different departments from Planning) seem to have been overcome as there are now notes on the file/website, saying there are now no objections on these grounds. However, the one from the LLFA asks for a planning condition to be imposed which requires a drainage scheme to be submitted and agreed before the development commences (which is standard wording for this sort of thing) but that could be tricky as the development is pretty much finished!

There is a diagram which shows the progress of the application (a pyramid) and this seems to show that the officer report has been done. If it is a delegated decision, it will be signed off by a more senior officer (Head of Planning for example). On the point about Barrow Borough Council now being replaced by Westmorland and Furness Council, as someone has said above, most of the officers will just move from one to the other - it is the Councillors who will change.

I will keep an eye on it and post any updates. This is an interesting one for me as it combines my lifetime passion (BAFC) with my day job (Planning)...not often that happens!

Yes, Bakewell Blue! The voice of reason from someone who knows how the system works and has a background in planning. Thanks for the re-assuring explanation. Will definitely keep an eye out for your updates. Thanks again, much appreciated.

[32mile_cul-de-sac]

Vote the council out next time round as i will be doing. They dont represent my interests, this parking thing makes me think they dont have the communities interests at heart.

[MisterPleasant]

Vote the council out next time round as i will be doing. They dont represent my interests, this parking thing makes me think they dont have the communities interests at heart.

It's got nothing to do with the elected councillors.

[Moribund]

Vote the council out next time round as i will be doing. They dont represent my interests, this parking thing makes me think they dont have the communities interests at heart.

Well you’ll still be stuck with the same Highways team.