The Petition of residents of Bolton-le-Sands and others,
Declares that the Petitioners are opposed to planning application 10/00830/0UT, relating to a proposed development on Coastal Road, Bolton-le-Sands, as the Petitioners believe that there is no demand for any further development in the area as many properties are not fully occupied and many are already on the market; that there are insufficient employment opportunities in the area for any incoming inhabitants; that there is insufficient space in local schools for incoming children; that there will be increased pressure on what the Petitioners believe are already overstretched local NHS services; that the development will change the character of the area, with a detrimental impact on the landscape and residential amenities, including causing the loss of open spaces that enhance the quality of life of everyone in the area; that the development will cause a loss of grazing land and essential hedgerow habitats; that the development presents a risk to the canal and species in the canal ecosystem; that the development will result in the joining up of the villages of Bolton-le-Sands and Hest Bank and that there will be an increase in vehicular traffic on already busy roads, particularly on Coastal Road which has seen numerous accidents in recent years.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to use any means possible to overturn the decision of Lancaster City Council to approve the development on Coastal Road, Bolton-le-Sands.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by David Morris, Official Report, 24 November 2011; Vol. 536, c. 562.]
[P000986]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, received 9 December 2011:
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is aware that a planning application was submitted to Lancaster City Council in respect of the above development. He is advised that on 14 November the council resolved to grant planning permission subject to a section 106 legal agreement being signed.
The Secretary of State might decide to call-in an application for his own determination if he considers that it raises matters of more than local importance, but his policy is to be very selective about this. The Government are committed to give more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believe planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.
The Secretary of State has carefully considered this application but in his opinion, the proposals do not: involve a conflict with national policies on important matters; have significant effects beyond their immediate locality; give rise to substantial regional or national controversy; raise significant architectural and urban design issues; or involve the interests of national security or of foreign Governments. Nor does he consider that there is any other sufficient reason to call the application in for his own determination. He has therefore decided the application should be determined at local level, and has not called it in.
The decision as to whether to grant planning permission will therefore remain with the council.