The “bump” of heavy trucks sees the vehicle repair business denied

A motor vehicle repair business on a rural farm off a single carriageway has been refused permission.

Retroactive permission to change the use of agricultural land and buildings for vehicle repair was unanimously denied, after strong local opposition. The unsuitability of traffic, particularly with heavy lorries, was the main reason the proposal was rejected on a Jacques Bank farm at Medge Hall, Crowle.

The business had already been operating from the site since last year. A neighborhood councilor and the residents reported that the trucks that have visited have been run over.

Read on below to find out more about the controversial vehicle repairs application and other recent planning decisions in North Lincolnshire.

Crowle Vehicle Repair Shop

NLTS UK LTD applied for permission for the vehicle repair facility, which the application form indicated had four full-time employees. John Bailey, of Keystone Architecture, told councilors the previous use of the agricultural area was for the storage and repair of vehicles and farm machinery. The applicant did not know that the change in vehicle types required the permit change, he said.

He noted that council officers concluded the number of vehicle movements would have a “low impact” and added: “The proposed vehicle use is significantly lower on some days than during intensive agricultural harvesting operations.”

Medge Hall resident Tracy Croft commented on the unsuitability of single track Jacques Bank and Chapel Road for business. “If two vehicles want to pass each other, the curbs must be used.”

He said that “within a few weeks” trucks were using the lane every day to go to business and had reached the limit. There had been more than 20 trucks a day at some points, he claimed. “Trucks have been seen back on the A18,” he said of the traffic cuts.

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“Many residents alerted me to their concerns,” Axholme North Ward Cllr Julie Reed said. “The curbs simply cannot support the number and size of vehicles.” Any repairs made would be funded by taxpayers. “I find it very difficult to justify this to my residents as a matter of fairness.”

Tory councilors on the planning committee appeared prepared to defer a decision until after a site visit, as is usually their preference. But Labor Cllr Max Bell saw no reason to delay.

“I think the weight of the evidence is pretty significant. All we’re doing is allowing the applicant to continue operations for another month. We’re going to launch the boil now.” Permission was refused, to spontaneous applause from several members of the audience.

Will the former site of a Belton pub finally be built?

Less controversial were plans for five houses at the former Sir Solomon Inn in King Edward Street, Belton. Axholme Central Ward Cllr David Robinson noted that there were previous approvals for homes on the site. This included the same five single-family homes, and was resubmitted.

The only thing that had changed since then is an increase in expectations for environmental consideration, he summarized. The proposal was a “complete small physical addition to the room”.

The planning committee saw no reason to reject it, although Cllr Mick Grant indicated he hoped the site would not go back into planning. “If this happens, is it the last thing we’ll do? It’s been happening for years.”

Scunthorpe General Hospital RAAC roof replacement

Finally, permission was granted last month to remove the reinforced autoclave aerated concrete (RAAC) roof and replace it with a metal deck roof at Scunthorpe General Hospital. The deck is above where the cardiology department is normally located.

Last year, more safety concerns arose over the use of RAAC in buildings. Scunthorpe General Hospital was named in October as one of 42 hospitals to have RAACs apart from their sites. Affected areas were closed to patients.

An application document states that the roof replacement will “relieve operational pressures caused by the temporary relocation of the Department of Cardiology”.