Approval for Anglesey Golf Club Storage Containers Scheme Granted Again

A scheme to site 44 containers in an Anglesey seaside village which had sparked fears it would bring an “industrial element” to the open countryside where tourists visit has been approved by planners – again.
Last month the Anglesey Golf Club at Rhosneigr was granted permission to put storage units on its land.
The scheme was sent back to the council’s planning committee after councillors had gone against the officer’s recommendation to allow it.
In a second debate, it was again approved against the officer’s advice – at a meeting of Anglesey County Council planning and orders committee on Wednesday (September 4).
A representative for the club told the island’s planners in July, that without help to diversify, the club, which had run for over a century, was in danger of going under with the loss of five jobs.
It had proposed to change the use of land to site 39 standard and five small containers, with landscaping.
They agreed to grant the club’s request. Senior planning officer Rhys Jones said a meeting had been held between the planners, the club and its agent.
Evidence had been provided to show the club was in financial difficulty and the department was “satisfied” there was “sufficient justification” for the club’s need to diversify.
But regarding evidence that landscaping would be established within five years, he said the senior planning officer for landscaping and trees had felt planting would take at least 10 – 15 years to establish.
The site was in an “open setting,” subject to high winds and salt air, and planting would be “hindered,” meaning the site would be “visually intrusive for a prolonged period of time,” he said.
Located 150m away from the development boundary of Rhosneigr, Mr Jones said, in planning terms, the site must be considered as “open countryside”.
Although he “sympathised” with the club’s financial position, and recognised it was an “important community asset” – it did not overcome planning concerns.
He again advised refusal concluding the site lay in “a prominent position in open countryside,” and would lead to an “unacceptable” built form of development, conflicting with policy.
Local member Councillor Douglas Fowlie said he was “very grateful” to the committee for using their “better judgement” and approving the plan last time.
He accepted the officers’ “hands were tied” with planning definitions such as “open countryside”.
“But here, you are at the bottom of a runway, you have caravans all around, a builder’s yard, a house, a clubhouse and a sports club, I don’t agree with the open countryside definition,” he said.
Among policy issues, he claimed the Welsh language was “thriving” in the club with events and social activities, and that it provided “wellbeing” for locals.
Councillor Neville Evans said he had only received one objection, but had “dozens of people” congratulate him for supporting the club.
As a portfolio member for leisure and tourism, he supported the bid saying the club was part of the “tourism offering on Anglesey”.
“There are doubts as to whether this is open countryside,” he said, adding: “Caravans are not that different to containers.”
Mr Jones said: “We feel 44 storage containers within a tourist area would bring an industrial element to the area and detract from the tourist offering. I disagree caravans are similar to containers, if you exchanged all the caravans on the island for containers I don’t think tourists would be very happy.”
Cllr Jeff Evans added: “We should be looking to help the club not close them down. I don’t think it’s open countryside, maybe there’s a different opinion, we talk of hills and vales, not a place near to caravans, an RAF camp, businesses and houses, that’s not open countryside.”
But Cllr Robert Llewelyn Jones felt approval was “not the proper way” to help the club.
He suggested “having a chat” to see if there were other ways to help the business, suggesting getting schools involved.
He felt it would “not fit into the environment” and proposed accepting the officer’s recommendations to refuse.
Mr Jones added the club was “extremely well run” but noted it had been impacted by the economic climate.
Councillor Neville Evans proposed approval, seconded by Jeff Evans, gaining seven votes.
Cllr Robert Llewelyn Jones proposed refusal, seconded by Cllr Trefor Lloyd-Hughes, achieving only three.
It was approved.

By Dale Spridgeon – Local Democracy Reporter