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Application No.: 18/00363/D Applicant: Department of Infrastructure Proposal: Erection of advertising hoarding on northern platform recreating historical station feature Site Address: Platform Castletown Station Victoria Road Castletown Isle of Man Case Officer : Miss S E Corlett Photo Taken: 29.05.2018 Site Visit: 29.05.2018 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 18.06.2018 _________________________________________________________________
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
Note: The advice of the DEFA Arboricultural Officer is recommended as the trees are Registered.
Reason: In the interests of the protection of the Registered trees which create part of the character of the area within this Conservation Area.
This decision relates to drawings 01 received on 6th April, 2018 and Rev A received by e-mail on 12th June, 2018 illustrating that the hoarding will be constructed from 150mm tongue and groove timber.
It is recommended that the owners/occupiers of the following properties should be given Interested Person Status as they are considered to have sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings and are not mentioned in Article 6(4):
The Isle of Man Victorian Society who are a properly constituted organisation who raise material issues in this case.
_____________________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report THE SITE
1.1 The site is a piece of land which sits opposite Castletown Railway Station and which runs parallel with the track for a length of 113m. The site is part of the platform on the north western side of the line and includes the pedestrian access to Poulsom Park. This side of the platform has a number of street lights and benches. A low white painted picket fence runs along the rear of the platform. THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the erection of an advertising hoarding. This will be 9.6m long and 3.4m high and comprising four sections. The purpose of the structure is to accommodate advertising: the reason for the structure is twofold: firstly to recreate a feature that was in situ a number of years ago and images of the platform in the 1930s, 1960s and 1970s are provided which show various advertising hoardings along this side of the platform. Secondly it is intended for the advertising to be sold, generating income for the railway and the group, The Friends of Castletown Railway Station. Wikipedia provides the following advice about this group:
"This group was formed in late 2010 by a group of local residents and the resident station master with a view to enhancing the station; small groups of volunteers occasionally meet at the station to carry out these improvements which to date have included the erection of a station flagpole (a traditional sight on many Isle of Man Railway station platforms) some painting of the station including the platform benches, provision of traditional blackboard signage to the station, and most significantly, the reinstatement of the coal fire in the waiting room for the first time in many years. The group continue to have an input to the upkeep of the station and will be donating concrete cast planters in the future for addition to the station's platforms. The group have, to date, spent many hours attending to the small details around the station, that which would not ordinarily fall under the jurisdiction of the railway's full-time staff. In 2012 the station won the commercial category of Castletown in Bloom, an annual competition, and took place in the Hidden Gardens event. The seasonal station master coordinates all activities and he can be contacted at the office whenever trains are in operation or by telephoning the station directly. The group always welcome new members and suggestions for further enhancement of the area; a number of photographic material and ephemera relating to the station have been donated since the group's formation and these can be found on display in the waiting room which is open whenever trains are running. In 2014 the group held its first Summer Fayre on the site, raising funds for various projects including the proposed reinstatement of the station's advertisement hoarding and a replica cattle dock. This was followed by an Easter Fayre in 2015 to tie in with the railway's annual Rush Hour event with a further summer event taking place in August."
2.2 Following concerns raised by The Isle of Man Victorian Society, the proposal has been amended to propose 150mmt t & g timber. They also confirm that the hoarding will be constructed from the platform side and will be positioned where the existing fence sits.
Strategic Plan Policy
3.2 The proposed hoarding is associated with the railway and as such the proposal is considered to be in accordance with the land use designation. For this reason, General Policy 2 is considered applicable as follows:
"Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development:
3.3 In addition, Environment Policy 35 is relevant as follows:
"Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development."
3.4 This summarises the importance of the preservation and enhancement of areas of historical importance, as set out in Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Guide to the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man. Area Plan for the South - 3.5 This contains the following reference which are considered relevant:
"5.21.3 In terms of the Island's rail heritage, the route of the still-operational Isle of Man Steam Railway winds south and west from Santon Station to its terminus in Port Erin, passing through Ballasalla, Castletown, Colby, and Port St Mary on the way. Given that the route, most of the rolling stock, and most of the station buildings and line-side structures are essentially as they were when the railway opened in 1874, there is obvious cultural and historic interest. Where possible and practical station buildings, gate-keepers' huts, and other line-side structures should be retained in, and where necessary, restored to their original form and appearance. Although it is recognised that financial and modern operating requirements may mean that this is not always possible."
4.1 Planning approval was granted under 96/01424/B for alterations to the existing station area and construction of platforms for passenger disembarkment [sic]. REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 DEFA Arboricultural Officer expresses concern at any work which will interfere with the trees to the rear of the site and illustrates by way of a photograph that the proposed hoarding should be positioned where the existing fence sits and is erected from the platform side. He also recommends that the pruning which will be necessary should be kept to a minimum (26.04.18).
5.2 Castletown Commissioners have no objection (09.05.18). - 5.3 The Isle of Man Victorian Society recommend that the hoarding should be constructed from 150mm tongue and groove timber and that it should be removed if it becomes redundant. They also query the address of the applicant but this is not relevant to the consideration of the application (09.05.18). - 5.4 They confirm that having seen the amended information regarding the construction of the hoarding, that they have no further objection (13.06.18).
6.1 The presence of a large hoarding here will reflect the character of the platform in the past and indeed there is no objection from the local agency with specific interest in Isle of Man Victorian matters.
6.2 It is important that no trees are damaged as part of the works and that if no longer required, the hoarding is removed. CONCLUSION - 7.1 The application is considered to be in accordance with Area and Strategic Plan policy and is supported. The Registered Buildings Officer has seen the application and has no further representations to make on the proposal.
By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons:
I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Senior Planning Officer in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.
Decision Made : Permitted Date: 27.06.2018 Determining officer
Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Senior Planning Officer
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