Supporting Information Statement

RECEIVED ON

0900652

SUPPORTING INFORMATION STATEMENT

• 8 APR 2018

2008/22/06

Existing entrance.

The present vehicular entrance to Ballinghan farmhouse, yard and outbuildings is approximately a 3.0 meter wide track, set in a "cutting" just below the brow of a hill on the Glen Vine to Braaid road (refer to existing photograph on drawing number 2008/22/05). It slopes considerably towards the road and also across the hill, which makes it particularly difficult for livestock wagons and farm trailers loaded with bales or cattle etc to exit safely. Also exiting with a tractor and front end loader is extremely dangerous as the most forward point is well across the carriageway before either line of sight can be seen. The existing entrance is used by both cars to Ballingan Farmhouse and farm vehicles to the outbuildings and fields behind. Due to the narrow width of the current entrance the farm vehicles need to sweep across the Glen Darragh Road, onto the opposite carriageway, when accessing the property from Glen Vine direction and again when emerging from the property and heading in a southerly direction. Also due to the single track width of the existing entrance, if a vehicle is exiting then anyone trying to enter must wait on the main road until the track is clear. All these manoeuvres can at times be dangerous and over the last few years it has been noted that the volume of traffic using this road has increased as people use it to access Spring Valley Industrial Estate, B&Q etc.

Proposed Entrance

Following discussions with Ms Georgeson and Mr Almond of the Department of transport and highway division the proposed entrance has been moved approximately 25 meters to the south of the existing entrance. This new location is on the brow of the hill and will provide the required visibility sight lines of 80 meters to both the north and south bound carriageways. It will involve the removal of 3 mature trees, which has been discussed on site and approved with the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. The new entrance will incorporate pull-off areas to either side to allow the farm vehicles to slow down and access safely without blocking the main carriageway. The new entrance and driveway will be 8 meters wide at the junction with Glen Darragh Road to allow 2 farm vehicles to pass on the drive without blocking the Glen Darragh Road, the width of the access road will then reduce within the site. The new entrance will provide access for Ballingan Farmhouse, the associated farmyard and outbuildings.

Following discussions with Mr Almond of the Department of transport and highway division and Mr Stanley of the Planning Department the size of the proposed pull off areas to the new entrance have been reduced to minimise the impact of the new entrance on the surrounding area. In order to be sympathetic to the existing landscaping and hedgerow that lines either side of Glen Darragh Road a new Manx sod hedge is proposed along the edge of the pull off areas with a bank of new native tree planting behind.

Future Use The property known as Ballingan has been put up for sale by the Trustees and the Lifetime Beneficiary of the Will of J B Karran deceased. They have offered to sell the majority of the land to Mr David Hyslop who has farmed it for a number of years; they have decided to sell the farmhouse and yard with approximately 6 acres to Mr Stuart Headon who has consulted with the area Planning Officer (Mr Stanley) and is considering building a new dwelling on the existing yard which is where the original farmhouse was located. If this is the case the 1950s built brick farmhouse near the road would be demolished and this area planted with trees and shrubs. Obviously this is all subject to future planning applications by Mr Headon. The new access would split after leaving the main road with a private drive to the existing or new farmhouse and yard, and a new road adjacent to yard on the south side to access existing tracks to fields on the south and east of the yard. This may possibly be extended in the future to serve Ballacotch Cottage, which is in need of renovation, to replace the existing unsuitable track. Again this possible use for access to Ballacotch Cottage and the renovation of the existing building will be subject to future planning application.

Summary

Overall this new access is to replace an extremely dangerous existing one. The existing access would not easily lend itself to any improvements due to the lack of visibility caused by the banking to either side, it will always be below the brow of the hill and the crossfalls aren't ideal for livestock wagons. The new access will be in accordance with current standards in terms of visibility splays, pull off areas and will allow farm vehicles to access and exit the site without blocking the main road.