Monkspath car park floodlights decision delayed as councillors raise concerns
As the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported the row over the four metre high lighting columns surrounding electric charging points installed on the car park near the parade of shops at Shelly Shopping Centre in Farmhouse Way has been rumbling on for months.
In the original application planning agents JMS Planning and Development had explained the applicant wanted retrospective approval for the floodlighting, stressing the installation of reflectors to direct light downward and reduce light spill would mitigate the impact on neighbours.
READ MORE: Solihull village's 85 new homes hit snag as concerns raised over 'towering' buildings
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But in June's public consultation residents had lodged objections saying the lights impacted the character of the area and were 'very obtrusive'.
The matter went before Solihull Council planning committee's latest meeting where ward councillor Ken Hawkins said: 'I can't remember the last time I came to the committee to object to anything.
'The issue is the amount of the light to be emitted.
'These lights, I was told when they were working, had a negative impact on the people who live opposite.'
Solihull Council planning officers had recommended for approval subject to conditions including having motion sensors on the lights.
In the members debate Councillor Bob Grinsell, the chairman of the committee, said: 'I'm surprised that a developer of this nature has chosen to install this without seeking planning permission in the first place.
'I asked to visit the site at night (to see the lights switched on) – I was told I can't because there is no electricity.
'It's not good enough.
'We need to see these, we can not make an accurate assessment of the effect.'
Officer Mark Andrews, the council's head of planning, design and engagement services, suggested the lights could be switched on for a trial period and assessed before coming back to the committee for an extension.
Coun Grinsell said: 'If it's a trial period, it's going to be a very short period in my view.'
Councillor David Cole said: 'You are asking to make a decision without seeing it – I'd rather be there on the site and see what's happening, then I can make an objective decision.'
Councillor James Bradley said: 'Do we have any information about how these charging points are expected to operate.
'Do we have any indication what the expected levels of use of these at night time is?'
Councillor Dave Pinwell then said: 'We don't have enough information to understand what the justification for this is and the way it would be used.'
The chairman moved to a vote on deferring the vote to get more information, with eight councillors voting in favour and one against.
The meeting took place at the Civic Suite on Wednesday, (August 13).
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