Angry residents oppose garage plans

At Wednesday’s Pennine Township Planning Committee, angry Milnrow residents voiced their objections to plans by Milnrow Motor Company to make alterations to an extraction unit linked to a vehicle paint-spraying booth.

The residents claim that they have suffered noise-nuisance, smells and dust-pollution which have been causing them health problems and also that the existing flue impacts upon the environment.

The unit was installed without planning permission in 2009, although this was later granted retrospectively.

Noise readings by the Environmental Health Service led to the serving of a Noise Abatement Notice on the garage and the current planning application relates to additions and upgrading of the existing system, which the owner says would reduce this.

However, residents of Lambourne Grove, which adjoins the garage, claim that the measures proposed would not address the issues and a proposed noise-baffling system would increase the visual impact upon the environment.

Scott Atchell, one of the residents, told the committee, “This situation has been ongoing for two and a half years. The present system is within three metres of residential properties and is far too close.”

Committee members had visited the site earlier but had found no evidence of odours or dust.

Discussion took place as to whether or not it was possible to restrict operating times but were advised that this had to be based on evidence and may not be enforceable.

Malcolm Percy, the agent for the garage’s owner, told the committee that the paint-spraying operation was an important part of the garage’s business and had been going on there for at least thirty years. He said: “If the committee allow the application, it can still stop operations if the improvements do not solve the problem. If it was forced to close down, this will result in the loss of two jobs.”

A decision on the application was deferred and referred to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

At the same meeting, planning permission was granted for a new food takeaway outlet to go ahead in Stevenson Square, Smallbridge and also for a change of use of the beer garden at the Halfway House public house on Wardle Road to a private garden.