CONCERNS have been raised over plans to add paving and glass screens to an outside seating area at the Portland Bill Lobster Pot café.
Natural England, the Dorset Wildlife Trust and Portland Town Council has asked for further information about any likely effects on the environment.
One Portland resident has also written to object – saying she sees no need for the outside seating area to be roped off and surrounded by screens, warning that the idea might be taken up by nearby beach hut owners.
“If people want to sit out of the wind, they can sit inside the building – they have a choice.
“It is not clear from the Design Statement how the glazed fence will contribute to health and safety,” said the objector.
“The whole point of Portland Bill for visitors is the weather conditions, the open grassland, the views and the (at present) low key development. Putting up a glazed fence will exclude people from the area around the cafe and is out of keeping with other structures in the area (simple beach huts). I worry also that it will set a precedent for beach hut owners to pave around their huts and put-up glazed screens against the wind.”
Natural England said in their statement to Dorset Council that, as submitted, the proposals could have potential significant effects on the Isle of Portland Site of Special Scientific Interest: “We request additional information in the form of a detailed construction methodology in order to understand how the installation of paving and fencing will not cause undue harm to the geological interest feature in this location. Without this information, Natural England may need to object to the proposal.”
A request for further information has also come from the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site team which points out that there is a quaternary raised beach just below the surface in the area.
Portland Town Council has asked for a decision to be deferred for a full health and safety assessment of the site and to hear further from Natural England.
In the planning application to Dorset Council The Lobster Pot say the area would incorporate glazed screening to protect its guests from the weather and a low level roped off area and believes the changes would make the outside seating areas to the side of the main building safer by replacing an uneven grassed area with paving, reducing the risks of people, including its staff, tripping.
The application also includes low level roping, supported by stakes, to the south of the building.
A planning agent’s letter on behalf of the owner says the site is not within a conservation area and does not fall within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has no nearby neighbours.
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