Land at: 361978 142529 / 361730 142563 (Both valid), Land to East from Compton Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5QY

creation of a field access (retrospective)

Authority: Somerset Council
Appeal type: Planning
Procedure: Written
Development: other
Postcode: BA4 5QY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the appeal proposal on highway safety with particular regard to the adequacy of the proposed visibility splays and the extent of forward visibility

What decided it

The proposed access would fail to provide sufficient visibility to the nearside edge of the carriageway for emerging drivers, creating an unacceptable impact on highway safety and conflicting with Policy DP9.

The harm to highway safety from inadequate visibility for emerging traffic outweighed the limited weight given to occasional use, the previous access history, other nearby accesses, and the modest biodiversity net gains from new hedgerow planting.

Plan policies cited: Policy DP9 of the Mendip District Local Plan 2006-2029 Part 1: Strategy and Policies

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