Plans approved for Wingate park improvements. Aim is to deter vandalism and theft, ensuring local amenity secure.
The park had issues with theft and vandalism, including stolen tools and broken machinery. Storage containers seem like the safest option to address these problems. Durham County Council approved the new container on February 25, noting that planning permission was needed.
The containers have been there for over 28 days. The planning team considered how things would look and found that the trees hide any visual problems. They checked the impact on the area and discovered no major negative effects.
The park is pretty small, about 135 sq. meters, and luckily, it’s not in a flood zone. No extra biodiversity work is required either, and cars and parking will stay the same. Nobody shared opinions during the public review.
The park had work done before, with improved access back in 2008 and added signs in 2009. Being rural but supporting the community, the park meets a local planning rule, Policy 10.
The containers support sustainable building by using good designs and protecting the environment. They must follow set plans for the container and have three years to start the work.
A form is needed before they start building, signaling the start of work. Not following rules could lead to penalties. It was approved because it fits all plans and won’t hurt the area’s look.