Permission for Westhampnett council depot works granted

The application, which was put to an online meeting of the planning committee, also sought permission to extend the depot into part of the neighbouring traveller site.

The depot is home to Chichester Contract Services, which deals with everything from rubbish collections to street cleaning to dealing with abandoned cars.

Concerns were raised during the meeting that the sewerage network – including the pumping station in Coach Road – would not be able to cope with the extra demand from the washing station.

Members were told the water would be controlled within the site and would only be released into the main system when demand was low.

Expanding the depot into the traveller site would mean the loss of a bin storage area and one spot which was allocated as a touring trailer bay – but would not change the number of pitches available.

John-Henry Bowden (Lib Dem, Chichester west) said: “I’m very keen to permit this application because I think that Chichester Contract Services is one of the shining beacons of success at this council as a whole.

“That’s been particularly clear during these current restrictions.”

Members agreed by 11 votes to zero, with two abstentions to permit the application.

The work will also include replacing and upgrading the depot’s flood lights and removing a modern wall, which was built on top of an historic Tudor wall.

The Tudor period ran from 1485 and 1603 and covered the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.

The wall will remain and will be capped with a course of bricks to protect it from harm.

To view the application, log on to publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk and search for 19/03202/FUL.

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