Terry Stevens Dip EP, MRTPI
Diploma in Environmental Planning
Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
10 Whiteoaks
Bwlchgwyn
Wrexham
LL11 5UJ
Planning Consultant
Tel. 01978 751107
email: terence728@btinternet.com
Mr DG Jones
Senior Planning Officer
Planning - Development Management
Flintshire County Council
27rd January 2014
Dear Sir,
Re: Park in the Past, Fagl Lane, Hope
I refer to previous meetings and correspondence regarding the proposed change of use of
the former quarry at Fagl lane, Hope to a country park incorporating an historical/educational
visitor attraction. Prior to submitting a change of use application I write to request from
Flintshire County Council a screening opinion under the Town & Country Planning
(Environmental Impact Assessment)(England & Wales) Regulations 1999 as amended.
The Regulations require that before planning permission is granted for certain types of
development an EIA must be undertaken. The Regulations set out the types of development
which must always be subject to an EIA (Schedule1 development). They also list other types
of development which may require EIA if they are likely to give rise to significant effects on
the environment by virtue of factors such as their size, nature and location (Schedule 2
development).
For assistance I summarise below the nature of the proposed development and I attach an
ecological statement which contains additional information.
The Application Site
The application site is located within a triangle of land enclosed by the A541, the A550, and
the A5104 trunk roads just to the west of Hope village in Flintshire. The site comprises the
now disused Fagl Lane Quarry and consists of areas of silt, sand and gravel alongside
natural soil and woodland. The river Alyn runs through the site and a large lake is also
located within the site.
The main site entrance is located on Fagl Lane, on the southern edge of the site and was
designed to accommodate large goods vehicles. The area leading off from the main site
entrance incorporates the concrete foundations of the former quarrying buildings and
roadways. As required by the regulations please find attached a site location plan
Description of Development
The proposals are based on the creation of a sustainable Community Country Park,
visitor attraction, and educational centre with a focus on the early Roman Period. A new
ecological restoration plan for the Fagl Lane Quarry site will bring back the ancient levels
of biodiversity and create a haven for local wildlife.
The aim is for visitors to be able to experience our ancient history and culture by walking
through the fields of a native Iron Age farmstead, through the barracks of a Roman Fort,
and seeing how our ancestors lived. Working in partnership with the local community
and interested organisations the intention is to create a centre for excellence in
experimental archaeology, practical ecological restoration, conservation, and cultural
exploration. In order to manage public access and to support the ecological restoration
of the site to represent this period, ancient land management techniques will be used to
lay out, and in some cases restore pathways, field boundaries, ditches and
embankments, all based around a small Roman Fort and an Ancient British Farmstead.
These will be planned and constructed within the context and prescriptions of the new
Ecological Restoration and Aftercare plan.
A new Visitor Centre will be constructed within the park to provide the necessary
facilities and infrastructure to support the commercial activities on site, including the
provision of educational visits and courses, as well as to support the ongoing
management of the site and the planned research work. It is also intended that the
Centre will also provide residential accommodation for visiting parties.
For assistance I attach an ecological assessment of the site which also includes further
details on the proposals. While the assessment is a couple of years old and will need to
be updated (for example the site boundary has been amended since the report was
prepared and now includes the whole of the lake as shown on the site location plan
attached separately) it is does identify the ecological management issues and proposals
for the site.
The principle areas identified where there is considered likely to be some environmental
impact are transport, ecology and flood risk/land drainage. While we believe that a full
EIA is not required and that the potential environmental impact areas be addressed by
way of a supporting planning statement and individual technical assessments, as
appropriate, we appreciate that the LPA may take a different view.
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me and I look
forward to hearing from you in due course.
Yours faithfully,
Terry Stevens Dip EP MRTPI