Glamorgan criticised
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• The attitude of Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council was criticised when it opposed the renewal without modification of the two vehicles licence held by J & D Sterling of Welsh St Donats before South Wales Licensing Authority Ronald Jackson.
The council wanted the LA to refuse the application on environmental grounds until a new operating centre had been found. Peter Scroobie, a planning enforcement officer, said the one vehicle in possession was parked where the Sterling family lived. It was visible from the lane and in the winter when the trees were bare it could be seen from the main road but only if one were looking for it. He had kept observations on the site for five days and twice it appeared that vehicles had been parked outside on the grass verge all night.
Questioned by Alan Jones for the Sterlings' Scroobie agreed that when application was first made for a licence for one vehicle in possession, with one to be acquired, the council had not objected. He said that the officer who had dealt with the matter had not understood that it meant two vehicles.
He agreed that the objection resulted from a complaint by a borough councillor who lived in Welsh St Donats and that when enforcement action was considered none of the adjoining residents raised any objections to the Sterlings' operations. He said there could be no planning objection to one vehicle being parked alongside the Sterlings' residence but two vehicles would mean a change of use.
John Sterling, a partner, said that he was seeking an alternative site; not because he thought the present operating centre was unsuitable but because he really did not want a running battle with the council.
Renewing the licence for two years to give Mr Sterling an opportunity of finding new premises Mr Jackson said he was surprised that the council had thought that the original licence application was only for one vehicle. He was also surprised that there should be an objection when there was no material change and that the council was asking him to put a firm out of business for six or 12 months until an alternative operating centre could be found. He found that to be a very strange policy. He did not blame Mr Sterling looking for an alternative site to avoid that situation.