The local planning authority is of the opinion that the construction of the noise attenuation bunds would cause significant noise and disturbance, in either form in which they were proposed, which would be an unwarranted intrusion on the amenities of residents living in villages near to the site as, in their completed form, they would have only a marginal effect in attenuating the noise generated by the use to be retained at the site. As such their construction would be contrary to aspects of the provisions of Policies CT/2, CT/10 and EV/39 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan.

The local planning authority considers that, with or without the noise attentuation bunds proposed in the application, in either of the forms proposed, the use sought to be retained would be likely to continue to cause an unacceptable degree of noise and disturbance for residents in the local area, in particular noise generated by motor vehicles used in the activities of the use and by tyre squeal caused by cornering vehicles. On the basis of the evidence before it, the local planning authority is of the opinion that the harm to residential amenity could not be satisfactorily dealt with by the imposition of the conditions that would meet the requirements of Circular 11/95. As such, therefore, the continuation of the use would be contrary to aspects of the provisions of Policies CT/2, CT/10 and EV/39 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan.

The local planning authority considers that the traffic associated with the proposed construction of the noise attenuation bunds would cause an unwarranted reduction in the safety of the operation of the public highway, particularly in terms of the limitations of visibility at the junction of Wymeswold Lane and Melton Road and the suitability of other junctions in the vicinity of the site to cater for increased goods vehicle traffic. It considers that the benefits to residential amenity that would accrue as a result of the construction of the bunds does not warrant the reduction in the level of safety on the public highway that would be caused. As such the proposal would be contrary to the provisions of Transport Policy 4 of the adopted Leicestershire Structure Plan ( 1991 - 2006) and Policies TR/6 and TR/17 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan.