West Chiltington Parish Council
August 2005
A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 2nd August 2005 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.
Present: Harvie Steele (Chairman), Neil Longson (Vice-Chairman), Celia Rayner, Estelle Warriner, Paul Royce, Jonathan Trees, Dennis Tyler, Roger Watts, Michael Jackson.
Also in attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk to the Council), Cllr David Jenkins (Cabinet Member for Strategic Land Use Planning Local Development & Transport - HDC), Pat Arculus (County Councillor), 60 members of the public and 1 member of the press.
The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Pietro di Marino due to business commitments.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
It was agreed that the minutes be approved as an accurate record of the previous meeting, held on 5th July 2005. The Chairman signed the minutes.
3. MATTERS ARISING
i) The overgrown hedge at the junction of The Common and Harborough Hill has been reported to County highways and should be attended to shortly.
ii) Car Park Flower Beds Garden Care have been asked to bring them back to a tidy state pending future arrangements.
4. WILLETS FARM- Application to build 21 Industrial / Storage units on the site.
To allow members of the public to speak the Chairman adjourned the meeting.
The Chairman opened the discussion by saying that the purpose of the meeting was to provide information to members of the public on the proposed development. Meetings had already been held in September and July to uphold the commitment of the council to keep people informed.
The Chairman invited Doug Andrews, representing West Chiltington Preservation Society to address the meeting. He said that the proposed development represented an unwarranted intrusion into a rural area, and that there was no need for this development. A lively discussion took place on the impact of vehicles using the narrow rural lane and the dangers that would be caused at the junctions at both the north and south ends, and questions raised as to the basis of the transport study carried out be the applicant and endorsed by County Highways. Michael Jackson said that HDC had to accept the advice of County Highways when discussing the application, and as far as he was aware the report was accurate. Mr Carpenter said he had data provided by Bayley & Willmer, obtained from HDC website, that threw doubt on the figures used, showing movements to be much less than those used in the report. County Highways have said that the figures used for traffic movements are based on recognised government statistics (TRICS Data for a Business Park use) but even these figures have been manipulated in the report, showing less movements per unit. Michael Jackson and David Jenkins agreed to have a meeting with County Highways, Head of Planning and Pat Arculus to discuss the issues raised, and to see if the transport report could be relied upon. Mr Carpenter also raised the reports on the website from Mr Stringer, County Surveyors Department, in August and October 1999, in which he states that he would recommend refusal of the application on the basis of sub-standard junctions at either end of Broadford Bridge Road, nothing has changed at the junctions to improve the situation.
The question of need for the development was also raised and Mrs Carpenter told the meeting that she had details of over 73000 sq ft (approx 6780 sq meters) of industrial space available locally obtained from local estate agents. Michael Jackson asked for details to be sent to him to forward to the planning department.
As the discussion of the planning considerations had been exhausted the Chairman thanked the members of the public for attending and closed the adjournment for the rest of the agenda to be discussed.
5. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT
DC/05/1426 - F K Pountney, Sylvan Lodge, Monkmead Lane - Retention of a 1.7 metre high fence
Parish Council No objection if planted with suitable plants in front.
DC/05/1586
- John Anthony Calnan, Bel-Air Orchard Dell - Dormer window
Parish Council No objection.
DC/05/1264 -
Mr P And Mrs S Blackburn, Little Hayden Bower Lane - Single-storey front extension with accommodation in roof space
Parish Council No objection
DC/05/1695
- Mr And Mrs A R Davies, Fernwood Cottage, Crossways - Erection of one dwelling, garage and access, (Land at west of Fernwood Cottage)
Parish Council No objection
DC/05/1701
Millwood Designer Homes, Panners West Chiltington Road - Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 3 dwellings, garages and access.
Parish Council No objection. Approved by a majority vote 4:3.
DC/05/1756
- The Classic Home Company, Land South of Nurses Cottage, Common Hill - Alterations to design of detached double garage approved under previous planning DC/04/1471
Parish Council No objection.
DC/05/1757 - Mr And Mrs D Rymer, Land East of Conifers, The Common - Erection of a dwelling
Parish Council No objection. Would recommend that no further development be permitted.
DC/05/1768 - Mr Garry Hall, Land West And South of Rear Garden, The Chase House, Mill Road - Fell 16 Cupressocyparis Leylandii and 1 Quercus Robur (Oak) trees
Parish Council No objection.
5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS
(i) District Council decisions:
DC/04/2430 Mr M & Mrs P Salt, Greenways, Lordings Lane Demolition of existing dwelling and garage and erection of 2 dwellings with garages
Parish Council Objections: The proposed dwellings are out of character and out of keeping for the area. The new two storey houses will introduce an incongruous element of urbanisation to the area. The new houses will be an obtrusive feature in the landscape, and will be detrimental to neighbours amenities and to the visual amenities of the locality.
District Council decision PERMITTED Subject to the following conditions: i) Plot B not to be occupied until visibility splays provided. ii) No dwelling occupied until car parking and turning spaces provided. iii) No dwelling occupied until cycle storage facilities have been provided. iv) The buildings shall not be altered or extended without planning permission. v) No work shall take place until hard and soft landscaping has been agreed.
DC/04/2866 - Mr Wise, Tanglewood, 5 Mill End - single-storey rear extension, new pitched roofs to existing flat roofs and detached double garage
Parish Council No objection
District Council decision PERMITTED The materials used to be in accordance with the approved plans. No windows or other openings to be formed in the east elevation of the garage without approval.
DC/05/0468 - Mrs Russell, Brookhouse Barn, West Chiltington Lane, Broadford Bridge - sand school and tennis court with 2.75 metre fencing enclosure
Parish Council No objection
District Council decision PERMITTED No external lighting without approval. Finished surface of the sand school to be approved in writing. Not to be used for commercial purposes.
DC/05/0785 Mr & Mrs Rout, Timberdown, Harborough Drive 2 storey side and rear extension
Parish Council No objections provided that conditions are attached requiring obscured glazing to the west facing window and west facing wall of the conservatory and that the proposed balcony to the bedroom is deleted.
District Council decision PERMITTED All materials and finishes to be approved before commencement of work. No windows or other openings to be formed in the west or east elevations without permission. All windows in the west elevation to be at all times fitted with obscured glass.
DC/05/1231 Mr Potter, The Oaks, Castlegate - extensions to existing roof to form first floor accommodation and conservatory
Parish Council No objection
District Council decision PERMITTED Materials to match existing building. The hedge on the northern boundary to be retained or similar screening structure to the same height constructed.
DC/05/1371 - Robert J Ewins, Heather Nook, 2 Heathermead - Erection of a replacement garage
Parish Council No objection
District Council decision PERMITTED The materials and finishes to match existing building.
Appeals submitted:
DC/05/0742 Mr Clarke, Cedar Barn, Coneyhurst Farm, West Chiltington Lane, Coneyhurst shed
Parish Council no objection.
District Council decision REFUSED by virtue of its size, siting and appearance, the proposed building would adversely affect the rural character of the area, contrary to Local Plan policies.
DC/05/1071- Mr & Mrs Rymer, land east of Conifers, The Common - erection of a dwelling
Parish Council - objections. Outline application DC/04/1220, allowed on appeal, refers specifically to a 2 bedroom retirement chalet bungalow. What is now proposed is a 3-bedroom chalet bungalow, with a conservatory not shown on the outline application. The position of the building is shown further east on the plot, closer to the boundary with the neighbouring property, and further north towards the road. The plans show a house with a steeply pitched roof, which is too large for the site, and which will appear cramped and out of keeping with neighbouring development. The steeply pitched roof will make the house an intrusive and incongruous feature of the street scene, detrimental to the visual amenities of the locality.
Any new house on the site should be built precisely in accordance with the appeal decision.
District Council decision REFUSED by virtue of its scale and siting would be unduly prominent in the street scene, and represents a cramped form of over development.
(ii) Appeals determined:
DC/04/1966 - Millwood Designer Homes, Panners, West Chiltington Road - demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 5 detached houses, garaging and access
APPEAL DISMISSED would harm character and appearance of the local area. Contrary to policies of Structure Plan, Local Plan and Village Design Statement.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
(i) HDC notification of section 106 agreement re DC/04/2430 - Mr & Mrs Salt, Greenways, Lordings Lane - demolition of existing dwelling garages and erection of 2 dwellings with garages
Money has now been received and £1260 will be paid to the Lordings Lane Repair Fund, £1000 available for community facilities.
ii) Two child safety swing seats have been ordered at a cost of £150 plus carriage following the "Open Spaces Committee" meeting at the recreation ground.
iii) Cricket Club have been awarded a grant of £3195 for an artificial pitch for the use of the juniors. Thakeham PC have given them a grant of £250 in recognition of the help given to youth cricket.
iv) HALC Minutes have been received for the meeting held on the 23rd May, if anyone is interested contact the Clerk. They have also requested the payment of the subscription but no amount mentioned. Members asked how much, if small i.e. £25 it would be acceptable.
v) Pond Green Letter from the owners of Braeside requesting the agreement of the council to delay the reseeding of the green until September/October when the conditions are more suitable.
Member agreed.
vi) BT Phone Box - Due to falling revenues BT wish to make the box in Haglands Lane cashless, accepting only credit cards or phone cards. Emergency and reverse charge calls would still operate as now. It was thought that Cherilyn sell Phone cards. Members agreed to accept the proposal rather than losing the box.
vii) The Friends of Storrington & District Museum Requesting a grant to cover running expenses. Michael Jackson suggested we write to Chris Dier (HDC Leisure Services), together with Storrington, requesting a share of grant to parishes. Leave this request until the budget is available.
viii) Village Life A new magazine is to start on 1st September, centred on Billingshurst but covering the surrounding villages. Details are available if anyone interested.
7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
i) Note change of September Parish Council meeting date from 13th September to 30th August.
ii) Michael Jackson
a). Said that repairs would be needed to the Village Hall roof within five years costing £30,000 plus. The cost would be shared between HDC, Village Hall and Parish Council and that a provision should be made when setting the budget to build a fund to have the money available when needed.
b). That a Parish Councillor should speak at the Planning Meeting when the Willets Farm application is discussed on the 20th September at 2.00pm.
iii). Roger Watts
a). Suggested a CCTV camera could be installed to monitor the Village Hall roof, he would ask a friend who has installed one as to likely cost.
b). Silver Band is unhappy at having to practise in Reading Room, sharing with Parish Office and without a toilet. The parish council have always used the Reading Room and will continue to do so, and a toilet is planned with the refurbishment of the Museum. The Clerk will write informing them of the welcome addition to the building.
c). Signposts have been acknowledged as the best in the district.
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 10.15 pm.