A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 6^th December 2005 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

Present: Michael Jackson (Chairman for the Meeting), Celia Rayner, Paul Royce, Jonathan Trees and Roger Watts.

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk) and two members of the public.

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

Harvie Steele, Neil Longson, Estelle Warriner and Pietro di Marino.

The members duly approved the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 1^st November 2005 and the Chairman signed the minutes as a true record of the meeting.

i) Willets Farm – The application will not come before the committee this month as the revised Transport Survey has still not been received. The Parish Council will be given the opportunity to discuss it before a decision is taken. No news on the appeal against the enforcement notice has been received.

ii) Museum – Revised plan of toilet position with inside access has been received, the Clerk was requested to inform Morfield Everest to proceed to prepare tender documents and obtain planning permission. Gina Wilmshurst has requested we collect our exhibits from her house in the next two weeks and the Clerk will make arrangements to do this.

iii) CCTV System – The Clerk informed the meeting of one he held with Phil Montgomery of HDC on the recreation ground, looking at where cameras should be sited to give maximum coverage and position of recording device. To install 4 cameras to monitor front of Village Hall, rear of Village Hall, Sports Pavilion and skateboard ramp would cost in the region of £13/15K. It could be installed in sections, say 2 cameras to start with others to follow when funds permit. It was suggested immediate action should be taken to apply "Anti Vandal Paint" to the edges of the Village Hall roof, with appropriate signs, which it was thought would stop anyone climbing on the roof. Additionally more security lights should be installed to cover both sides of the Village Hall and the Sports Pavilion. The Clerk had made an application for Section 106 monies to cover the cost of £15000.

iv) Playground, Church Meadow – Michael Jackson asked the Clerk for an update of the planned playground and the funding. The Clerk informed the meeting that the draft lease and licence agreements were still awaited from the solicitors and that funding from Horsham District Council of £11250 was in place and that the expected balance of £3750 would have to be found by the Parish Council. Michael Jackson requested the Clerk apply for Section 106 money to fund the Councils contribution.

DC/05/2374 - Richard And Maria Hearn, Fantails, Little Hill, West Chiltington

Retention of fence

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow Mrs Hearn to address the meeting. Mrs Hearn explained that due to the garden being 1 metre higher than the bottom of the fence a 1 metre fence would offer no privacy in her garden, and for that reason a higher fence was required. The councillors discussed the matter at length and resolved that if Mrs Hearn would amend her application to include the use of wooden posts and gravel boards, to be stained green, and submit a planting scheme for the front of the fence to soften its appearance it might be acceptable.

DC/05/2405 - Mr P Circus, Foxhill, Westward Lane, West Chiltington

Single storey rear extension and extension to existing single garage to form double garage

DC/05/2525 - Mr R Page, 1 New House Farm Cottages, Church Street, West Chiltington

Rear conservatory

DC/05/2527 - Mr And Mrs R Ewins, Heather Nook, 2 Heathermead, West Chiltington

Partial demolition, alteration and erection of new 2-storey rear extension

DC/05/2542 - Mrs Niamh Marsh, Old House Farm Barn, Old House Lane, Coolham

Creation of a sand school and erection of building comprising 3 stables and tack and hay rooms (Land South of Old House Farm Barn)

DC/05/2579 - Mr And Mrs Lawson, Island House, Rambledown Lane, West Chiltington

Single-storey rear extension

DC/05/2606 - Mr Ronald E Blackburn, 4 Hindle Close, West Chiltington

Erection of detached garage and conversion of existing garage into living accommodation

DC/05/2636 - A Fletcher, Ragmans Castle, Common Hill, West Chiltington

Erection of 2 x 2 storey dwellings and double garages and access (Outline)

DC/05/2650 - Mrs D Stanley, Huntleys Fruit Farm, Broadford Bridge Road, West Chiltington

Continued use as a dwelling (Lawful Development Certificate -Existing)

DC/05/2660 - Dennis Bay, East View, Harbolets Road, West Chiltington

Retention of 1.8 metre high fencing

DC/05/2665 - Mr P A'Barrow, Timberlands, Broadford Bridge Road, West Chiltington

Erection of bunkers for storage of wood chips, green waste and composting

DC/05/2712 - The Classic Home Company, Land East Of Conifers, The Common, West Chiltington

Erection of a dwelling

DC/05/2725 - Millwood Designer Homes Ltd, Panners, West Chiltington Road

Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 3 dwellings garages and access

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow Mr Tim Daniells, Land Manager for the applicant, to address the members. Mr Daniells gave a presentation of how the plans had been amended to meet the criticisms raised by HDC to the previous plan for three homes on the site. The homes have been redesigned, making them narrower, to provide more space between and the garage repositioned to increase the spacing. The access from the road has been repositioned to provide better screening from the road. The members discussed the revised plans and agreed that they had no objection and thanked Mr Daniells for attending to explain the changes.

DC/05/2738 - C.W.Fagan, Windmill, The Hollows, West Chiltington

Replacement roof tiles on North West elevation (Listed Building Consent)

DC/05/2740 - C.Fagan, Windmill, The Hollows, West Chiltington

Replace existing window with french doors and insert replacement window in North West elevation (Listed Building

Consent)

DC/05/2749 - Mr Peter Lawson, Island House, Rambledown Lane, West Chiltington

Fell 11 Birch trees and surgery to 1 Oak, 2 Willow, 2 Alder and 1 Birch trees (all located within the wet woodland

DC/05/2788 - Mrs E Warriner, Claremont, Nightingales, West Chiltington

Single-storey rear extension

DC/05/2791 - Mr And Mrs N Wigley, Church House, Church Street, West Chiltington

Restoration and refurbishment including internal alterations (Listed Building Consent)

DC/05/2798 - I.D.Small, Spinneys, Heathfield Copse, West Chiltington

Erection of detached double garage

DC/05/2802 - Brookworth Developments, Bracklyn, Harborough Hill, West Chiltington

Erection of 9 dwellings and access (Outline)

DC/05/2804 - Faccenda Group Ltd, Homefield Farm, Broadford Bridge, Billingshurst

Replacement of mobile home with dwelling and garage for assistant farm manager

Parish Council – the members have strong objections to this application. The permission to use the barn in support of the equestrian stud was given on the understanding that the barn could not be used for residential purposes. The applicants were warned four years ago, when they were found to be living in the barn, that the domestic conversions they had carried out must be removed as they only had planning permission for messing facilities. The barn was built specifically for the use of the land as an equestrian stud and to grant permission for residential occupation would go against the previous planning decision, and appear to condone the flagrant breach of the previous conditions imposed.

Parish Council – No objection

District Council decision: Permitted

Parish Council – No objection. Would recommend that no further development be permitted.

Parish Council – Objection – The members had strong objections to the development on the grounds that the footprint of the proposed building is considerably larger than the outline permission granted on appeal, which had an integral garage rather than a separate garage as now proposed, which will result in it being unduly prominent and out of scale with existing development. We therefore request that any building approved should be in accordance with the outline planning permission granted on the site.

Parish Council – Objection This is a front garden development, similar to that refused in April. The size and shape of the plot would not permit a dwelling compatible with existing developments in the area and would therefore set an unwelcome precedent.

Parish Council – No objection – but the members thought the roof shape to look overbearing and a revised plan should be sought.

Parish Council – Objection - The fence is too prominent in the street scene and although planted in front with leylandii type conifers this will do nothing to improve the situation. A hedge of beech or similar natural trees would still give the privacy sought by the owners without being visually unattractive. If the fence was painted green it would blend in better with the environment than the current chestnut stain.

DC/05/0569 - Mr & Mrs Hayhoe, Birchwood, Spinney Lane - demolition of existing double garage and loggia and erection of 2 storey side and rear extensions, outdoor swimming pool and raised patio.

Parish Council – concerned that the bulk and massing of the extension to the north elevation, and its proximity to the boundary with Brackenburn, will be unneighbourly. The new high-level window to the north elevation will overlook Brackenburn to the detriment of the occupiers’ privacy and amenities.

District Council decision – REFUSED – the proposed extension, by virtue of its size, design and siting, would not be sympathetic to the existing dwelling, and would adversely affect the visual character of the area. Contrary to Local Plan polices and Village Design Statement.

Parish Council - strong objections, for the same reasons that earlier applications have been considered unacceptable. This proposal is for frontland development, and contrary to Local Plan policy WC1 and the Village Design Statement. This area of West Chiltington Common is characterised by large houses standing back from the road in generous plots. The new house will stand well forward of the existing building line; the plot is small, out of keeping with other plot sizes in the vicinity, with the result that any new house will appear cramped on the site, and out of keeping; there will inevitably be loss of trees and vegetation at the site, to the detriment of the character and amenities of the area. The creation of a new vehicular access where visibility in Common Hill is already poor will increase the chances of traffic accidents; the Parish has insufficient local facilities and amenities to serve yet another new development; and permitting the application will create a precedent which, when followed, will destroy the character and amenities of this pleasant semi-rural area. The District Council's reasons for refusing application WC/42/93, and the Inspector's reasons for dismissing the subsequent appeal, continue to apply. The Parish Council asks that the application be referred to Committee for decision.

District Council decision – REFUSED – Undesirable intensification, out of keeping and incompatible with existing development in the locality.

DC/05/0950 - Longdene Developments, agricultural building north of Old House Farm, Old House Lane - conversion of existing building to form 1 dwelling

Parish Council – objections. The site lies in open, unspoilt countryside. The existing building consists largely of corrugated asbestos sheeting. It is of no historical importance or architectural merit. If no longer required for agriculture it should be dismantled and removed from the site.

District Council decision – REFUSED – unsuitable for conversion, contrary to local planning policies, outside built up area.

DC/04/1044 – Saxon Estates, Greenways, Lordings Lane – Demolition of existing dwelling, garages and ancillary buildings and erection of 3 dwellings with garages.

It was agreed that the Parish Council would object to the application for the same reasons that earlier applications were considered unacceptable. The proposal is out of character and out of keeping for the area. The proposed plots, at a third of an acre, are smaller than surrounding plots and out of keeping. Despite changes in design from the previous application, the proposed new houses will introduce an incongruous element of urbanisation to the street scene. Given the topography of Lordings Lane and the proposed ridge heights of the properties, the new houses would be an obtrusive feature in the landscape, and will be detrimental to neighbours' amenities and to the visual amenities of the locality.

Lordings Lane is a narrow private road, inadequate to take the heavy traffic using the road during construction, and the numerous additional car journeys made by occupants of the new houses. Both the eastern and western junctions of Lordings Lane with the County road network (at Haglands Lane and Smock Alley/Roundabout Lane) have inadequate sightlines, and any growth in traffic will exacerbate the existing road safety hazards.

The proposal is contrary to the Village Design Statement (VDS). Because of its rural character and inadequacy to take additional traffic, the VDS specifically identifies Lordings Lane as an area where additional development should not take place. The views of the Inspector, in dismissing an appeal against refusal of the previous application, continue to apply.

If, despite objections, the Planning Authority were minded to grant the application, the Parish Council would not object to the erection of single-storey dwellings at the site.

District Council decision – REFUSED – by reason of its scale, design and siting, would be out of keeping with character of area, and therefore contrary to Local Plan Policies and Village Design Statement. Also contrary to Government guidance PPG3 – no overriding need at present to release further land for development, particularly where the development is not of a high standard of design and layout.

i) Dolly Posts, East Street – County Highways have agreed to the installation of wooden posts and are carrying out the repair work to the pavements prior to installation.

ii) Sports Association Meeting – Costs of furniture have now been ascertained at £984 plus delivery and a Section 106 claim is being submitted.

iii) HDC Obligations Panel – The first meeting held on 8^th November to consider the claims for s106 Monies from Wychacre and Homemount developments WC/08/03 for Skatepark and Village Hall. Village Hall successful for their furniture for £871.83 excluding VAT, the skatepark claim rejected as repairs rather than capital expenditure.

iv) Conservation Area – The consideration of whether to grant conservation status to the Birch Lane, Grove Lane and Bower Lane area has been delayed until 2007 due to work pressures at HDC regarding the Structure Plan to 2018

v) TPO – Bracklyn, Harborough Hill – a Tree Preservation Order has been made to protect the trees on this proposed development site.

There being no other business the Chairman thank everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.35 pm.