WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 7th November 2006 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

Present: Harvie Steele, Neil Longson, Celia Rayner, Paul Royce, Jonathan Trees and Estelle Warriner

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk)

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Michael Jackson, Dennis Tyler, Pietro di Marino and Roger Watts

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

It was proposed by Neil Longson and seconded by Celia Rayner and agreed by all members to duly approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 3rd October 2006 and the Chairman signed the minutes as a true record of the meeting.

3. MATTERS ARISING

The Clerk reported on the following:

  1. Tennis Club Track –Edburton Contractors have quoted for the track surfacing as follows:

Track £2,725, cross-over from road £ 845 and car park £1695. Tennis Club can contribute 50% i.e. £847.50 towards cost of resurfacing the car park and request s106 funding be sought for remainder. The members deferred the matter to the full council meeting on the 14th November 2006.

(ii) TPO – Calluna, Nyetimber Lane – Will Jones visited on the day they commenced felling after a telephone call from the Clerk, too late to save an oak, Scots pine and several silver birch trees. A TPO has been issued to protect the remaining oaks etc at the front of the property. The members discussed the situation where Will Jones covers the whole of the Horsham District without back-up to cover for holidays or sickness, leading to his ability to respond to warnings of impending tree felling to be strictly limited. The members agreed to raise the matter with Tom Crowley at the next meeting on the 14th November.
  1. TPO – Hillstream, Harborough Hill – one oak tree in front garden of Hillstream has been covered by a TPO, a number of trees have already been felled in the rear garden prior to a planning application being submitted.

    2.  

  2. Museum Refurbishment – Emerald Construction are awaiting a figure from Southern water for the cost of water connection and sewer connection. Should have a total cost of project next week.

    3.  

  3. Legal Fees re. Church Meadow – The solicitors acting on behalf of the PCC have agreed to refund £250 plus VAT of the £1450 plus VAT paid, although they have said on the basis of time taken so far the fee should be £1902.50 (at £130/hour), but as a gesture of goodwill have limited the fees to £1200.

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

DC/06/2244 - Brookworth Developments Ltd, Bracklyn, Harborough Hill

Erection of six dwellings and associated access (Outline)

Parish Council: Although some of the concerns of the Planning Inspector have been met the members still consider the application to be over development of the site to the detriment of the semi-rural character of the area.

 

DC/06/2293 - Millwood Designer Homes Limited, Panners, West Chiltington Road

Amendments to planning applications DC/05/1701 and DC/05/2725 on Plot 1 to provide additional bedrooms within attic space, the provision of 4 x new dormer windows and 3 x new roof lights and the addition of a rear balcony. Plot 2 change of layout.

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/06/2331 - CW Fagan, Windmill, The Hollows

Fell 8 Conifers and surgery to 1 Apple tree (Works to Trees in a Conservation Area).

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/06/2276 - Mr Stephen Dovey, Palings, Harborough Hill

Additional access from Harborough Hill

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/06/2323 - Nyetimber Ltd, Nyetimber, Gay Street

Prior notification to erect a winery storage building

Parish Council: We have not been notified that planning approval is not required but are concerned that work has already commenced on clearing the site. Owners of neighbouring properties are concerned at the extra traffic likely to be generated by the delivery of grapes from other land and the transport of finished product along in places a single track road. Walkers and horse riders have also expressed concerns at the extra traffic likely to be generated adding to the risk of using the narrow lane.

The Parish Council request a reply on the above concerns, and how these concerns are to be addressed?

 

DC/06/2370 - Mr and Mrs D Rogerson, Linnets, Finches Lane

Extension to existing dormer window

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/06/2412 - Mr and Mrs I Page, Chantry Cottage, Monkmead Lane

Detached garage

Parish Council: No Objection, particularly as the neighbouring property has been granted permission for a very similar garage building.

 

DC/06/2420 - Mr D Saunders, Longacre, Harborough Hill

Garage extension with games room over balcony

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/06/2439 - R. Penrose, Cabana, Silverwood Copse

Surgery to 1 x Oak and 1 x Cupresses trees

Parish Council: Surgery would appear to be quite drastic and only Will Jones has the expertise to judge whether it is necessary or desirable.

 

DC/06/2502 - Mr N Pullen, Katernian, Orchard Dell

Single storey front and side extension and alterations to pitch of roof.

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/06/2151 - Roundabout Hotel Ltd, Roundabout Hotel, Monkmead Lane

Erection of hotel managers dwelling

Parish Council: No Objection but would like conditions attached to retain the trees and screening to the southern boundary facing Abbotswood to protect the owners privacy, and to tie the property to the hotel.

 

DC/06/2535 - Charles James Homes Ltd, Ragmans Castle, Common Hill

Erection of a two storey detached house with integral garage and repositioning of vehicular crossover.

Parish Council: No Objection

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

  1. District Council Decisions:

DC/06/1189 - Mr and Mrs Rout, Timberdown, Harborough Drive

Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 1 replacement dwelling

Parish Council: No objection but concerns raised about possible damage to the road surface by heavy lorries etc. and suggests a reinstatement condition be attached to the permission.

Revised drawings received 2/08/06

Parish Council: No Objection, previous comment about a reinstatement condition for the roadway to still apply.

District Council decision: Permitted – Reinstatement condition for any damage to the road surface.

 

DC/06/1548 - Mrs D Purchell, Oaktree Cottage, 2 Hindle Close, West Chiltington

Surgery to 2 Oak trees (1 and 2 Hindle Close)

Parish Council: Leave decision to Will Jones’s professional opinion as concerned at any loss of trees in this area, which have a high amenity value, and do not consider the loss of light to be sufficient reason for surgery.

District Council decision: Permitted

 

DC/06/1819 - Mrs M.E. Hart, Whitefold, 3 Hindle Close, West Chiltington

Surgery to Oak tree

Parish Council: Leave decision to Will Jones’s professional opinion as concerned at any loss of trees in this area, which have a high amenity, and do not consider the loss of light to be sufficient reason for surgery.

District Council decision: Permitted

 

DC/06/1904 - Dr C King, The Oaks, Monkmead Lane, West Chiltington

New vehicular access and forecourt alterations.

Parish Council: No Objection to the relocation of the access driveway or the removal of the existing conifer hedge and its replacement by a post and rail fence with laurel and beech hedging but do object to the brick gate piers and the design of the gate which is out of keeping with this area. We consider wooden posts with a five-bar type gate would be more appropriate.

District Council decision: Permitted – details of materials for gates to be submitted for approval.

DC/06/2056 – Mr N Moulton, Naldretts Farm, East Street, West Chiltington

Insertion of window to front elevation (Listed Building Consent)

Parish Council: No Objection

District Council decision: Granted

 

DC/06/2144 - Paul Sloan, Berrington Lodge, Lordings Lane, West Chiltington

Erection of a double garage with a garden store

Parish Council: No objection but would like all permitted development rights to be withdrawn to prevent further expansion without approval.

District Council decision: Permitted

 

DC/06/2290 - Hutchison 3G (UK) LTD, Pumping Station, Smock Alley, West Chiltington

Erection of 27m high lattice telecommunications mast supporting 3 no. panel antennas and 1 no. dish, installation of 2 no. equipment cabinets and 1 no. meter cabinet, all within fenced compound.

Parish Council: Objects to the mast because it will be more visible than the existing mast from the road as it would be sited on more open ground further away from the water treatment works. The members are concerned at the lack of co-operation between the companies to limit the number of masts by sharing and that no effort is made to limit the impact by camouflaging in some way.

 

District Council decision: Refused

 

 

 

(2). Appeal Decisions:

None decided

 

 

(3). Appeals Submitted:

 

DC/06/0986 - The Classic Home Company, Land East Of Conifers, The Common

Erection of single garage

Parish Council: Objection to further development of the site, provision has already been made for the parking of vehicles, which it considers is sufficient.

District Council decision: Refused, the proposal by reason of its size and siting would result in an intrusive feature detrimental to the visual amenities of the street scene and locality.

Appeal lodged 11th August 2006: decision awaited.

 

 

Willets Farm, Broadford Bridge Road

An appeal has been lodged against the Enforcement Notice issued by HDC

Description of unauthorised development: Without planning permission, the change of use of the land from use for agriculture to a mixed use for agriculture and B1 (Light Industrial), B2 (General Industrial) and B8 (Storage /Distibution) uses and for the stationing on the land of a mobile home for residential purposes.

 

 

DC/06/1139 - The Classic Home Company, Palings, Harborough Hill

Erection of one detached dwelling, garage and access (garden of Palings)

Parish Council: The reversal of the layout and the angle of the siting on the plot does not alter the fact that this is cramped over development of this narrow plot. The reasons for refusal of previous applications have not been addressed.

District Council Decision: Refused

Appeal lodged 13th September 2006: decision awaited

 

 

6. CORRESPONDENCE

The Clerk presented the following correspondence for consideration by the members:

i) WSCC – Diversion of footpath 2410/1 – Nyetimber Vineyard. The members had no objection to the diversion of the footpath as the diversion had been used for some time as it was easier than walking through the vines.

ii) HDC – Consultation documents on the following:

a) Statement of Community Involvement + Comments form

b) Gypsy & Travellers Sites DPD + Comments form

c) Village/ Parish Design Statements SA/SEA Scoping report

d) General Development Control – Alternative Policy Boundaries + Comments form

Copies of the documents are available from the Clerk.

iii) HDC – Gypsy & Travellers Sites, meeting to discuss the issue at Park Barn, Horsham 20th November at 7.30pm. Details available from the Clerk.

 

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Estelle Warriner raised the poor state of repair of the footpath alongside The Common to Harborough Drive, it was a danger to pedestrians and perhaps s106 Transport Contribution funds could be used for its improvement if budget constraints would delay the work. The Clerk would raise the matter with the Highways Superintendent.

 

 

There being no other business the Chairman thank everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.10 pm.