WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 5th December 2006 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

Present: Harvie Steele, Dennis Tyler, Neil Longson, Celia Rayner, Paul Royce, Jonathan Trees, Estelle Warriner and Roger Watts.

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk)

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Michael Jackson and Pietro di Marino

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Paul Royce pointed out that he was listed as absent but did attend the meeting and 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 7th November 2006 subject to this change and the Chairman was authorised to sign the amended 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 have offered to contribute 50% i.e. £847.50 towards cost of the car park resurfacing and request s106 funding be sought for remainder. Asdug Recycling and E P Clarke are also to quote for the work and a decision will be made when all the quotes have been received.
  1. Museum Refurbishment – Emerald Construction have submitted a price by e-mail of £19,500 plus VAT for the refurbishment, including approx. £7,000 for the cost of water and sewer connection. Dibble & Jones have also been sent tender documents and are expected to quote.
  2. Project Funding - s106 Funding cannot be applied for until early January for project to be decided at a meeting on the 13th February 2007.
  3. Chilt Corner – s106 Agreement agreed with Charles James Homes, £3150 for Community Facilities and £1950 for Transport Infrastructure Contribution.
  4. Calluna, Nyetimber Lane – following information received that 4 adjoining properties are in discussion to sell all or part of their gardens to developers I have asked Will Jones to revisit the site to see if more TPO’s are required to protect the trees in the vicinity.
  5. Complaint from Charles James Homes re the HDC Development Control Meeting on the 21st November. It seems Linda Podlasinka was allowed to address the meeting without having given the required notice and proceeded to say she represented the views of the Parish Council and Preservation Society. It was made clear that she did not represent the Parish Council but was merely repeating the comments of the Parish Council to the application.

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

DC/06/2445 - Sarah Fooks, Kings and Princes, The Hollows

Fell 4 Cedars, 1 Birch and 1 Eucalyptus trees (Works to Trees in A Conservation Area)

Parish Council: Are concerned at the proposal to fell the Cedar trees but as there is no explanation for the request will leave any decision to Will Jones.

 

DC/06/2537 - Mr Jeffrey Cosgrove, Langdale, Castlegate

2 dormer windows and alterations

Parish Council: No objection.

 

DC/06/2583 - Mrs S Ansell, Harbolets, Harbolets Road

Erection of an indoor swimming pool attached to the house via a covered walkway

Parish Council: No objection

 

DC/06/2597 - Mr JH Ranson, Oakmere, Mill Road

Surgery to 2 Fagus Sylvatica (Beech) trees

Parish Council: Have no objection if the action prolongs the life of the trees.

 

DC/06/2671 - Mr Aitkenhead, Burnbrae, 1 Willow Close

Fell 1 Scots Pine tree

Parish Council: Have no objection to the felling.

 

DC/06/2672 - Mrs F Fuller, Gentle Harry’s Farm, Mill Road

Single-storey extension (Listed Building Consent)

Parish Council: No objection

DC/06/2684 - Mrs F Fuller, Gentle Harry’s Farm, Mill Road

Single storey extension

Parish Council: No objection

 

DC/06/2673 Mr R Phillips, Burchetts, Castlegate

Surgery to 1 Oak tree

Parish Council: No objection to the surgery but suggest it might be more appropriate to fell tree T2 to allow trees T1 and T3 more room to develop.

 

DC/06/2697 Mr and Mrs Roberts, Kingfisher House, Common Hill

Single storey rear extension

Parish Council: No objection

 

DC/06/2703 Ms L Grey, Honeypots, Spinney Lane

Extension and alterations to roof with dormer windows (amendment to previously approved DC/05/0947)

Parish Council: No objection

 

DC/06/2698 - Ms Nicola Goodman, Chalford, Orchard Dell

Conversion of roof space to living areas including front and rear dormers

Parish Council: No objection

 

DC/06/2771 – Mr A Purbrick, Quilters, Grove Lane

Installation of Dormer Windows

Parish Council: No objection

 

DC/06/2104 - Ebury & Stone Ltd, Hill Stream, Harborough Hill, West Chiltington

Demolition of Hill Stream and erection of 2 x two-storey detached houses and 1 x single-storey detached bungalow.

Parish Council: No objection to the principle of the development but would like the design and materials used on the dwelling on the southern plot nearest the road to be sympathetic to the rural scene of the area and not be red brick as nearby developments.

Revised Drawings received 15/11/06

Parish Council: No objection to the revised plan but are concerned that the materials used are sympathetic to the rural scene of this area, particularly the colour of the brickwork.

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

  1. District Council Decisions:

DC/06/1834 - Charles James Homes Ltd, Chilt Corner, Rambledown Lane, West Chiltington

Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of 2 replacement dwellings

Parish Council: Recommend the development for refusal due to the perceived bulk of the houses particularly that proposed for plot 2. However if the Officers and Committee are inclined to approve the application we would like conditions to be attached to protect the stream banks and the mature trees and hedging that currently surround the site. In addition as the access road is private, maintained by the residents, we consider a reinstatement condition should be attached to the permission

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

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

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

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?

District Council Decision: Permitted to construct in accordance with the plans – agricultural permitted development.

 

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

District Council Decision: Prior approval not required.

 

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

Extension to existing dormer window

Parish Council: No Objection

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

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.

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

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.

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

(2). Appeal Decisions:

None decided

 

 

(3). Appeals Submitted:

DC/04/2650 - Willets Farm, Broadford Bridge Road

An appeal was lodged on 8th November against the refusal of planning permission for 21 Industrial units for B1 (Business) and B8 (Storage & Distribution) on the site, and has been linked with the Enforcement Notice issued by HDC against the unauthorised development on the site.

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 /Distribution) uses and for the stationing on the land of a mobile home for residential purposes.

The appeal will be heard by way of a Public Enquiry at a date to be arranged.

 

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

DC/06/1313 - Mr and Mrs Darlington, Land North Of Longmead and Inglewood and Careys, Haglands Lane

Erection of 3 dwellings

Parish Council: Objection on the grounds that the development will be unduly prominent, particularly in the front of Longmead, and therefore harmful to the street scene and detract from the semi rural character of the area.

District Council Decision: Refused

Appeal lodged 14th November 2006, decision awaited.

 

 

DC/06/1636 - Mr and Mrs Johnson, Woodlands Cottage, Spinney Lane, West Chiltington

2 storey and single storey extensions.

Parish Council: No Objection, but would like condition regarding the matching of materials to the existing house.

District Council Decision: Refused

Appeal lodged 20th November 2006, decision awaited.

 

 

6. CORRESPONDENCE

The Clerk presented the following correspondence for consideration by the members:
  1. HDC Strategic Flood Risk Assessment – Information Collection. Details sought of areas subject to flooding in the parish. Request for information from anyone who has any knowledge of areas subject to flooding? The Hollows near the junction with Stream Lane is currently subject to flooding from water pouring out of the drain, presumably collecting higher up the hill. The Clerk was asked to report this to County Highways.

 

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(1) 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 had raised the matter with the Highways Superintendent but budget constraints allowed only repairs to be carried out in small areas. The use of s106 funds will be raised with County Highways.

(2) Dennis Tyler mentioned the hole that was appearing across the road outside the Queens Head and the Clerk informed him that the contractor responsible for the hole was to re-instate the surface.

(3) Paul Royce reported that the AGM of the Fayre & Flower Show had attracted 12 members of the public, some of whom had volunteered to help.

(4) The Chairman suggested that the current practise of allowing members of the public to speak only at the end of the meeting did not allow their opinions to be heard before decisions were taken by members and thought that an adjournment after ‘Matters Arising’ could be tried. It was discussed by members and a trial was agreed to see if it improved the debating of issues.

 

 

There being no other business the Chairman thank everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.35 pm.