WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 6th February 2007 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

 

Present: Harvie Steele, Dennis Tyler, Michael Jackson, Neil Longson, Celia Rayner, Pietro di Marino, 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

 

None, everyone present.

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Roger Watts and seconded by Celia Rayner and agreed by all members to duly approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 2nd January 2007 and the Chairman was authorised to sign the minutes as a true record of the meeting.

 

3. MATTERS ARISING

 

The Clerk reported on the following:

 

(i)                 Museum Refurbishment – An application has been submitted for s106 funding in the sum of £25,000. Morfield Everest are seeking detailed specification of works to evaluate quotes and are looking for new contractors to quote for the work.

 

New contractors, Tugwell Heath Contractors, were shown around this morning and are going to quote for the work.

 

(ii)               Playground - An application has been submitted for s106 funding in the sum of £11,250. A meeting is to be arranged with pre-schools, school and Open Spaces Committee members in the afternoon of Friday 9th February.

 

 

(iii)             S106 Claims – Although sums due under two Agreements in respect of Land south of Conifers £2500 and Ragmans Castle £3150 have not been paid work has commenced on both projects. Michael Jackson said this would not hinder the applications as the sums were due and would be received by the time draw down of funds was requested.

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

 

 

DC/06/3028 - Mr G.J Wagpole-Brown, Pussy Willows, Wychacre, Harborough Hill

Fell 1 tree (T4) and surgery to 2 trees (T3 and T5)

 

Parish Council: Have been informed that one of the trees has been felled but as the application is lacking in detail of the type of tree will leave the determination to Will Jones.

 

 

DC/07/0087 - Mr RE and Mrs JL Blackburn, 4 Hindle Close    

Surgery to 2 Oak trees.

 

Parish Council: No objection but will leave the determination to Will Jones.

 

 

DC/07/0129 - Mr S Gillespie, Little Loxley, Monkmead Lane               

Re-open original vehicular access onto Monkmead Land and retain existing opening

 

Parish Council: No objection if it is intended to create ‘In’ and ‘Out’ access and the scheme is acceptable to WSCC Highways.

 

 

DC/07/0147 - Whittington Homes Ltd, Land Formerly Known As Greenways, Lordings Lane  

Replacement dwelling with basement and detached garage (Plot A, Greenways, Lordings Lane, West Chiltington)

 

Parish Council: No objection to the provision of a basement and repositioning the garage but do not believe the changes to the windows enhance the appearance of the dwelling, and find it not in keeping with the design of buildings in this rural area.

 

 

DC/07/0173 - Mr P Nottingham, Millview, Mill Road               

Rooms in roof including dormer window and alterations

 

Parish Council: Because of the close proximity to the neighbouring property Hadley which is only some 10 metres away are concerned at the possible detrimental effect overlooking will have, both of the house and garden. If permission is granted believe it should be conditioned by making the window non-opening and of obscured glass to prevent any overlooking.

 

 

DC/07/0184 - Mr J E and Mrs N Murray, Brae Lodge, 4 Badgers Wood 

Erection of 1 dwelling and garage (Land to the rear Brae Lodge)

 

Parish Council: No objection as long as steps are taken to protect the trees on site.

 

 

DC/07/0187 - Mr and Mrs S Struthers, Ambleside, 5 Barkworth Way

2-Storey side extension and single-storey rear extension

 

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.

 

 

Revised Plans received 09/01/07, 23/01/07, 24/01/07 & 02/02/07:

 

Parish Council: No objection to the revisions since our last deliberation of the application, but reiterate our concerns regarding the use of sympathetic materials, particularly for the southern plot.

 

 

DC/06/2867 - Mr A Robertson, Enderby Thatch, Common Hill

Erection of 1 detached dwelling in garden of Enderby Thatch

 

Parish Council: The reduced footprint of the proposed building sits better on the plot but note that the ridge height is 1 metre higher than the previous proposal making the roof bulky and we would like the height lowered.

 

Revised Plans received 19th January 2007:

 

Parish Council: Are pleased that our previous concerns regarding the ridge height have been addressed and have no objection to the application.

 

 

 

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

 

(I)                District Council Decisions:

 

DC/06/2098 - Mrs T Sadler-Wilson, Gorse House, Common Hill, West Chiltington       

Erection of detached two-storey dwelling with integral garage

 

Parish Council: Objects to the application on the grounds that the plot size is too small for a house of this size. It would be likely to appear overbearing to the occupiers of Gorse House, and if permitted it would be difficult to resist similar proposals in the vicinity.

 

Application Withdrawn – new application just received to be discussed at next months meeting.

 

 

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

Additional access from Harborough Hill

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Refused – would result in the addition of an unnecessary point of conflict for turning vehicles to the detriment of highway safety.

 

 

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

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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

2 dormer windows and alterations

 

Parish Council: No objection.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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

Single-storey extension (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No objection

 

District Council Decision: Granted

 

 

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

Single storey extension

 

Parish Council: No objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

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

Single storey rear extension

 

Parish Council: No objection

 

District Council Decision: Refused – by virtue of its positioning would be considered to adversely affect the residential and visual amenities of the occupiers of the neighbouring dwelling and would result in mutual overlooking.

 

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

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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

Installation of Dormer Windows

 

Parish Council: No objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/06/2828 - Mr C Brown, High Trees, Orchard Dell

Single-storey extension and conservatory

 

Parish Council: No objection.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/06/2832 - D Driver, 1 The Birches            

2 storey side extension.

 

Parish Council: No objection.

 

District Council Decision: Refused – by virtue of its siting and scale would be overbearing and therefore would detract from the adjoining property at No. 3 The Birches.

 

 

DC/06/2857 - Mr and Mrs A R Davis, Fernwood, Cottage Crossways       

Replacement of single garage with double garage

 

Parish Council: No objection.

 

Revised Plans received 19th January 2007: Ridge height reduced.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/06/2889 - Roger Chetwyn, Gorselands, Common Hill    

Fell 1 Leylandii tree

 

Parish Council: No objection.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

(2). Appeal Decisions:

 

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 Decision: Dismissed – The proposed development would result in a cramped appearance that would not be in keeping with the spacious pattern of development in the area.

 

 

 

(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/06/1139 - 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.

 

 

DC/06/1817 - Clearview Hotels Ltd, Butchers Shop, 3 Haglands Lane, West Chiltington       

Erection of a 2-storey building comprising 5 x 1-bed flats (Haglands, Haglands Lane)

 

Parish Council: Objects to the development as being cramped over-development of a building frontage, design out of keeping with the neighborhood, damage to existing protected trees during building work and the loss of existing parking. No provision has been made for parking of the existing and new tenants which in this commercial area is at a premium and extra vehicles parked permanently would only exacerbate the problem. The Parish Council would like to make it clear that the car park owned by them opposite is for the use of allotment holders and those visiting the shops, and is not to be used for residents parking.

 

District Council Decision: Refused

 

Appeal lodged 30th January 2007, decision awaited.

 

 

6. CORRESPONDENCE

 

1)      HDC The Core Strategy (2007) – Published following the Inspectors Report on the LDF which the council adopted on the 2nd February, copy available from the Clerk.

 

2)      HALC – new Chairman and Vice Chairman proposed – votes required for the two candidates, the representatives to HALC would be requested to cast their votes.

 

3)      WSCC – Minerals and Waste Development Framework: Public Consultation

A CD containing documents on the above is available from the Clerk.

 

4)  WSCC – Highways & Transport Works Programme 2007/8. During the period Stage 2 of the work at Heath Mill, West Chiltington Road will be carried out to upgrade drainage culvert and releave stream.

 

 

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

i).The Clerk requested the following dates be noted in your Diaries –

 

a). Annual Parish Meeting – 17th April 2007 in the School Hall, Will Jones has agreed to give a talk on trees.

 

b). Local Council Elections – Thursday 3rd May 2007.

 

ii). Pietro di Marino noted that the road sign at the entrance to Crossways from Common Hill was so far into the road that it was not possible to see it from Common Hill until level with the road and asked it was possible for it to be moved nearer to Common Hill. The Clerk agreed to talk to County Highways.

 

iii). Dennis Tyler commented on the vehicles parked at the bottom of Little Hill restricting the width of the road but the Clerk said unless they caused a total obstruction there was little could be done.

 

iv). Michael Jackson reported that the road sign at the junction of Haglands Lane with Southlands Lane was leaning against the hedge. The Clerk said the sign had only recently been cemented in and would report the damage to HDC.

 

v). Roger Watts once again reported the blocked drains in the Sinnox and Southlands Lane resulting in flooding and the Clerk was requested to write to Pat Arculus to ask County Highways to take action.

 

 

 

 

There being no other business the Chairman thank everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.20 pm.