WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

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

 

Present: Harvie Steele, Dennis Tyler, Michael Jackson, Celia Rayner, Paul Royce, Jonathan Trees and Estelle Warriner.

 

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk) and 4 members of the public.

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies received from Neil Longson, Pietro di Marino and Roger Watts.

 

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Dennis Tyler and seconded by Celia Rayner and agreed by all members to duly approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 6th February 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 – Section106 funding has been approved for £25,000 so contractors are being chased to provide quotations for the work.

 

(ii)               Playground – Section 106 funding has been agreed and a final scheme is being worked on by contractors.

 

(iii)             Willets Farm – discussed at the HDC Development Control Committee (Horsham South) meeting on the 20th February and refused unless the applicant enters into a legal agreement restricting any future expansion on the site and withdraws appeals currently outstanding.

 

(iv)             Planning Policy CP5 of the Core Strategy – now that the LDF has been accepted by HDC all future applications for new houses will be assessed as to whether they meet local needs. The parish councils will assess the need in conjunction with HDC. Until this exercise is carried out, which is expected could take six months; all applications for new dwellings will be routinely refused.

 

(v)               Pavilion Patio –  The Cricket Club have requested permission from the Parish Council to lay a patio to the front and side of the sports pavilion and install fencing alongside the stream to stop balls going into the stream.

 

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow David Hardisty, Chairman of the Cricket Club, to address the meeting. Mr Hardisty explained the work proposed and provided a plan of the extent of the patio together with the cost of the work of £6144. At the same time the roof gutter will be realigned, new down pipes installed and underground drainage pipes will be laid to take the roof water back into the stream The Cricket Club are willing to pay for the work but request the Parish Council forgoes the annual rent of £464. The style of fencing still has to be decided both in front of the pavilion and along the steam.

 

The Chairman reconvened the meeting to allow members to discuss the proposal. After questioning Mr Hardisty on the style and colour of the paving to be used and the type of fencing the members agreed to give permission for the scheme subject to details of paving and fencing being given to the Clerk to circulate to members prior to commencing work. In recognition of the Cricket Club meeting the cost of the patio, drainage work and fencing the members agreed to forego the rent for the 2007/8 season.

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

 

DC/07/0206 - Mr D Driver, 1 The Birches     

2-storey side extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/0208 - Mr and Mrs Martin Pitt, Little Warren, Wyndham Lea 

Demolition of existing garages and workshop and erection of 2-storey extension comprising garage with room over

 

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow Mr Roger Bland to address the meeting.

 

Mr Bland said that the proposed two storey extension would be right on the boundary with his property and would, because of its size and proximity, cause over shadowing and loss of privacy in his lounge, bedroom and garden due to the proposed new upstairs windows in the extension.

 

The Chairman reconvened the meeting to allow the members to discuss the application.

 

Parish Council: Objects to the application which by virtue of its size and design would be detrimental to the character of the existing dwelling, cause the loss of privacy of the neighbours due to over-looking and would be unduly prominent on the street scene. If permission was to be granted would request all new windows facing No.4 be of obscured glass to protect their privacy and consideration be given to require a reduction in the height of the ridge to reduce its prominence and over shadowing.

 

 

DC/07/0209 - Mrs T Sadler-Wilson, Gorse House, Common Hill    

Erection of 1 x detached dwelling and garage

 

Parish Council: Objects to the application on the grounds that the plot 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.

DC/07/0211 - Mr and Mrs Taylor, Tanglewood, Nyetimber Copse              

Erection of detached dwelling with integral garage

 

Parish Council: Objects to the application due to the close proximity to its neighbours and possible overlooking, and that the proposal does not make best use of the plot to the detriment of neighbouring properties.

 

 

DC/07/0313 - Mr Stein, Carnforth, New Barn Lane       

Surgery to 3 Oak trees

 

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

 

 

DC/07/0179 - Mr David Chandler, Springwood, Crossways       

Erection of a new double detached garage

 

Councillor Jonathan Trees declared an interest in this application as he knows the applicant.

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/0249 - Mrs M A Turner, 15 Morris Way

Fell 1 Silver Birch

 

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

 

 

DC/07/0322 - Mr and Mrs Roberts, Kingfisher House, Common Hill    

Single storey rear extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/0329 - Mr and Mrs Croxson, Tankards, Westward Lane 

Demolition of existing garage/store and construction of a 2-story side and rear extensions and demolition of both new and existing roofs to be thatched

 

Parish Council: Objects to the application due to its size and proximity to the boundary of the new dwelling under construction, which was reduced in size facing Tankards in the interests of good neighbourliness. A single storey extension would be acceptable.

 

 

DC/07/0385 - Richmond Harraway, Marlwood House, Wychacre, Harborough Hill

Surgery to 2 Oak trees

 

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

 

 

 

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

 

(I)                District Council Decisions:

 

DC/06/0616 - The Classic Home Company, Palings, Harborough Hill

Detached garage

 

Parish Council: Objection – The proposal is obviously linked to the application to demolish existing garage and sub-divide the plot, which we oppose, but also object to the garage being built nearer the road which would spoil the street scene in this part of the road.

 

Application Withdrawn

 

 

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.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/06/2872 - Mr K Ceylan, Spadgers, Crossways       

Detached double garage.

 

Parish Council: No objection.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/06/2947 - Ms J Hill, Inglewood, Haglands Lane 

Erection of 1 detached 2 bed dwelling (Land at Inglewood and Carey)

 

Parish Council: Objects to the increase in the size of the roof, over the currently approved plan under DC/05/2412, to provide accommodation in the roof space. The increased bulk of the roof with the dormer windows would make the dwelling unduly prominent in the street scene.

 

District Council Decision: Refused

 

 

DC/06/2974 - Mr and Mrs J Jennings, Conifers, The Common

2-Storey side and rear extensions

 

Parish Council: Objects to the encroachment into the front garden by the two storey extension which would be unduly prominent in the street scene.

 

District Council Decision: Refused

 

 

 

(2). Appeal Decisions:

 

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 do 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 Decision: Dismissed as appearing cramped within the plot and in relation to Palings, and being conspicuously out of keeping with the spacious layout of other developments 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.

 

 

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.

 

Appeal lodged 28th February 2007, decision awaited.

 

 

6. CORRESPONDENCE

 

a)      Action in Rural Sussex - Housing Needs Survey – They are willing to organise a survey of all residents of the parish to assess the housing needs at no cost to the parish council. They will provide the questionnaires in co-operation with DEFRA post them to all households and evaluate the replies. In view of the changes to planning policy in regard to new houses this would provide the parish council with the necessary information to set out the requirements to be met for new dwellings to be given permission. The Clerk was requested to put the matter on the agenda for the Parish Council meeting on the 13th March 2007.

 

b)      Rock Common Quarry, Washington – There is to be a public meeting to be held on the 15th March in Washington Village Hall to discuss the proposal to reopen the quarry as a landfill site.

 

 

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

a)      Jonathan Trees asked whether, in view of the difficulty of some members to attend on the first Tuesday of the month whether a different date should be chosen? It was decided to look at the dates following the election in May, as new councillors would be elected.

 

b)      Michael Jackson said we were able to apply for grants from Viridor as we were within the 10 miles of the landfill site at Small dole.

 

c)      Paul Royce informed the meeting that following the heavy rain recently the earth bridge over the stream in the recreation ground had been partly washed away due to the pipe underneath becoming blocked, which he has now cleared. When conditions improve the Clerk will arrange for the area to be filled in with hardcore and earth.

 

 

 

 

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