WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 3rd July 2007 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

 

Present: Harvie Steele, Dennis Tyler, Simon Booth, Michael Jackson, Neil Longson, Paul Royce and Jonathan Trees.

 

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk) and Philip Circus (District Councillor)

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies received from Amanda Apps, Pietro di Marino and Roger Watts

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Dennis Tyler and seconded by Neil Longson and agreed by all members to duly approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 5th June 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)                 Housing Needs Survey – Paul Rowley does not think our questionnaire is sufficient to be included as Supplementary Planning Guidance and suggests we follow the model survey presented by Action in Rural Sussex. The member thought some of the questions were not relevant to a survey of the residents of West Chiltington which would lead to most not being returned. It was agreed that Philip Circus would discuss the survey with David Jenkins to obtain his thoughts on how to proceed.

 

(ii)               Willets Farm DC/06/2789 – The applicant has decided to go ahead with the appeals for 21 units and against the Enforcement Notice, despite stating it was his intention to withdraw the appeals if permission was granted for 9 units. The appeals will be heard at a Public Enquiry on the 17th/18th July.

 

(iii)             Site meeting on the 11th June with Vince Tipper, Highways Manager, and Mike Horton, Highways Engineer, to discuss options to improve safety at the cross roads next to the garage and near the Queens Head. They suggested a mini roundabout may be possible next to the garage but no clear solution at the other cross road. Further meeting to be held when they have considered the options. WSCC are trying to take control of the ‘Transport Contributions’ contributed by developers and propose that each Parish will apply for project funding via the CLC Committee. Parishes have been asked to prioritise projects for funding to the committee for approval and to be added to the works programme. It was agreed to discuss the priorities at the next Council meeting on the 10th July 2007.

 

(iv)             Bell Bollard – Church Street – is to be removed as it is creating more problems than it solves and replaced with longer posts nearer the building and visible from inside a vehicle

 

(v)               Public Meeting arranged for Thursday 2nd August 2007 in the Village Hall to hear the plan from Southern Water re the drainage work in Mill Road, and for a discussion of the impact. The Clerk was asked to obtain an agenda for the meeting from the contractors.

 

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

 

 

DC/07/1101 - RDA Homes Ltd, Land East Of Conifers, The Common

Single storey garage with bin store

 

Parish Council: Objects to the application as the approved bungalow, proposed garage and associated hard surfaces would occupy a relatively large proportion of the site and would thus result in a cramped appearance that would not be in keeping with the spacious pattern of development in the area.

 

 

DC/07/1249 - Mr and Mrs M.J Clark, Tumblestones, Newhouse Farm, Broadford Bridge Road  

Garden alterations to include removal of store garden wall, enlargement of entrance gazebo and rebuild of outbuilding (Listed Building

Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/1256 - Mrs Fiona Maclean-Fancey, Oakleigh, Adversane Lane, Adversane         

Rear conservatory and widen driveway

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/1260 - Mr and Mrs Paske, Comfrey, Coolham Road, Billingshurst           

Replacement single-storey rear extension and pitched roofs to existing flat roofed dormers

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/1261 - Mr and Mrs Paske, Comfrey, Coolham Road, Billingshurst           

Demolition of existing rear extension and replace with a longer single-storey rear extension and pitched roofs to existing flat roofed dormers

(Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

 

DC/07/1286 - Mr D Self, Pixies, Spinney Lane                                 

Two-storey rear extension

 

Parish Council: Objects to the scale of the proposed extension which would result in almost doubling the footprint of the building therefore fundamentally changing the character of the original building. The proposed extension would so alter the existing dwelling as to undermine the qualities that are intrinsic to the distinctive character and local importance of this Wells Cottage. We are also concerned at the possible over-looking from the new second floor windows into the garden of the neighbouring property New Spinney.

 

 

DC/07/1306 - Mr J.Wood, Thrums, Westward Lane                         

2-Storey side/rear extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection but would like a condition regarding the matching of materials to the original building.

 

 

DC/07/1336 - Mr and Mrs A Eastwood, Storeys, Lordings Lane        

Erection of 1 dwelling, double garage and access (Outline)

 

Parish Council: Following the adoption of the Local Development Framework and the classification of West Chiltington as a “Category 2 Settlement” all future development is subject to meeting a local need. The Parish Council are to assess this need by carrying out a survey of all households and until this is completed no development should be approved.

 

DC/07/1347 - Mr J Burrows, 14 Curbey Close                                 

Conversion of existing garage, provision of dormer to main house and provision of new garage

 

Parish Council: No Objection to the conversion of the garage and the provision of a dormer, the only concern is the position of the new garage against the boundary.

 

 

DC/07/1394 - Mr P Portman, Gaywood Farm, Gay Street                 

Retention of use of part of land forming access and track to serve residential and agricultural areas

 

Parish Council: No Objection to the use of the track across agricultural land but object to any attempt to bring the area within the residential curtilage of the dwelling, now or in the future.

 

 

DC/07/1415 - Mr S J and Mrs J J Collins, Fir Trees, Westward Lane 

Conservatory to front elevation

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/0575 - Mr and Mrs S Hewson, Brookdale Farm, West Chiltington Lane, Broadford Bridge           

Change of use of building no. 1 to offices with various alterations

 

Parish Council: No objection

 

Revised plan received 11th June 2007

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/1460 - T-Mobile (UK) Ltd, West Chiltington Golf Club, Broadford Bridge Road   

Prior notification to erect 1 x 13 metre high tree style telecommunications mast, 3 x 2G and 3G antennas, 2 x dishes, 2 x ancillary radio equipment cabinets, 1 x link cabinet and ancillary equipment (Land South of Driving Range)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

 

(I)                District Council Decisions:

 

 

DC/06/1576 - Mr and Mrs J Bennett, Little Northlands, Old House Lane, Coolham         

Detached triple garage with implement store and wine cellar

 

Parish Council: Concerned that this is development in open countryside and therefore is not permissible development.

 

Revised plans received 18/08/06

 

Parish Council: No Objection to the revised plans for a two car garage and implement store.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/07/0575 - Mr and Mrs S Hewson, Brookdale Farm, West Chiltington Lane, Broadford Bridge           

Change of use of building no. 1 to offices with various alterations

 

Parish Council: No objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

DC/07/0829 - Mr David Roblin, Peacock Tree, Common Hill            

Repair and re-roofing (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection – the work already underway.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/07/0841 - Mr Paul Noon, Church House, Church Street              

Internal alterations to form 2 bathrooms/shower rooms and insertion of roof lights into catslide roof (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Granted

 

 

DC/07/0859 - Mr Mark C Lamport, Stone House, Church Street       

Erection of greenhouse

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/07/0863 - Mr G Vallance, Fracali, Harborough Drive                  

Change of use of area of public highway to private garden

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/07/0949 - Mr and Mrs Allen, 1 Castlegate                                  

Extension to garage

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

DC/07/1025 - Mr and Mrs J Isaacs, Meers Farm, The Hollows         

Replacement front porch, repair/replacement of roof, external render and windows (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/07/1026 - Mr and Mrs J Isaacs, Meers Farm, The Hollows         

Replacement porch to front entrance

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

DC/07/1031 - Mrs P Turner, 4 Mill End       

Single-storey rear extension and conversion of garage into living space

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

(2). Appeal Decisions:

 

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 Decision: Appeal Dismissed

 

 

 

(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 on the 17th and 18th July 2007.

 

 

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.

 

Appeal Submitted 5th March 2007 – Decision awaited.

 

 

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 – The proposed development by reason of its siting, scale and bulk would appear unduly prominent within the street scene and therefore detract from the semi rural character and appearance of this part of Haglands Lane.

 

Appeal Submitted 4th June 2007 – Decision awaited.

 

 

6. CORRESPONDENCE

 

a) WSCC – Bridleway No. 2307 (Part) and No. 2299 (part), Steepwood Farm, Steepwood Lane to Stallhouse Farm,  are subject to temporary closure for six months or until work is completed to resurface the bridleways.

 

 

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

a)      Harvie Steele had received complaints about the road work sign and debris near Meers farm and requested County Highways be asked to remove them as they were a hazard to motorists.

 

b)      The Clerk reported that the playground refurbishment was being delayed due to the non arrival of some of the equipment from America but work should commence around 30th July and take 2 weeks to complete, subject to the weather.

 

c)      A quotation was still awaited from another contractor for the museum refurbishment.

 

d)      Car Park marking – It was proposed that advice be sought from HDC for a suitable contractor to plan the marking of spaces in the recreation ground car park and the estimated cost.

 

e)      Jonathan Trees reported that some kerb stones in Haglands Lane at the junction with Hindle Close had been dislodged into the roadway. The Clerk said they were not installed by County Highways as all the verges were soft in the area; they were most probably installed by the occupier of the adjoining house.

 

f)       Paul Royce reported a missing drain cover in Nyetimber Lane and the Clerk agreed to investigate and report to the highway authority.

 

g)      The Clerk reported that the 2CV Club had submitted a Licensing Application to HDC to serve alcohol and have recorded and live music in the fields adjoining Fryern Road, Storrington over the period 23rd August to the 28th August. In view of the proximity to areas of West Chiltington he asked whether the Parish Council should support Storrington Parish Council in opposing the application. The members thought we should and requested the matter be put on the agenda for the Council meeting on the 10th July.

 

 

 

 

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