WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

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

 

Present: Harvie Steele, Michael Jackson, Neil Longson, Pietro di Marino, Paul Royce and Jonathan Trees.

 

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk), Philip Circus (District Councillor), David Jenkins (District Councillor) and Roger Arthur (District Councillor).

 

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

It was resolved to note the apologies received from councillors Dennis Tyler, Amanda Apps, Simon Booth and Roger Watts.

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Paul Royce and seconded by Neil Longson and agreed by all members to duly approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 9th October 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:

 

  1. Museum – Quotes for carrying out part of the refurbishment project, leaving the toilet installation until a latter date, have been received from N.J. Pullen and

Carver - Hobbs Builders both under £6,000.

 

It was agreed to pass the quotation to Morefield Everest for their professional opinion and advice on how to proceed with appointing a contractor and carrying out a survey of the levels between the Museum and Church Hall.

 

Other work will be required on electrics, decoration, plumbing (if the toilet can be included at reasonable cost) and the access ramp.

 

Peter Longley on behalf of the Church has looked at the proposal to connect to the Church Hall sewer and water supply and will be writing to us with his conclusions. He was concerned at possible damage to the gas and electricity connection to the church hall which runs in the area and suggested a survey of the relevant levels be made to see how deep the trench would have to be to take the pipes, I said we would do this if we at least had provisional approval for the connection.

 

  1. Security of Tenure for Cricket Club – Approval has been received from Fields in Trust (FIT) to the draft letter required by the Cricket Club and the Chairman has sent a letter giving the club 20 years tenure subject to 12 months notice if we want to vary the terms. The Tennis Club will prepare a similar letter to meet their needs for security of tenure which will be passed to FIT for approval.

 

  1. Enforcement – Enforcement action is being considered against the unauthorised siting of a mobile home on the Timberlands Site in Broadford Bridge Road unless the owner applies for planning permission.

 

  1. Housing Survey/Parish Plan – Paul Rowley at a meeting of the WCRPS in September said West Chiltington was one of only 6, and the largest, parish not to have a Parish Plan (although in October he visited Billingshurst to discuss them having a Parish Plan). Thakeham have just completed their plan and most of the surrounding parishes have or are in the process of completing a plan. Help and funds are available to start the process and requires only minimal input by the Parish Council. The proposal will be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting on the 13th November.

 

David Jenkins said that following meetings held with Horsham District Council, Action in Rural Sussex (AirS) would be contacting the Parish Council to proceed with a Housing Needs Survey more in line with the draft prepared some months ago.

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

 

DC/07/2218 - Raymond Hart, Burnbrae, Harborough Gorse              

Surgery to 4 Oak and 7 Alder trees

                                                                                                       

Parish Council: Surgery would appear to be appropriate to deal with previous storm damage and overcome the problem with squirrels but would like Will Jones to consider the impact of surgery to 11 trees.

 

 

DC/07/2244 - D P Driver, 1 The Birches     

Two storey side extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/2274 - Mrs A Woolley, Summerleas, Bower Lane                  

Single storey extensions to existing dwelling

 

Parish Council: No Objection but would like conditions to be imposed regarding the matching of materials to the existing building, the hours/ days of working to protect the enjoyment of neighbouring properties and the provision on site of material and equipment storage and parking for contractors vehicles in this narrow lane.

 

 

DC/07/2311 - Mr N Francis, Woodbarn Farm Cottage, Adversane Lane, Broadford Bridge        

Agricultural building for cattle and storage

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

DC/07/2330 - West Sussex County Council, Highway Verge Rear of 2 Morris Way       

Surgery to 1 Oak tree (WSCC Highway verge land to the rear of 2 Morris Way West Chiltington)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/2322 - Longdene Developments Ltd, Agricultural Building North Of Old House Farm, Old House Lane, Coolham

Conversion of redundant agricultural building to an indoor sand school and erection of a single storey extension for livery purposes comprising 5 stables, hay and feed store, tack room and covered grooming area with WC facilities

 

Parish Council: No Objection to the conversion but would like conditions stipulating no commercial use or for the holding of any form of competitions due to the narrow access road.

 

 

DC/07/2343 - Mr and Mrs M Gower, Espinette, Spinney Lane          

Raising of roof to form 1st floor living accommodation, comprising part ground, part 2-storey and 1st floor extensions

 

 

Parish Council: No Objection but would like conditions to be imposed regarding the matching of materials to the existing building, the hours/ days of working to protect the enjoyment of neighbouring properties and the provision on site of material and equipment storage and parking for contractors vehicles in this narrow lane.

 

 

DC/07/2429 - Mark Lamport, Old School House, Church Street        

Fell 1 Willow tree (Works to trees in a Conservation Area)

 

Parish Council: No Objection if Will Jones considers the willow is responsible for the damage and there is no other course of action available.

 

 

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

 

(I)                District Council Decisions:

 

DC/07/1764 - Mr and Mrs John Isacc, Meers Farm, The Hollows     

Restoration of facade with stone and removal of chimney (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Refused

 

 

DC/07/1948 - Mr and Mrs Willitt, Chucklehill Cottage, Westward Lane 

2-Storey side extension

Parish Council: No Objection but would like conditions to be imposed regarding the matching of materials and style to existing building and that all contractors vehicles and materials to be contained within the site to avoid blocking this narrow road.

 

 

District Council Decision: Permitted – above conditions all imposed

 

 

DC/07/2104 - Mr Alan Holland, Rowlings, Sunset Lane

Fell Scots Pine tree

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted – a replacement tree to be planted next season of a species, maturity and in a position agreed with HDC Planning Dept.

 

 

(2). Appeal Decisions:

 

None

 

 

(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 Public Enquiry will now take place on 1st – 3rd April 2008 in the Drawing Room, Park House North, Horsham.

 

 

 

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.

 

Appeal lodged 1st October – Decision awaited.

6. CORRESPONDENCE

 

a)       WSCC – A272 Western End – A24 Bucks Barn to Billingshurst – Outline of proposed measures to improve road safety and reduce the accident rate.

Comments required by 19th November.

 

b)      HDC Housing Strategy Consultation – Comments by 7th December

 

c)      HDC LDF to 2018 – Reserve Housing Sites – Consultation on identification of any possible sites for inclusion – comments by 23rd November.

 

d)      HDC – Site Specific Allocations of Land (2007) – A copy of the report is available from the Clerk.

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

 

Clerk-

 

  1. Speeding and Road Safety - A Road Safety group has been formed by residents of the village to try and obtain action from police etc. on speeding. A meeting was held in October and a paper will be prepared for consideration at the next Parish Council meeting on 13th November, requesting a councillor is appointed as a dedicated road safety co-ordinator. I have said the Parish Council will offer full co-operation. In preparation details of the use of the Speed Indicating Device (SID) have been obtained which will require the Parish Council paying £100 to become members of the scheme.

 

No members wished to raise any issues.

 

 

There being no other business the Chairman thank everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.00 pm.