WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 4th December 2007 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

 

Present: Harvie Steele (Chairman), Dennis Tyler (Vice Chairman), Amanda Apps, Simon Booth, Neil Longson, Pietro di Marino, Paul Royce, Jonathan Trees and Roger Watts.

 

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

 

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

It was resolved to note the apologies received from Councillor Michael Jackson.

 

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Paul Royce and seconded by Dennis Tyler and agreed by all members to duly approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 6th November 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:

 

a)      Museum Refurbishment – Following consultation with Morefield Everest we have asked Carver – Hobbs to carry out a survey of the levels between the Museum and Church Hall to assess the feasibility of making a connection to the sewer and water supply. They will also quote for the work and the provision of the fittings and installation for the toilet, etc.

 

b)      Skateramp Repairs – I have contacted a new repairer for the ramp and await his quote, which due to the time and continued deterioration of the surface is likely to be higher than the £2200 quote already received. Some immediate repairs are required for safety reasons and I seek permission to have these carried out without delay once a figure is known, which I can e-mail members for their comments.

 

c)      Housing Needs Survey – I have arranged a meeting on the 12th December with Kelly Jaggard from AirS to discuss the questionnaire.

 

d)      Speeding/Road Safety –

 

v     I have sent of our cheque for £100 to obtain the use of SID.

 

v     WSCC will install speed monitoring strips on the 10th December prior to use of SID.

 

v     I have asked Trevor Leggo, Chief Executive of SALC, to raise the lack of road policing with the Chief Constable at his meeting next week.

 

v     I have asked the police to carry out the assessment of sites to deploy SID.

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

 

DC/07/2476 - Miss V. Roberts, 2 Pond Rise 

Single-storey front extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/2515 - Mr and Mrs D Taylor, Gatewick Farm, Broadford Bridge Road    

2-storey extensions (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/2516 - Mr and Mrs D Taylor, Gatewick Farm, Broadford Bridge Road    

Internal alterations including the removal of a staircase, reverse direction of staircase, form opening for stairs/doors and form opening into 1970's extension (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection as long as original features are retained.

 

 

DC/07/2523 - Mr and Mrs D Taylor, Gatewick Farm, Broadford Bridge Road    

2-storey rear extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/2555 - Mr Peter Longley, St Marys Church, Church Street     

Fell 1 Horse Chestnut tree (Works to a Tree in a Conservation Area)

 

Parish Council: No Objection if the work is really necessary and there is no alternative to fell this tree which adds so much to the visual aspect of the churchyard and Church Street. We request Will Jones satisfies himself on the validity of the survey carried out and discusses the replanting of a replacement tree and its position.

 

 

DC/07/2566 - Mr and Mrs J.Jennings, Conifers, The Common           

2-storey side and single storey front and rear extensions

 

Parish Council: Objects to the plans as the members still consider the extension would be too prominent in the street scene due to its bulk and closeness to the highway whereas most properties in the area are set back from the highway giving a feeling of spaciousness.

DC/07/2582 - Mr B.Bradley and Mrs G.Bradley, Tobbs Cottage, 10 Finches Lane         

Surgery to 5 Oak trees (land north of Tobbs Cottage)

 

Parish Council: The members are concerned at the justification of the proposal as the trees are to the north of the property and therefore do not interfere with light to the garden or plants and that any surgery to one side of the trees would leave them unbalanced and at risk of being blown over. A site visit by Will Jones will be necessary to ascertain whether the surgery is justified.

 

 

DC/07/2641 - Mr R.H Foxes, Hollows End, 1 Church Grove             

Surgery to 51 Leylandii trees on Western boundary

 

Parish Council: No Objection to the surgery proposed or to the applicant being allowed to carry out annual pruning to maintain the appearance.

 

 

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

 

(I)                District Council Decisions:

 

DC/07/1549 - Mr and Mrs D Taylor, Gatewick Farm, Broadford Bridge Road    

2-Storey rear extension, repositioning of porch, internal alterations, conversion of garage to living accommodation, replacement of all windows on the house and alterations and extension of existing ancillary residential building (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Granted

 

 

 

DC/07/1553 - Mr and Mrs D Taylor, Gatewick Farm, Broadford Bridge Road    

2-Storey rear extension and repositioning of porch

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

 

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

Two storey side extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

(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.

DC/06/2902 - Brookworth Developments Ltd, Bracklyn, Harborough Hill           

Replacement of Bracklyn and erection of 6 new detached dwellings (Outline)

 

Parish Council: Objects to the plans as the replacement of Bracklyn has failed to increase the area available for the other plots, and that plots 2 and 3 facing Harborough Hill appear particularly cramped.

 

District Council Decision: Refused

 

Appeal submitted 27th November 2007 and will be heard at a Public Enquiry, date to be arranged.

 

 

6. CORRESPONDENCE

 

a)      Sunday Rubbish Collection, Storrington – The service, provided by HDC but paid for by WSCC, is under threat due to increased costs to meet Health & Safety issues. The Clerk had asked Pat Arculus to find out more details and report back.

 

b)      Mrs Marion Robinson, owner of plot of land at the junction of Smock Alley and Haglands Lane. Would this land be suitable for affordable housing? The plot had not been included in the LDF as a site for development and the Clerk was asked to write back that there were no plans at present for any development on the land.

 

c)      Overbury Planning Consultancy – Re Storeys, Lordings Lane – Enquiry regarding the Housing Needs Survey. The Clerk would write and inform them that the survey would be carried out early in the New Year and that following the result future planning needs of the parish would be set out and would form planning guidance for all future applications for new dwellings.

 

 

d)      Richard Katz – re. Mayfield Nursery, Broadford Bridge, West Chiltington Lane – Because of a downturn in nursery business due to drought the owners of the nursery were looking for other possible uses for the land. The members said that the land was scheduled as agricultural land and unless HDC agreed to change that designation no building could take place and suggested an approach should be made to HDC on the matter.

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

 

 

a)      Paul Royce reported the following:

 

i) The ‘Little Hill’ road sign had disappeared, the Clerk said he would arrange for it to be replaced.

 

ii) The Fayre & Flower show have appointed James Mursell as the new Chairman and have made grants of £500 each to the School, Church, Youth Club and Village Hall.

 

iii) The pipe under the footpath in the recreation ground is blocked again and needs to be cleared.

           

b)      Simon Booth reported that water was again leaking from the culvert at the junction of the Hollows and Stream Lane; the Clerk would report this to County Highways.

 

c)      Roger Watts reported that the drains in Broadford Bridge Road above Orchard Dell were blocked and water was overflowing down the road, the Clerk would report this to County Highways.

 

d)      Neil Longson raised the following points:

 

i)                    Problems with the clearance of drains and culverts seemed to fall between WSCC and HDC with neither taking responsibility and the Clerk would take this up with both parties to get some action on regular maintenance.

 

ii)                   Haglands Car Park signs and markings – the Clerk was able to report that new ‘No Entry’ and entry arrows had been put on the posts in the car park and marking would take place when the weather improved.

 

iii)                 Posts on triangle of land at the junction of Monkmead Lane and Sunset Lane – the Clerk was waiting for a quotation for the work.

 

 

 

 

There being no other business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and wished them Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and goodnight and closed the meeting at 9.00 pm.