WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

A meeting of the Planning Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 8th January 2008 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 and Jonathan Trees.

 

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’s Michael Jackson and Roger Watts.

 

 

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 4th December 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)      Housing Needs Survey – Dennis Tyler and the Clerk had a meeting with on the 12th December with Kelly Jaggard and Faustina Bayo from AirS to discuss the questionnaire. They have made some changes to the questionnaire but still say the information on incomes and ethnic background are required, although only people in need of housing are required to complete this part of the questionnaire. Faustina is in charge of organising Action Plans and would be willing to organise one for us. The process would take 7/8 months and although some costs would be met by HDC the Parish Council would be expected to fund parts of the process. Philip Circus agreed to talk to David Jenkins about how to proceed. The matter would be brought before the full council at next weeks meeting.

 

b)      Speeding/Road Safety –  The police have assessed the suitability of the proposed sites for deployment of SID and already the speed group are unhappy that only one site in Harborough Hill has been identified as being suitable. The first monitoring has taken place in Monkmead Lane and the data has been received which will be compared with previous surveys.

 

 

c)      Flood Relief Scheme – Southern Water are waiting for approval from the Environment Agency to allow the discharge into the stream. The Clerk has expressed concern that we are now looking at the work being carried out during the summer which would cause major problems for the Village Hall, Cricket Club and the Fayre & Flower Show.

 

 

4. CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT

 

DC/07/1662 - Bruce Fryer, Post Office Stores, Church Street           

Removal of rear chimney stack and make good roof and tile, external fan air conditioning unit and pipe work through rear storeroom wall and alterations/replacement of shop signage (Listed Building Consent)

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

Prior to the discussion of the following application Pietro di Marino declared a personal interest as the applicant is known to him and he took no part in the discussion.

 

DC/07/2675 - Mr and Mrs Ogley, 4 Martlets

Conservatory to rear

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

 

DC/07/2779 - Andrew Gale Tree Surgery Ltd, Old Lakers Farm, Mill Road       

Fell 1 x Lawson Cypress and 1 x Sycamore tree and surgery to 1 x Horse Chestnut and 1 x Fig tree (Works to Trees Within a Conservation

Area)

 

Parish Council: No Objection to the proposed works but would like suitable replacements to be planted in accordance with Policy DC6.

 

 

DC/07/2846 – Cluttons (WSCC), Land Opposite Little Naldretts, East Street     

New agricultural access to existing field

 

Parish Council: Objection to the siting of the access in this very narrow lane with restricted visibility and the fact that agricultural vehicles entering the field would still leave any implements attached blocking the road unless the gateway is located well into the field. This area of road is also subject to flooding and we are concerned that lowering the bank may cause additional water run off into the lane down the access exacerbating the problem. We suggest WSCC investigate alternative access to the field as previously enjoyed.

 

 

DC/07/2854 - Mr Boyland, Tangling, Rambledown Lane                   

Fell 3 x Alder, 1 x Silver Birch and surgery to 7 x Alder trees

 

Parish Council: No Objection but would like Will Jones to confirm the necessity for the work and whether suitable replacements should be planted in accordance with Policy DC6.

 

5. PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPEALS

 

(I)                District Council Decisions:

 

DC/07/2148 - E Willis, Dove Cottage, Fir Tree Lane                         

Fell 5 Alder trees

 

Parish Council: Leave decision to Will Jones on amenity value as members felt they were not specimen trees needing protection.

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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

Agricultural building for cattle and storage

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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.

 

Application Withdrawn

 

 

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

Single-storey front extension

 

Parish Council: No Objection

 

District Council Decision: Permitted

 

 

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.

 

District Council Decision: Refused – the proposed development by virtue of its scale, mass, bulk and design would detract from the street scene setting.

 

 

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.

 

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)      Peter Longley has asked whether the Parish Council would be willing to contribute towards the estimated cost of felling the Horse Chestnut tree in the churchyard of £2500/£3000 plus VAT.

 

The members felt any contribution should be linked to the connections sought for the sewer and water subject to a survey of the feasibility.

 

b)      HDC – Local Development Framework General Development Control Policies DPD: Adoption. The above was adopted by HDC on the 21st December and will form part of the planning process.  The only direct mention of West Chiltington is Policy DC15 which relates to West Chiltington Character Areas which states that within the West Chiltington Common policy area planning permission will only be granted for proposals that retain the unique semi-rural character, presently created by low density development set in large plots.

 

c)      HDC –Development at Hill Stream, Harborough Hill - The developers have requested a name for the new road to be formed to serve the three new properties on the site. HDC advises that one of them is to be named Hill Stream so this cannot be used in the name.

 

The members said previous roads for new developments had all included the name of the house in whose grounds they were being built and it was requested that the practise should continue and the name for this development should include Hillstream i.e. Hillstream Close.

 

d)      CLC – Meeting 22nd January at 2.00 pm in Penfold Church Hall, Steyning.  Talk with us event to discuss the plans for new Health Centre and consider allocation of Chanctonbury Community Funds.

 

 

 

 

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

 

a)      Pietro di Marino enquired if there had been any progress with the safety improvements at the cross roads. The Clerk said County Highways were still considering the options which due to staff changes were taking longer than anticipated.

 

b)      Dennis Tyler informed the meeting that the new occupants of the Corner House at the end of Church Street were parking their car in the road and causing an obstruction to larger vehicles forcing them to mount the pavement.  The Clerk agreed to see if they could make use of their parking bay.

 

c)      Amanda Apps asked:

 

i)                    If the issue of the possible closure of the mobile refuse collection in Storrington had been resolved. The Clerk said the matter was still under discussion between HDC and WSCC.

 

ii)                   Is there any progress on the installation of posts on the triangle of grass at the junction of Monkmead and Sunset Lanes. A quotation had been requested but was still not available.

 

 

 

d)      Jonathan Trees mentioned that a number of trees within the recreation ground were chocked with ivy and asked if action could be taken before they died. The Clerk said a number of trees had been cleared in the summer and he would look to see if other trees should be cleared.

 

 

e)      Simon Booth said The Hollows still needed clearing of roadside debris and leaves. The Clerk said he had seen a team from County Highways working there during the week and they had cleared the fallen branches and leaves from the drain covers and a road sweeper vehicle had been used both here and down Church Street, The Juggs, Juggs Lane, Holly Close and Curbey Close.

 

f)       Neil Longson said the bottle bank in the Haglands Lane car park was full to overflowing following Christmas and New Year and a large number of bottles had been left on the ground. The Clerk had reported the situation to HDC on the 2nd January and they had sent a number of vehicles and men to clear the area the following day. Judging by reports in the County Times this had happened all over the district and hopefully next Christmas arrangements will be made to ensure the bins are emptied more frequently.

 

           

 

 

 

 

There being no other business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and wished them goodnight and closed the meeting at 8.40 pm.