Minutes of the Meeting of Beech Parish Council

held in the Village Hall Lounge on Monday 14 DECEMBER 2009

 

        PRESENT: 

      

       Councillor Anne Burridge                                            

       Councillor Ian Gibson                                                           

       Councillor Peter May (in the Chair)

       Councillor Norman Miles                                              6 Members of the Public                            

Councillor David Woodroofe

Councillor Gillian Young

Mrs Sheron Gillard – Clerk to the Council                    

 

 

09.71  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

           Apologies were received and accepted from Chairman Edward Neish and District Councillor Patrick Burridge.

 

09.72  CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

  The Minutes of Council Meeting held on 16 November 2009, copies of which had previously been circulated,  

  were confirmed.  Vice-Chairman Peter May signed them as a true record.

 

09.73  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 

           Councillor David Woodroofe declared an interest in planning application 25172/004   Hill Brow, 61 Medstead Road,

           his interest being that he lives next door.  Subsequently, Mr Woodroofe exercised his right to speak during Public Participation

           but left the meeting while Council debated the application.

 

09.74  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

           Mrs Slann of 33 Wellhouse Road and Mr & Mrs Coomber of Foxwood, Wellhouse Road were present to object

           to planning application 39081/003 for a detached thatched cottage and double garage on land in front of     

           Beechmount, 44 Wellhouse Road. They were concerned that such a development would set a precedent in the

           village and were opposed to such reverse backland development.  It was also noted that this area is subject to

           flooding during heavy rainfall. 

           Mr & Mrs Gothard of 59 Medstead Road and Mr D Woodroofe of 65 Medstead Road were objecting to planning

           application 25172/004 for a detached dwelling with rooms in roof space at land in front of Hill Brow, 61

           Medstead Road.  Their main concerns were that despite the application referring to the dwelling as a bungalow, it was,

           in fact, a two-storey building; the increased vehicular use of a poor access; and, that proposed improvements           

           to this access would be on land not clearly shown to be in ownership of applicant.

           Mr Fazakerley of 61 Medstead Road spoke in support of his application, assuring Council that he had taken

           advice from planners and highways consultants to ensure that issues raised with previous refused application had

           been adequately addressed including disposal of surface water, provision to make Section 106 contributions and

           improved visibility splays.

                                                                                    

09.75  REPORTS FROM ADVISORY PANELS AND ITEMS FOR REFERRAL

           I)   Development and Planning Advisory Pane

                 a)         Three applications were considered.  Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED that the comments of the

                      Council be forwarded to EHDC as follows:

                      i)  39081/003   Beechmount, 44 Wellhouse Road   Detached thatched cottage and double garage

                                 OBJECT for the following reasons:

                             1.      The development would result in the equivalent of ‘backland development’ which would                                       

                                      have a detrimental effect on the rural character of the area (contrary to Item 3 of the

                                      Beech Village Design Statement Landscape and Setting Guidelines).

                             2.      Existing ground is liable to flooding – building levels would appear to be below that of                                            

                                      surrounding land and Wellhouse Road.  Any proposal must address loss of flood plain and

                                      disposal of surface water on site.  As soakaways are proposed, data should be provided to show

                                      where they would be sited together with evidence from soil percolation tests to BRE365 or

                                      equivalent to demonstrate they would be effective.  This must include runoff from the proposed

                                      development together with all existing runoff into the proposed site from the existing property,

                                      drive etc.

                                      (The problems of surface water run-off onto Wellhouse Road are well documented and

                                      would affect this property.  From local knowledge the site currently floods in severe storm

                                      events.)

           3.      The drawings submitted with the application are not clear as to which are the existing or

                     proposed site levels.  In viewing the site it appears that a significant depth of fill will be

                     required if  the building is set at levels close to the existing drive and this is not mentioned in

                     the application.

           4.       The existing foul drainage connection manhole on site appears too high which suggests that the

                     proposed building would have to be raised with consequent additional visual impact.

                             5.       Site given as 0.2 hectares but this includes access road for existing property.  Clarification on

                                      H10 policy required as this appears to conflict with minimum site size of 0.2 Ha.

                             Comments:

                             Solar panels are mentioned in application but not shown on drawings.

                    ii)  25172/004   Hill Brow, 61 Medstead Road   Detached dwelling with rooms in roof space

                             OBJECT for the following reasons:

                             1.       The development would result in the equivalent of ‘backland development’ and

                                      overdevelopment of site (contrary to Item 3 of the Beech Village Design Statement

                                      Landscape and Setting Guidelines).

                             2.       Proposed disposal of surface water run-off  is by soakaway.  However no data given to confirm

                                      that a soakage test to BRE365 or equivalent has been undertaken.   The applicant should

                                      provide a surface water strategy must take account of additional impermeable area from the

                                      development together with all runoff into the site from the existing property and demonstrate

                                      that this can be disposed of within the site to avoid any additional runoff onto Medstead road.

                             3.       Improved visibility splays would require third party land which does not appear to be within

                                      the control of the applicant.  As such the application does not meet the Highway Authority

                                      standards stated in the application.

                             4.       The application does not address the apparent loss of vehicle manoeuvring and parking area

                                      associated with the existing property.

                             Comments:

                              If EHDC are minded to permit application, a condition to provide parking space for vehicles

                              related to construction on site should be imposed.

                    iii) 21720/005   Site of 36 Wellhouse Road   Fell one horse chestnut, one walnut and prune three  beech,                                                

                             one lime and one acer.   OBJECT for following reasons:

                             1.      Application is unacceptable.  No written evidence from experts regarding health of trees.                                

                                      Information on application form contradicts itself regarding condition of trees.

                             2.      Site plan very poor, making it impossible to identify trees concerned. 

                             3.      Previous tree surveys on this site have not been utilised.  These are recent surveys and do not

                                      highlight the issues now raised.

                             Comments:

                             Beech Parish Council would resist the removal of any valid trees and would ask EHDC to ensure no

                             further trees are removed until this application has been properly assessed.  The council requests that

                             EHDC confirm that existing Planning Conditions in this regard are being respected and that no trees

                             have been removed except as permitted.

            b)  Previous Applications – EHDC Decisions NOTED as follows:

                             i)  31495/006  Roughwood House, 22 Wellhouse Road    Field shelter, hay barn and sun house

                                         (as amplified by plan received 12 November 2009)                      PERMITTED                                       

09.76   FINANCE

a)  Parish Plan Steering Committee

     Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED that: Council bear costs of hall hire for initial meeting of steering

     committee (scheduled for 11 January 2010).  It was anticipated that Steering Committee would apply for     

     parish plan funding through HCC and EHDC in due course.

b)  Payments authorised:      

                 Proposed: Cllr Ian Gibson, Seconded Anne Burridge and RESOLVED:

                 i)          J Legg (Footpath Maintenance)                                                                           £120.00

                 ii)         J Martin (Speed survey)                                                                                      £395.00

                 iii)        Society of Local Council Clerks (annual membership)                                       £  95.00

                 iv)        Beech Village Hall (hall hire Apr-Dec 09)                                                          £  81.00

 

09.77   MEETING DATES     

            Confirmed that the next scheduled Council Meeting would be held in the Village Hall on Monday, 18 January

            2010 at 7.30 pm preceded by Public Question Time at 7.15 pm.

 

CLOSURE OF MEETING      

Vice-Chairman Peter May thanked all present for their attendance and wished them a Happy Christmas.  He closed the meeting at 8.25 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

signed: ...........................................................

                                                                                                         Chairman Beech Parish Council

date: 18 January 2010