DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Planning Committee

 

Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 January 2006 at 8.00pm in the Parish Office

 

Present:   Cllrs A Allen Chairman), S Berlyn, G Gardiner, A Keeler, M Telling, J Thomson, M Wood

Additional members: Mr P Watts

In attendance:    Mrs E Blyth, Assistant Clerk

 

Public Question Time

Five members of the public were present.

Two residents raised objections to the application for change of use to a green burial ground for land at Colemans Lane, Danbury.  Their concerns included the potential pollution of ground water, access for funerals along the bridleway, safety concerns at the junction with the A414, and the applicant’s proposals for parking in the village.

Two residents who had objected to the application at 67 Mill Lane (05/02163/FUL) wished to know why the Parish Council, which had also raised objections, had not asked for the application to be referred to the CBC Planning Committee rather than determined by officers under delegated powers.  The Chairman explained the procedures involved and the Parish Council’s policy in relation to referrals.  He expressed sympathy for the residents’ concerns, but noted that no objections from the public had been raised with the Parish Council at the time the application was considered.

One member of the public attended in connection with her own planning application at Bristol House, Copt Hill.  She answered questions from members about the application.

 

191 Apologies for absence

Apologies were received and accepted from Mr J Alexander and Mr R Chandler.

 

192 Declarations of Interest

Members were reminded that they must declare any personal or prejudicial personal interests in any items of business on the meeting’s agenda.  No such declarations were made.

 

193 Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th December 2005 were approved and signed as a correct record.  In connection with minute 188, it was reported that Cllr Ian Wright had visited the resident who had written to him regarding the planning approval at Bournville, Southview Chase.

 

194 CBC Planning applications and decisions

a) Planning applications: Applications were considered and responses agreed as shown in appendix A.  At the appropriate time, written and verbal concerns raised by residents in connection with application 05/02403/FUL (proposed green burial site at Colemans Lane) were taken into account.

The Committee agreed to raise the following applications with the local Ward Members for referral to the CBC Planning Committee should the officer concerned be minded to approve them:

05/02403/FUL: Land at Colemans Lane

05/02451/FUL and 05/02452/LBC: Poplars, Penny Royal Road

b) Planning decisions: The decisions listed in appendix B were noted.  It was agreed that CBC be approached for information regarding the S106 agreement which was a condition of planning approval at 108 Main Road.

 

195 CBC Planning Committee

a) Agenda for 17th January 2006: There were no items relating to Danbury;

b) 05/02261/FUL: Sculpture at Park & Ride: CBC had indicated that this application was likely to be on the agenda at the CBC Committee on Tuesday 7th February 2006.  Mr Thomson indicated that he was willing to attend to represent the Parish Council.

 

196 Danbury Planning Framework

Mr Allen reported on a helpful meeting with Derek Stebbing of CBC.  Minor changes had been agreed, including the change of name from Planning Guidance to Planning Framework and distinguishing in the text between CBC policy and Parish Council policy.  The revisions would be incorporated into the final document and reviewed again by Mr Stebbing before publication.  It was intended that the published document would be adopted by CBC as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

 

197 Work to trees

a) An application for work to trees in the conservation area was considered.  The Committee did not wish to make any comments (details in appendix C);

b) The decision shown in appendix C was noted.

 

198 Village Design Statements – National Database

The Council had been informed that the online database (at www.villagedesignstatements.co.uk) would not, initially, include Parish Plans.  Funding of the database would be through ‘a nominal annual charge’ for each design statement hosted.  The information was noted.

 

199 Maldon District Council – Draft Statement of Community Involvement

The Committee agreed to respond to this consultation indicating that the Parish Council wished to be kept informed of further documents in Maldon District Council’s Local Development Framework and to be consulted on proposals for specific sites.

 

200 ECC Consultation: Mineral Development Documents

The consultation did not propose any new sites for sand or gravel extraction in the Danbury area.  The information was noted, and the Committee did not wish to make any comments.

 

201 Enforcement

a) Rectory Farm House, Main Road: The storage container had now been removed;

b) Trees obstructing footpaths: ECC Highways would be informed that fir trees were overhanging the pavement at the Well Lane end of The Heights;

c) Fly posting in the village: The authorities would be consulted regarding removal of advertising notices for a caravan park.

 

202 Correspondence

a) Woodside, Hopping Jacks Lane (03/01872/OUT and 04/00802/REM): A resident of Nursery Lane had written to the Council regarding the effects of this development of two houses.  The Committee agreed to consider the letter further at its next meeting with all relevant information before it;

b) 67 Mill Lane (05/02163/FUL): Neighbours had written to Cllr Ian Wright (copied to the Parish Council) regarding CBC’s approval of this application.  The matter had been discussed with the residents under Public Question Time.

c) Bournville, Southwood Chase (05/01725/FUL): (Minute 188 refers) A letter to Cllr Ian Wright, copied to the Parish Council, regarding approval of this application was noted.

 

203 Urgent Business

It was reported that, in Cambridgeshire, Parish Councils had been given delegated responsibility for street lighting.

 

204 Forthcoming meetings

Meetings are scheduled for 6th and 20th February; 6th and 20th March, 2006

The meeting on 6th February would include a speaker from Flagship Housing Group regarding the proposed Airey house development scheme in Mill Lane.

 

Business having been concluded, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.17pm.

 

 

DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Planning Committee Minutes: 23 January 2006

Appendix A

CBC Planning Applications

 

Ref no

Property

Street name

Proposal

Committee date

Comments

05/01877/FUL

Little Owls Day Nursery

Well Lane

Retention of pitched timber roof advert display structure

23/01/06

We believe the sign would be more acceptable if it were affixed flush to a wall.  The structure as existing is overpowering.  The sign alone, fixed to the wall, would be acceptable

05/02410/FUL

31

Hyde Lane

New boundary fence adjacent public highway

23/01/06

1 We strongly object to this application, which will detract from the visual amenity of the area.
2 We wonder whether the land on which the fence is proposed is in the ownership of the applicant or whether it is Highways land.

05/02412/FUL

The Old Bakery

Penny Royal Road

Rear conservatory

23/01/06

No comments

05/02436/FUL

Bristol House

Copt Hill

Two storey rear extension

23/01/06

No comments

05/02437/CAC

Bristol House

Copt Hill

Partial demolition

23/01/06

No comments

05/02451/FUL

Poplars

Penny Royal Road

Demolition of existing garage and erection of new cart lodge and playroom

23/01/06

We strongly object to this application. The proposal totally detracts from the setting and character of the listed building.  Should the Council be minded to approve, we request that a condition be imposed preventing any residential use, and that permitted development rights be withdrawn.

05/02452/LBC

Poplars

Penny Royal Road

Demolition of existing garage and erection of new cart lodge and playroom

23/01/06

Please see our objections stated in the full application, 05/02451/FUL

05/02458/FUL

5

South Hill Close

Creation of rooms in roof with dormer windows to each side of existing roof

23/0106

No comments

05/02461/FUL

Poplar Farm

Gay Bowers Road

Demolition of existing single storey building and erection of first floor extension

23/01/06

No comments

06/00064/FUL

23

Nursery Lane

Ground floor side and rear extension

23/01/06

Please ensure that surrounding trees are subject to protection

05/02403/FUL

Land at

Colemans Lane

Change of use to green burial site with associated access, car parking and landscaping

23/01/06

1. The Council very strongly objects to this application.  It represents a massive commercial development which is totally inappropriate in this location and is contrary to Section S10 of the Structure Plan.  It is outside the defined settlement area;
2. In our opinion the Ecological Survey provided supports the view of this Council that the application should be refused.  The development would adversely affect the Nature Conservation Zone and Special Landscape Area;
3. The proposed new access drive would adversely affect existing hedges and trees;
4. The access road, Colemans Lane, is an unadopted bridleway.  It is a single track lane with no passing places and unacceptable for the proposed use.  Ramblers, horse-riders, and the residents of the Lane would no longer enjoy safe passage.   Access and egress from the A414 would represent a significant traffic hazard;
5. The passage of funeral corteges through the Lane would impede access by emergency vehicles;

6. No traffic survey has been done.  The amount of village car parking identified in the application would suggest a far greater use of the site than the two burials per week mentioned;
7. The proposed car parking arrangements are wholly unrealistic.  The suggestion is for car parking on a number of private areas, and to the best of our knowledge no application has been made to the owners for permission to use their facilities.  Certainly no approach has been made in relation to parking facilities in the ownership of the Parish Council, which are already heavily over-used by local people using village facilities;
8. We have serious concerns about decomposing burials polluting water courses within this wet area, especially having regard to the slope of the land.  Further investigation has revealed that water from the site feeds a lagoon at St Cleres Pit, water from which is used for washing gravel.  There is a serious concern that contamination from the site could then be moved around via gravel distribution;

10. It has come to light that the site is frequented by badgers and there is a concern that graves could be disturbed.  We understand this has already happened in Southend;
11. No information has been supplied with the application regarding the burial area itself or the built facilities which would be required;
12. The site, including the proposed car park, would be unsupervised, is crossed by a public footpath, and might be subject to vandalism and have a detrimental effect on residences;
13. The proposed capacity of the burial site vastly exceeds any likely local need.  Ample similar facilities already exist within close proximity at Maldon, with additional sites at Brentwood and Althorne.  This type of facility tends to attract business from a much wider area than the immediate county of Essex.

 

 

 

DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Planning Committee Minutes: 23 January 2006

Appendix B

CBC Planning Decisions

 

Ref no

Property

Street name

Proposal

Committee date

Comments

Dec'n & Date

05/01150/FUL

108

Main Road

Extension to and conversion of existing outbuildings for use as a dwelling

04/07/05

1 Please ensure that the character of the existing building is maintained;
2 The plans do not show the existing building for comparison.

Approved
(subject to S106 undertaking)

05/01840/FUL

Tudor House

Penny Royal Road

Replacement dwelling

07/11/05

1 The extended built frontage of the proposal will adversely affect the character of Penny Royal Road;
2 We note that the site is outside the defined settlement and is immediately adjacent to the village conservation area.

Withdrawn
06/12/05

05/01864/FUL

Windles

Runsell Green

Construction of new vehicular access

17/10/05

No comments

Withdrawn
20/11/05

05/02133/FUL

20

Hyde Lane

Two storey side extension, single storey rear extension, replacement of glazed roof to conservatory with tiled roof and new vehicular crossover

05/12/05

1 We have concerns for safety regarding the proposed new vehicular crossover which would open onto a narrow lane next to a bend;
2 The proposed development does not appear to comply with the Borough's design guidance for side extensions regarding 'subservience'.

 

Approved
16/12/05

 

 

DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Planning Committee Minutes: 23 January 2006

Appendix C

Work to Trees

 

Ref no

TPO ref

Property

Street name

Proposal

Committee date

Comments

Decision/ Date

 

Application:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

06/05500/CAT

N/A

Mayesfield

Mayes Lane

Works to various trees, inc removal of 5 trees

23/01/06

No comments

 

 

Decision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05/05591/CAT

N/A

139A

Main Road

Works to 2 Sycamores

19/12/05

No comments

Approved
19/12/05