DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Planning Committee

 

Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 June 2006 at 8.00pm in the Parish Office

 

Present: Cllrs A Allen (Chairman), S Berlyn (from 8.15pm), A Keeler, M Telling, J Thomson, M Wood

Additional members: Mr P Watts

In attendance: Mrs E Blyth, Assistant Clerk

 

Public Question Time

20 members of the public attended.  19 of these objected to the application to construct three detached houses and garages on land to the rear of properties in Riffhams Lane, Parkdale and Main Road (06/01146/FUL).  The objections included: the effect on the character of the area; the loss of open space and wildlife habitat; removal of trees and hedges; loss of privacy; increased danger of flooding; and the increase in traffic and parking, especially in Parkdale.

One member of the public raised concerns about the proposed change of use of a property at Stratford House, 72 Maldon Road, to a betting shop (06/01060), which he believed would be an undesirable and unnecessary development and would increase traffic and parking problems in neighbouring residential streets.

 

31 Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Mr J Alexander.

 

32 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 declarations were made.

 

33 Minutes

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 5th June 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record.  There were no matters arising.

 

34 CBC Planning applications and decisions

The Committee considered the applications listed in Appendix A and agreed its responses.  At the appropriate times, representations from residents were taken into account regarding 06/01146/FUL (land rear of Airlie, Riffhams Lane) and 06/01060/FUL (Unit 2, Stratford House).

An application at St Giles, Moor Hall Lane, Bicknacre, had been received for consultation.  The Committee agreed that this would more appropriately be looked at by Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre Parish Council.

Several planning decisions were received.

RESOLVED:

a) that the responses to planning applications shown in Appendix A be submitted to Chelmsford Borough Council;

b) that the application for 3 new dwellings on land at rear of Airlie, Riffhams Lane (06/01146/FUL), be referred to Cllr Kingsley with the request that it be determined by CBC Planning Committee unless officers are minded to refuse it;

c) that CBC be requested to consult Woodham Ferrers & Bicknacre Parish Council with regard to the application at St Giles, Moor Hall Lane (06/01172/FUL);

d) that the planning decisions shown in Appendix B be noted.

 

35 CBC Planning matters

a) CBC Planning Committee: No papers had been received;

b) Publicising of planning applications: There was nothing to report.

 

36 Final Reminder: CPRE East of England: LDF Workshop

A final reminder was issued for any councillor wishing to attend the workshop on Thursday 5th October 2006 at Huntingdon to notify the Parish Office before the end of June.  Cllr Keeler would be attending.

 

37 Danbury Planning Framework

The Chairman reported that he had not yet heard from Derek Stebbing with his comments on the revised Framework document, and that he would be contacting Mr Stebbing to take the matter forward.

 

38 Work to trees

No new applications had been received.  Two decisions were noted as shown in Appendix C.  Notification had been received from CBC that TPO 2006/26 at Skerries, Riffhams Lane, had been confirmed without modification.  CBC had also informed the Council that tree work was to be carried out on 28th June outside 36-40 Main Road in connection with an insurance claim.

 

39  Riffhams Farm: Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence

A report was received from the Clerk concerning an application to the Traffic Commissioner by J Moore Scaffolding Ltd to base lorries at this site which would increase commercial vehicle movements along Graces Lane.  The Committee noted that Local Authorities – but not Parish Councils –  were statutory consultees.

RESOLVED: that Essex County Council Highways department be urged to lodge objections as a matter of urgency to any increase in commercial traffic on Graces Lane, which was a narrow, rural lane with Protected status, used by walkers and horse-riders and unsuitable for large vehicles.

 

40 CPRE Planning Help

The Committee took note of an article in the CPRE newsletter, Fieldwork, drawing attention to a new section of the Planning Help website with advice on responding to planning applications.  It could be seen at www.cpre.org.uk/planninghelp.

 

41  Digital projector

Cllr Keeler had attended a Planning meeting of Galleywood Parish Council and now reported on the use of a digital projector for viewing plans.  The projector had been adequate for the purpose, but the Committee noted that a machine with automatic focus would be preferable.  The brightness of the image was also a significant factor.  It was noted that CBC intended to move in due course to a paperless online system of responding to applications.  While projecting a plan enabled Councillors to view it at the same time, comparing plans would be more difficult if paper copies were not available.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Keeler for attending the Galleywood meeting.

RESOLVED: that the Clerk be asked to take forward the purchase of a digital projector with automatic focus using funds already earmarked for the purpose.

 

42 Correspondence

Cllr J Brooks had copied to the Council his personal letter of objection to the planning application for the erection of a fence at 2 Simmonds Way (06/00987/FUL);

Mrs S Harrison, a resident in Southwood Chase, had sent a copy of a further letter to CBC requesting answers to a number of concerns about planning permissions granted for properties in Southwood Chase.

Mr J Bowen of Southview Road had sent a copy of his correspondence with CBC regarding noisy building work taking place at Corfu outside the agreed hours.  CBC had written to the builder to remind him of the agreements.

 

43 Enforcement

The following information was noted:

a) Fly-posting for caravan park: Paul Bohannan of CBC had agreed to write again to the company concerned regarding the posting of signs at weekends.  Legal issues surrounding the delegation of powers to Parish Councils for control of fly-posting were under discussion between the Borough and County Councils;

b) Yellow direction signs for housing developments: Responsibility for permitting the display of these signs rested with the County Council Highways department, which agreed the number and location of the signs with the developer;

c) 146 Main Road: This case was already under investigation by Planning Enforcement, and the Council’s concerns about removal of the hedge, the position of the new garage and the structure of the wall would be taken into account;

d) Overhanging tree at Tilehurst, Well Lane: ECC Highways department had written to the owner of the property requiring the tree to be cut back;

e) New structure rear of Corfu, Southview Road: Planning Enforcement had been asked to investigate a large new building being constructed in the rear garden of this property.

 

44 Matters for report (for information only)

The Chairman reported that a car with a ‘For Sale’ notice was currently parked on grass verge in Well Lane;

Cllr Berlyn drew attention to an overgrown hedge obstructing the footpath in Mayes Lane near Eves Corner;

Cllr Wood noted that a large sign advertising the viewing of football in the DCA bar had been in position near the main road for approaching 14 days, the maximum allowed without planning approval.

 

45 Forthcoming meetings

Meetings scheduled for 3, 17 and 31 July 2006.  No meetings in August.

 

Business having been concluded, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.35pm.

 

 

DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Planning Committee Minutes: 19 June 2006

Appendix A

CBC Planning Applications

 

 

Ref no

Property

Street name

Proposal

Committee date

 

Comments

06/00331/FUL
Amended

46

West Belevedere

Rear Conservatory

19/06/06

Our previous comments still apply. In addition, we note that the amended plans show the conservatory to be even higher and larger overall. This reinforces our original objections and we request that enforcement action be taken.

 

06/01025/FUL

33

Maldon Road (land to rear)

Erection of 2 no. detached houses - retrospective amendments to 05/01494/FUL re. to changes to windows and rooflights

 

19/06/06

No comments

06/01060/FUL

Unit 2,Stratford House 72

Maldon Road

Change of use from former off licence to A2 (Betting Office)

19/06/06

The Parish Council has very strong objections to the change of use for the reasons given below:
1 The nature of the business is out of keeping with the rural setting of the village and the mainly residential streets around the site;
2 There is insufficient parking at the site, which would lead to overspill into nearby residential roads. This and the resulting noise would be inappropriate in this part of the village;
3 There would be an increase in traffic in an already congested area with five nearby road junctions;
4 The business would be an undesirable influence on young people, especially in view of the close proximity of an alcohol outlet at Tesco Express;
5 Detailed surveys of residents in association with the Parish Plan project did not reveal any local desire for a betting outlet;
6 The development is unnecessary, as adequate similar facilities exist in neighbouring communities and are available by telephone and online.
(1 personal representation. Petition with 37 sigs.)

 

06/01095/FUL

Bonythorn House

Bicknacre Road

Single storey rear conservatory

 

 

19/06/06

No comments

06/01146/FUL

Land rear of Airlie

Riffhams Lane

Erection of 3 new detached dwellings and access

19/06/06

The Parish Council strongly objects to the application for the following reasons:
1 It is unnacceptable backland development in contravention of the Borough Local Plan;
2 It is an overdevelopment of the site (ENV1). This is demonstrated by the inablilty of the applicant to locate garages with the houses to which they relate;
3 The site is a sensitive one in relation to nature conservation (ENV1, NR6).  We understand it is inhabited by Great Crested Newts and badgers;
4 The proposal would be visually intrusive and would overlook neighbouring properties in Riffhams Lane, Parkdale and Main Road (ENV1);
5 We understand that there are water table problems and danger of flooding (CSU8);
6 Adequate protection would need to be provided for trees;
7 Parkdale is inadequate to carry the volume of heavy construction traffic, and is often heavily parked;
8 If the application is approved, more parking of vehicles associated with the site will be visited upon Parkdale, with consequent road safety implications.
(19 personal representations)

 

06/01163/FUL

7

Runsell View

 

Rear Conservatory

19/06/06

No comments

 

 

 

 

DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Planning Committee Minutes: 19 June 2006

Appendix B

CBC Planning Decisions

 

Ref no

Property

Street name

Proposal

Committee date

Comments

Dec'n & Date

06/00261/FUL

89

Mill Lane

Roof extension to create new first floor

03/04/06

Despite the rather mixed street scene, the scale, massing and bulk of the proposed extension make it out of character with, and unsympathetic to, the currently prevailing street scene comprised of more modestly sized dwellings (Env1).

Refused
24/04/06

06/00502/FUL

Bay Lodge

Mill Lane

Double bay carport

03/04/06

No comments

Approved
04/05/06

06/00558/FUL

3

Runsell View

Rear conservatory

24/04/06

No comments

Approved
15/05/06

06/00586/FUL

41

Little Baddow Road

Two storey side extension

24/04/06

No comments

Approved
12/05/06

06/00602/FUL

Thatched Cottage

Plumptre Lane

Two storey rear extension

24/04/06

 1 We note that there is no application for Listed Building Consent. If the building is not listed we suggest it should be considered for listing due to its unique, historic nature and the character it confers on its local setting;
2 The suggested roof tiles should be sympathetic to the host building, eg local clays.

Approved
15/05/06

06/00631/FUL

Bristol House

Copt Hill

Two storey side extension (amended app 05/02436/FUL)

24/04/06

No comments

Approved
17/05/06

06/00689/FUL

16

St Clere's Way

First floor side extension

24/04/06

No comments

Approved
17/05/06

 

 

DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Planning Committee Minutes: 19 June 2006

Appendix C

Work to Trees

 

Ref no

TPO ref

Property

Street name

Proposal

Committee date

Comments

Decision/ Date

06/05050/TPO

2002/94

2

Dilston

Reduce and re-balance crown of Box Elder (T6)

 

22/05/06

No comments

Approved
04/05/06

06/05055/TPO

2000/42

Nightingales

Well Lane

Pruning works to 2 Holly within W1 and fell 1 multi-stemmed Acacia in rear garden W1

 

22/05/06

No comments

Approved
09/05/06