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L11/2015
SHILLINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT
7.30PM ON THURSDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2015
AT THE PORTMAN HALL, BLANDFORD ROAD, SHILLINGSTONE
PRESENT: Councillors T Kennard (who took the Chair), C Oakley, K Ridout, P Watts and P Aaron. Also present was G Rains, footpaths officer.
In attendance: the Clerk M Wilson and 5 member of the public
104. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Received from Cllrs Webberley, Cooper, Turnbull and NDDC Cllr Jesperson
105. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None.
106. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: The minutes of the meeting held on 6th October 2015 were approved and signed.
107. PUBLIC SESSION TO RAISE ISSUES: All covered in consideration of planning application 2/2015/1494 below
108. DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: Circulated and noted
109. FOOTPATHS:
i) Footpaths officer report: He has cleared FP 46. He also reported a sign from the Recreation Ground gate had been found at Holloway Farm - Cllr Watts will investigate.
ii) To decide any necessary action following the report: None
iii) Trailway and station project: Nothing to report
110. DOG NOTICES – PROPOSAL FROM MR CAMPBELL: Mr Campbell was unable to attend the meeting but has suggested to the Chairman that we wait and see the impact of new legislation coming into force and its effect on people’s behaviour.
111. PLANNING
i) Clerk to report on outstanding applications: Nothing to report
ii) To consider any new applications received before the meeting: 2/2015/1494/FUL – Old Ox Inn, Blandford Road, DT11 0SF – erect 3 dwellings with garages and building to be used as annexed letting accommodation (bed & breakfast). Form vehicular and pedestrian access. Initially the Chairman allowed the public to make comments.
Mr Morgan, the neighbour to the south supports the concept of the development but has some concerns. These relate to i) the location of the permissive footpath adjacent to his boundary and the closeness to his boundary of the semi-detached properties, which may mean ongoing costs to him of tree maintenance and fencing; and ii) the positioning of the development will diminish the visual “green corridor”, despite what the applicants photo-montage might show. He also noted that the brook had been excluded from the flood assessment. He feels the housing development should be to the rear of the bed and breakfast unit when viewed from Blandford Road. He would also have preferred to see a more co-ordinated initiative involving other possible sites.
The applicants, Mr & Mrs Pickering explained that the scheme had been drawn up by their architect after discussions with Steve Clark of NDDC. They had a financial imperative to get the development started and couldn’t wait to produce a co-ordinated plan for all three sites locally. They can be flexible and are happy to liaise with any party – PC, Neighbourhood Plan committee, NDDC, neighbours – to get a scheme that has everyone’s support.
Cllr Ridout explained the Neighbourhood plan pre-submission consultation results had not been considered by the committee, but the analysis shows strong opposition to any access onto Hine Town Lane and retention of the “green corridors” has widespread support. It was noted that whilst DCC Highways had indicated it had no immediate concerns about the safety aspects of an access onto Hine Town Lane, policy 2 of the emerging Neighbourhood Plan seeks to protect the rural character of the lanes and does not support development that might detract from this. The site is supported for development under policy 11 but with an access onto Blandford Road.
A letter from John Paul, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Committee, had been circulated to councillors in advance of the meeting. The conclusion of the letter suggests that the “scheme is refused and the applicants encouraged to re-submit with a scheme that is in line with the proposals in the Neighbourhood Plan”.
The parish council agreed with the content and conclusions of the letter and it was agreed to object to the application on that basis. The letter is attached as an appendix to these minutes.
iii) To consider applications to carry out works to trees in the conservation area received before the meeting: 2/2015/1567/CATree – Fell various trees – The Rectory, Church Road, DT11 0SL - no objections
iv) Neighbourhood Plan – to receive Committee report: Responses to the pre-submission consultation are to be considered by a working group meeting on Monday 9th November.
112. FINANCES:
i) To approve cheques for payment as per schedule: The following payments were approved:
1963 – K Wyatt – pavilion joinery - £2,500.00
1964 – AJS Plumbing – pavilion plumbing - £4,736.94
1965 – Kavanagh Roofing – pavilion roof - £17,458.42
1966 – British Legion – wreath - £20.00
1967 – Dorset CC – allotment rent - £453.00
1968 – ACB Electrics – pavilion works - £40.00
1969 – JB Gardens – White Pit path
1970 – Glasdon – White Pit litter bin - £288.25
1971 – M Wilson – October pay - £480.43
1972 – Dorset Environmental Records Centre – N Plan ecology survey - £486.00
113. THE CROSS – update: The Clerk will arrange a site meeting with the PCC to mark the exact location
114. PLAY AREAS, RECREATION GROUND AND PROPERTY CHECK
i) To appoint Councillor to inspect play areas, recreation ground and property in November/December: Cllr Kennard for November, Cllr Oakley for December.
ii) To note Councillors reports and decide any action: All in order, although the wet pour surface edges have shrunk from the framework. The clerk will look at an edging sealant. It had been reported that when the Rangers had sprayed the car park with weed killer no warning sign had been put in place and one residents dog had been affected and “weed killer footprints” had appeared in her lawn. The clerk will ask the Rangers to put up warning signs in future. The clerk was asked to contact the lengthsman to ask who cuts the grass by the lay-by at the southern extremity of the village as the WI are looking to plant daffodil bulbs here.
iii) Trees: Nothing to report
iv) Pavilion – progress report from the clerk: The work is complete but councillors felt it would be appropriate to meet on site to see what additional work might be considered worthwhile to finish the job, particularly as the project costs were approx. £1k below budget. Items for review include replacing the rear windows, putting toughened glass in the windows fitted on the Cricket Force day, painting the windows (PW is organising a quote), winter arrangements for the water and heating system (perhaps 2 radiators running on a frostat rather than draining down the system), fitting some new electric spurs and PAT testing (PW is arranging both), carbon monoxide alarms, building a cupboard round the new boiler, timber protection treatment of the “pod” and rectifying the grass damaged by the scaffolders.
115. CORRESPONDENCE: A request to fit the football goal nets to allow informal games has been received – PW will put up one set.
116. TO AGREE ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: Budget for 2016/17 and grants, plus usual items
117. NEXT MEETING: This will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 3rd December 2015 at the Church Centre.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.45 pm.
Appendix 1 – Letter re the Old Ox planning application
Shillingstone Parish Council Bishopsgate 4 The Orchard Church Road Ibberton Shillingstone Blandford Forum Blandford Forum DT11 0EL DT11 0SL
3rd November 2015
Dear Mr Wilson
Application 2/2015/1494/FUL – Old Ox Inn Blandford Road Shillingstone Dorset DT11 0SF.
Proposal: Erect 3 No. Dwellings with garages and building to be used as annexed letting accommodation (bed and breakfast). Form vehicular and pedestrian access.
Although the Shillingstone Neighbourhood Plan Committee has not had a chance to consider this application formally before the Parish Council meeting, the application has been reviewed by Committee members who have approved this letter of objection circulated to them by email. The objection is based on the following grounds.
1. Prematurity
The submission of the Neighbourhood Plan to NDDC for approval is imminent and includes proposals in relation to this site which have been discussed with the applicant to enable this site to be developed in a manner which would help deliver his aspirations whilst meeting the wishes of the local community.
The Neighbourhood Plan has also recognised that this site could be part of a larger development involving land to the North and South of the land which is the subject of this application with access from the Blandford Road, and this has been discussed with the landowners who have indicated that they will investigate this further.
Given that the application submitted does not follow the proposals in the draft plan, we consider that this Planning Application is premature.
2. Design and Layout
The design and layout of this site will need to be sensitive to the character of the Conservation Area including the preservation of a green corridor linking the main road to Hine Town Lane to provide both a visual link and public footpath through the site. This is clearly set out under Policy 11 Land at the Old Ox (OX) in the publicised Draft Plan http://www.shillingstone-pc.org.uk
This sets out that the hedgerow and mature trees on the site boundaries with the countryside should be retained to soften the urbanising impact of development on this rural edge. The hedgerow boundary along Hine Town Lane should be reinstated. An appropriate vehicular access would be from the main Blandford Road.
The current site configuration proposes housing very close to this northern boundary in addition to creating an access point onto the lane. The proposed siting of the dwellings will impact on the views from the Blandford Road to the open country beyond and Hambledon Hill.
The site layout clearly blocks the proposed green corridor linking the main road to the countryside, by the placement of buildings on the eastern edge at the rear of the site. This visual link is considered significant in the context of the character of the village, and was considered as a possible designation as a local green space. The only reason this was not included in the draft pre-submission plan was to enable the exact configuration of such a corridor to be dealt with at planning application stage.
3. Heritage
The land is within the Conservation Area and the development as configured would have an unacceptable impact on the characteristics of this area of the village in particular the single track lane which is not the only option for access based on the site outline proposed. During a recent visit, as part of our Neighbourhood Plan consultations, NDDC’s Conservation Officer highlighted the special essence of Hine Town as something worth protecting.
Comment by Historic England on the Neighbourhood Plan highlighted the need for a heritage statement which is currently being considered. The heritage impact on the Conservation Area and potential archaeological interest have not been properly assessed as part of the proposals
4. Impact on character and use of Hine Town Lane
Hine Town is a single track road with a number of blind corners and runs South east to North West parallel to the busy A357 Blandford Forum to Sturminster Newton Road. It is greatly used by pedestrians, cyclists, dog walkers and horse riders and offers a choice to those who do not wish to walk from one end of the village on the main road with its narrow pavements. This is particularly important for children walking to school from the north of the village. It has been in existence for hundreds of years and with its established high hedgerows, twists and turns and access points to the Trailway , the River Stour, Child Okeford and Hambledon Hill; it is a highly important area of character for the village.
There is widespread dismay in the community that Dorset County Council Highways has indicated that they have no objection to vehicle access being allowed onto Hine Town Lane which would increase the volume of traffic. This is a single track road with few adequate passing places and the flow of existing traffic volumes is chaotic at times as walkers, cyclists, horses etc. struggle to navigate safely the cars and vans using the lane. Drivers need to be able to reverse skilfully to use the Lane!!
The responses to the Village Questionnaires which have been used in compiling the Neighbourhood Plan have indicated that the characteristics of the lanes around Shillingstone must be maintained and there is an objection to any increase in vehicular traffic in these areas .
5. House types
The Housing Needs research for the Neighbourhood Plan clearly demonstrate that there is no requirement for more 4 bedroom properties; but a need for 3 bedroom and 2 bedroom properties to enable villagers to move to smaller dwellings i.e. to downsize or to provide houses might be affordable to younger people and families (in addition to low cost affordable housing). The proposed 4 bedroom dwelling and lack of any affordable housing (which is also a requirement in the emerging local plan) is therefore a matter of objection and contrary to our draft Neighbourhood Plan.