MINUTES of a MEETING of the HIGHWAYS & PLANNING COMMITTEE of BOURNE TOWN COUNCIL held on TUESDAY 23RD APRIL 2013 at 7.30pm in the COUNCIL OFFICES, COMMUNITY POINT
(Recorded by Assistant Administrator)
Present Chairman Cllr B Russell
Councillors Mrs S Cliffe P Fellows D Higgs Mrs B Johnson (arr 7.35pm)
P Knowles D Mapp R McKinney Mrs P Moisey
12 members of the public
1763P APOLOGIES
Proposed by Cllr D Mapp, seconded by Cllr Ms J Kingman and unanimously
RESOLVED; to approve the reasons for apology for absence from Cllrs T Holmes,
C Pattison, Mrs H Powell, Mrs J Smith and JA Smith
1764P DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (Declarable Pecuniary Interest – DPI & other interests)
Cllr D Higgs Minute 1770P Member of SKDC Development Control Committee, not
Taking part in discussion or vote
Cllr Mrs S Cliffe Minute 1770P/g Trustee of Bourne United Charities
Cllr P Knowles Minute 1770P/f Location is close to daughter’s residence
1765P REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION – there were none
1766P INDICATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
Cllr Mrs S Woolley indicated that she wished to speak on agenda item 8/Minute 1770P/a
Resident 1 indicated a wish to speak on item 8a/Minute 1770P/a
Resident 2 indicated a wish to speak on item 8a/Minute 1770P/a
Resident 3 indicated a wish to speak on item 8a/Minute 1770P/a
Resident 4 indicated a wish to speak on item 8d & h/Minute 1770P/d & h
7.35pm Cllr Mrs B Johnson arrived and declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda items a & e/Minute 1770P/a & e as the applicants are known to her
1767P TO ADOPT THE NOTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 02.04.13 AS A TRUE RECORD
Proposed by Cllr Mrs P Moisey, seconded by Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and
RESOLVED; to adopt the Notes of the meeting held on 02.04.13 as a true record and for
the Chairman to sign them as the Minutes of the above meeting
1768P REPORTS BY DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLORS OR REPRESENTATIVES
Cllr D Higgs reported that he had attended an SKDC Development Control Meeting where the
application concerning the Old Bakery had been discussed (S13/0270/FULL/PC1). He informed
members that the application will include wooden doors and windows, an item which had been a
concern for BTC, and was approved
1769P QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS – there were none
1770P PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Resolved to forward the following observations:
a) Ref: S12/3271/FULL/PC1
Applicant Mr L Hammond
Proposal Erection of 50kw wind turbine hub height 36.4m
Location Land at Main Road, Dyke
Cllr Mrs S Woolley addressed the meeting: she had been approached by many Dyke residents
and has grave concerns for road safety in the area. She stated that there are many accidents at this site and has consulted with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and Highways concerning the application and has also contacted SKDC with her misgivings. Cllr Mrs Woolley stated that many of the minor accidents here have been caused by a lack of concentration and that the wind turbine could cause motorists to have a momentary lapse and make the area more dangerous. She had also been informed that residents hadn’t been able to see the yellow planning application sign.
Resident 1 who lives in Dyke stated that the turbine standing at 150’ including the rotor blades will have a major visual impact on the village. Whilst out driving he had seen many wind turbines all built in areas such as near a gas power station and by an airfield, not in wholly rural areas. He felt that turbines should be built in semi-industrial areas whereas Dyke is rural. The turbine will have a dramatic effect on the landscape and will be very intrusive. He also had concerns that when the turbine is de-commissioned who would carry the cost of removal of the concrete base.
(At this point Cllr D Higgs was able to inform the meeting that included in the planning application was the restoration to existing land use on de-commission in 20 years)
Resident 2 pointed out that she had searched for the yellow notice and had found it on a telegraph pole and turned towards the field. There was no footpath there and very long grass and in other words if people didn’t know the notice was there they would not have seen it. She had contacted Mr Lifford, case officer of SKDC who visited the site and turned the sign around.
Resident 3 raised concerns regarding wildlife in the area as he had seen bats there. He had major concerns about the appearance of the wind turbine and felt that it would distract motorists.
During lengthy discussions many members agreed that the wind turbine was an eyesore and located in entirely the wrong place. It was felt that it would cause havoc at the Dyke junction. Cllr D Higgs mentioned a bill has been introduced in the House of Lords re minimum distances between turbines and residential properties which will depend on the size of the turbine.
Proposed by Cllr B Russell, seconded by Cllr Ms J Kingman and resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council strongly objects to this proposal on the
following grounds:
· It will have a major impact on traffic safety as a structure of this size will detract motorists attention from the road in an already accident-prone area
· It is an extremely visually intrusive structure
· The application is in entirely the wrong location; Dyke is a rural area and a wind turbine is out of keeping with the character of the village
b) Ref: S13/0674/MJRF/PC1
Applicant Mr K Pearson, Taylor Wimpey East Midlands
Proposal Reserved Matters application relating to residential development &
associated development, link road, estate roads, open space &
landscaping (including A1 retail/B1 office development)
Concerns were raised about the lack of parking proposed. There are too many houses proposed
on site with insufficient infrastructure to support them. Although the retail and office development was welcomed, there is poor provision of parking spaces for the homes. Bourne & Billingborough Policing Panel have been made aware of the double parking around Elsea Park and in places vehicles cannot get through. No allowance has been made for cars parking on the roads and cars parked half on the pavement cannot legally be moved if they are not causing an obstruction.
The legal requirement for adoption is allegedly that roads are 5m wide with a pavement on either side; parking restrictions will not be imposed on roads which have not been adopted. Maintenance on unadopted roads will have to be met by residents. No roads on this estate have been adopted so far.
Proposed by Cllr Ms J Kingman, seconded by Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council applauds the inclusion of retail/office space
but has great concerns regarding the future adoption of roads on the
estate and ask whether SKDC are satisfied that the roads are of an
acceptable standard to allow for adoption. Also could SKDC confirm
whether parking allocation in this application is at least to the same
standard as in Zones 1-3 where problems already occur with a lack of
parking spaces and narrow roads causing obstructions to through
traffic?
c) Ref: S13/0777/RM/PC1
Applicant Allison Homes Eastern Ltd
Proposal Reserved Matters application for residential development plots 64-65 Zone
1 Elsea Park (revised house types)
Location Plots 64 – 65, Area 2, Zone 1, Elsea Park
Proposed by Cllr P Fellows, seconded by Cllr D Mapp and unanimously resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections
d) Ref: S13/0778/MJRF/PC1
Applicant Allison Homes Eastern Ltd
Proposal Application to vary condition 11 of application S12/1512 relating to minor
Material amendments to plots 1-24, 33-35 & 37-71
Location Zone 3, Elsea Park
Resident 4 pointed out to the meeting the narrowness of roads in Zone 3, where 2 cars cannot
cross side by side and the roads are too narrow for lorries. He felt that the roads are under 5m
wide and do not have footpaths either side.
Members re-iterated concerns expressed with the earlier application for Elsea Park.
Proposed by Cllr P Fellows, seconded by Cllr D Mapp and resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections but would again point out
the problems caused by too few parking spaces causing residents to
park on narrow roads
e) Ref: S13/0791/FULL/PC1 & S13/7091/FULL/PL/PC2/AMENDED PLAN
Applicant Mr Carl Gibson
Proposal Demolition of 2 agricultural buildings & erection of new agricultural barn
Location Dock Furrows Farm, North Road
Proposed by Cllr Ms J Kingman, seconded by Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections
f) Ref: S13/0795/HSH/PC1
Applicant Mrs K Taylor
Proposal 1st floor side & 2 storey side extension
Location 7 Broadlands Avenue
Proposed by Cllr P Fellows, seconded by Cllr R McKinney and resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections provided that this extension
Is exclusively for residential use
g) Ref: S13/0809/TCA/TC2
Trees in the Conservation Area
Applicant Bourne United Charities
Proposal Reduce & trim overhang to cherry plum tree
Location Land off South Street
Proposed by Cllr D Mapp, seconded by Cllr Mrs B Johnson and unanimously resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections
h) Ref: S13/0880/RM/PC1
Applicant Allison Homes Eastern Ltd
Proposal Application for Reserved Matters relating to plots 25-32 & plot 36, Zone 3
Location Zone 3, Elsea Park
Resident 4 reiterated his comments about the roads in Zone 3
Proposed by Cllr R McKinney, seconded by Cllr D Mapp and resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections but reiterates concerns
about the future adoption of roads which appear to fall short of the
standard set for adoption in terms of width and pavements on either
side
i) Ref: S13/0924/HSH/PC1
Applicant Mr & Mrs S Rudkin
Proposal 2 storey front extension
Location 35 St Gilbert’s Road
Proposed by Cllr D Mapp, seconded by Cllr R McKinney and unanimously resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections
j) Ref: S13/0911/HSH / PC1
Applicant Mr/s M Croft
Proposal Two storey side extension
Location 78 Willoughby Road
Proposed by Cllr P Fellows, seconded by Cllr R McKinney and unanimously resolved;
OBSERVATION; Bourne Town Council has no objections
1771P CORRESPONDENCE
A) For information only – to be received en bloc (Available for perusal)
a) S13/0261/FULL Meister Property; CofU from public bar to retail Angel Hotel, North St Approved
b) LCC – Emergency Road Closure; Dyke emergency carriageway patching works, Barnes
Drove on 22/03/13. Alt route A151 Spalding Road, Meadow Drove & Dyke Fen
c) LCC – Highways West General Maintenance Programme 2013/14; Bourne – Barnes Drove
(carriageway patching); Bedehouse Bank, Cherry Holt Rd, South Fen Rd & Willoughby Rd – major
utility works Western Power Distribution; Church Lane – footway/carriageway & drainage works
associated with residential development, The Croft/North Rd – minor access improvements,
Wherry’s Lane/Burghley St - core centre improvements.
d) S12/3277/FULL Avis; CofU from residential to day care centre for young adults with learning
disabilities; 4 St Gilbert’s Rd Approved
e) S12/3244/MJNF Hall & Hall; workshop extension, enlargement of car park, detached showroom,
detached vehicle storage building & associated external storage Graham Hill Way Approved
f) S12/2839/FULL Elsea Park Community Trust; Fitness trail Linear Park Withdrawn
g) S13/0243/FULL York; single storey office extension Victoria Stables, South Rd Approved
h) S13/0244/FULL Favell minor elevation change, detaching garage from the main dwelling &
reduction in lengths of north/south of dwelling R/O 10 West Road Approved
i) S13/0261/FULL Meister Property; CofU from public bar to retail Angel, North St Approved
j) S13/0272/FULL N Lavender, Alterations to shopfront, 56 North St Approved
Proposed by Cllr Mrs P Moisey, seconded by Cllr D Mapp and unanimously
RESOLVED; to receive the above items a – j en bloc
B) Correspondence for Discussion
1) SKDC Street naming & Numbering - ~Development adjacent to 2 South Road
It will not be possible to number these new properties as part of South Road. It is proposed that
a new name be given to the development such as something like ‘Terrace/Mews’, South road
and the properties be addressed as Nos 1 to 4 as shown on the plan.
The developer’s proposals are as follows:
1. Renard Mews, South Road
2. Foxbourne Mews, South Road
3. The Old Train Yard, South Road
The first 2 names are in connection with the developer’s business name, Renard being the
French name for a male fox. There is an existing road in Bourne named as Foxley Court but the
name ‘Foxbourne’ is sufficiently different as to not cause any confusion. The third suggestion of
‘The Old Train Yard’ is in reference to the previous use of the site in connection with the former
Bourne Railway Station.
Proposed by Cllr P Fellows, seconded by Cllr Mrs B Johnson and
RESOLVED; to approve the name “The Old Train Yard” to reflect Bourne’s heritage
with the railway
2) SKDC Draft Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document – Consultation on Change of
Definition of Small Wind Turbines
Proposed Change (the only item to be considered) – The draft Wind Energy SPD (October
2012) includes a definition of small, medium and large scale turbines relating to the height of
turbines, with small scale wind turbines, defined as being up to 50metres in height (to blade tip).
SKDC is considering whether, for the purpose of the SPD, the definition of small scale wind
turbine should be reduced to 30metres in height (to blade tip).
SKDC is considering this change because it recognises that small turbines may still be
substantial structures in the landscape and that those towards the upper height limit for small
turbines of 50metres could have a significant impact and therefore ought to be subject to greater
scrutiny. It also reflects the experience of the council over the past 12 months in terms of the
type/size of wind turbines for which planning applications have been made within the district.
Proposed by Cllr D Mapp, seconded by Cllr P Knowles and unanimously
RESOLVED; to write to Planning Policy at SKDC supporting the changed definition
of small wind turbine
1772P TO DISCUSS ANY SUCH BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN MAY LEGALLY BRING TO THE
COMMITTEE’S ATTENTION
There was none
There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9pm
4
Highways & Panning Committee meeting held on 23.04.13