STOKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMITTEE

HELD ON 4TH JULY 2011 IN THE

STOKENHAM PARISH HALL

PRESENT;

COUNCILLORS:

J. ANSELL A. GOODMAN

MRS A. LOCKWOOD A. VALE

C. ROGERS MRS L. WINROW

APOLOGIES

COUNCILLORS:

D. HILLIER - Personal

MRS D. STEER – Personal

R. FOSS

J. BAVERSTOCK (District Council Representative) - Personal

CLLR. J. BRAZIL (County Council Representative) - Personal

Also in attendance Mrs. G. Claydon – Clerk

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors were reminded of their responsibility to continually update their Notice of Registerable Interests and invited to state whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be discussed during this meeting – None received.

2. OPEN FORUM

No members of the public present the Open Forum was dispensed with.

The Minutes of the last Planning Committee were noted and approved at full council no further planning committee has been called until this meeting.

5. PLANNING & PLANNING MATTERS

Applications to be considered at this meeting:

• 1494/11/F Change of use of land for horses and provision of 3 no. stables, tack and feed room and haystore in enclosed yard with landscaping Field at SX 7939 4198, Marber Cross, to Ridge Cross, Chillington – No objection. This application site is visible from a public viewpoint, the public footpath, due to proliferation of buildings in this area caused by the splitting up of agricultural fields. Therefore is was requested that the landscape officer should view this area to consider any landscaping issues occurring in this AONB. With the amount of stable blocks being erected it is suggested that any that are no longer used for such stabling or agricultural purposes should be removed and therefore such condition imposed.
• 1515/11/F Removal of holiday condition for planning consent 53/0872/06/F to use as a residential dwelling to include extension and formalisation of domestic curtilage The Old Spot, Muckwell Barns, Beeson – No objection but any development must continue to accord with with District policy in relation to holiday accommodation. In 2009 the parish council response was no objection but requested District ensure conditions imposed in 2006 consent were adhered to and this is reaffirmed.
• 1579/11/F Householder application to demolish garage and construct single storey rear extension Avalon Tanpits Lane, Chillington – No objection.

HELMERS BARNS

Email dated 30^th June 2011 from Dave Matthews attaching a plan for pre application discussion with regard to Taylor Wimpey’s proposal to apply for planning to demolish the existing barns and rebuild using existing stone due to a further report that the barns are too unstable to redevelop.

Cllr. Cowley noted the original structural engineers report that said there was no major problem converting the existing barns and the design statement for Helmers Meadow which provided housing and retained the barns as existing. He had obtained a copy of the current report which is some 4/5 years on now stating there are many structural defects and raising Health and Saftey concerns. He acknowledged therefore that there seemed to be considerable change during these 4/5 years. Cllr. Cowley's concern was that things had not changed that amount and he acknowledged the opinion residents in Chillington might have when they find out the barns are to be demolished and become housing/barns. It was noted that the barns are Listed. These barns were felt to be one of the oldest structures in the village and it was felt Parish Council needed to request District planning officers professional opinion. A suggestion was that the rear of the barns possibly could be knocked down and the front retained for renovation. The proposed development using render was not felt to be in keeping with the Chillington landscape and any development of the barn should retain existing window and door openings.

WEIGHT RESTRICTION.

In view of the deadline for response to a request by the Kingsbridge Gazette on parish council's opinion of campaigning for weight restriction of larger vehicles this matter was discussed within this committee. It was noted that as a farmer Cllr. Goodman would find it difficult if the milk tanker could not come in every other day and he would soon go out of business.

All other councillors agreed that it was not weight but the width of vehicles that needed to be managed. At present building at Gara Rock and large houses in East Portlemouth had brought six wheeler lorries through the parish which is 16 ton whereas a standard concrete lorry is approximately 25 tons. Farmers out at Prawle have been using hay bale and grain trailers and lorries for 30 years so this was nothing new. Also people wish cheaper materials and commodities. The truck and trailers are not putting more weight on the ground than they have done before.

Therefore it was felt each parish should address their own local highway problems with ‘Not suitable for heavy goods' or 'Width Restriction' signs. It was noted also that SatNav causes a problem and they should be requested to create such specifically for wide lorries/vehicles as they do for walking, cyclists etc. In the country residents and businesses also require cheaper materials and therefore companies should be urged to use the right size/width vehicle for the locality.

A concern was raised with regard to the recent consideration of the planning application for the Beesands shop as it was noted that currently there are nine signs littered around the business advertising ice cream and all other products, thus detracting from the area.

An Appeal Notice was noted in relation to Ashley, Holmleigh Road, Torcross.

Dist. Cllr. Baverstock arrived at the meeting and noted that parish council owns a Silver Jubilee bench seat situated along the wall retaining the Church House Inn. He requested that it be moved to the main road to provide seating for those awaiting the bus. The Clerk advised she would request County comments and if necessary permission. Dist. Cllr. Baverstock suggested that the Stokenham Village Community Group could take this on as a volunteer project but was advised this was not possible.

7. NEXT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

The next planning committee will be held on the first Monday in August, if necessary. Any applications received in the interim will be considered at full council on 21^st July 2011 in the Stokenham Parish Hall, Wesley Smith Room at 7.30p.m.