Minutes of the Maresfield Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on

Monday 8^th May 2006 in the Parish Office, Nutley

Present:            Cllr K Ogden (Chairman), Cllr J Gutteridge, Cllr G Hardy, Cllr C Stevenson,

Cllr C Stephens, Cllr P Tester, DCllr F Brown, DCllr J Hollins, DCllr Mrs S Martin &

Mrs C Goossens (Asst Clerk)

1.         Public Session –

Mr Matthew Bright, Nutley Conservation Group spoke in relation to Application No. WD/2006/0958/F and made the following points:

• The Nutley Conservation Group (NCG) has objected consistently to applications on this site. 
• This is a revised application for 3 terraced cottages facing onto Clockhouse Lane.
• This application constitutes overdevelopment of the site.
• The proposed properties would be out of character with the rest of the area. The elevations suggest that the quality of design is poor and this is substantiated by what has been built so far i.e. bland and cheap appearance (photograph circulated). A brick more characteristic of the area would be preferable.  The Nutley Conservation Group hopes that if the Parish Council doesn’t object to the three cottages on the site, it will object to their design.  
• There may be a significant impact in terms of additional parking on Clockhouse Lane, possibly resulting from the distance of the allocated parking from these properties.
• The current permission is for 2 three bed maisonettes and 2 two bed semi-detached bungalows. 
• It was noted that the original approval was for one bungalow in the back garden of the Old Police House and that this was then increased to permission for two bungalows.
• It was noted that there were16 objections and only 2 expressions of support for the previous proposal by the applicant.  It is believed that those who supported the development thought that it would result in the village benefiting from Affordable Housing, however, with phase one properties priced at £232,000 is this really affordable?
• DCllr Mrs S Martin stated that the Wealden District Council definition of Affordable Housing is where Housing Association tenants pay a rent, this development is not therefore Affordable Housing according to the true definition. 
• It was noted that the existing garages are the three the other side of the Vintry.
• Mr Bright doesn’t have a garage to his house and has previously called Wealden District Council to ask if he could purchase one of these garages.  Having been told that they were only for those residents of the Council houses, it is now surprising that the Council seems to have sold them to the applicant.
• Cllr Stevenson confirmed that he is aware of people who have been waiting a number of years for a garage to become available on this site.
• It was noted that the applicant is only providing three single garages for the three proposed 3 bed houses.  Parking space will available in front of the garages and there are also seven spaces adjacent to the garages.  However it was noted that these will become seven spaces no longer available for the residents of Hillmead.
• Why has the name changed from Duck Bang to the Old Police House on the planning history and the recent applications?
• Although the proposed dwellings are not Affordable Housing in the true sense, they are suitable properties for those people who wish to downgrade from larger properties and wish to remain in the Parish.
• Objections to the previous applications on this site have cited over-development.

2.            Apologies for absence – Cllr W King

3.            Declarations of interest –

Cllr P Tester - the applicant in Item 5.4 has been a customer of his in the past.

4.            Amended Applications – None.

5.         New Applications:-           

It was Agreed that the Fairwarp applications would be discussed first to enable DCllr Hollins to leave for another meeting.
 

5.2                               Application No:            WD/2006/1148/LB

Applicant:                   Mr & Mrs G Edscer

Location:                    Oldlands Farm, Fairwarp

Description:               Additional chimney (pursuant to Listed Building Consent Ref. No. WD/2005/2320/LB – rebuilding of annexe/extension including two chimneys).

It was noted that this is listed building which will be subject to Listed Building Consent.

It was Agreed to recommend Approval.

5.3                               Application No:            WD/2006/1157/F

Applicant:                   Mrs J Rattray

Location:                    The Studio, Broom Cottage, Fairwarp

Description:               Two-storey end extension and construction of chimney, porch and bay window.

The following points were noted in discussion:

• The proposed extension is to be attached to the studio i.e. the old garage. 
• Permitted development was the last application which was granted.
• The site should be visited to establish if the extension would be visually intrusive.
• Previous concerns raised by local residents in relation to drainage at this property were highlighted and need further investigation.

It was Agreed to Defer this item and that Cllr Hardy and Cllr Stevenson would conduct a site visit.

5.5                               Application No:          WD/2006/1182/LDE

Applicant:                   Mrs M Jephcott

Location:                    Fern Hill Centre, Fern Hill, Fairwarp

Description:               Use of premises for training of play and child psychotherapist students on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, for up to 20 weekends per annum.

The following points were noted in discussion:

• For many years now there have on most days of the week been approximately 7 cars parked along the lane although this hasn’t really caused problems.
• It would appear from investigations at WDC that there is no evidence of Mrs Jephcott having paid commercial rates or ever having applied to do so, despite running a business from these premises.
• Evidence has been submitted by the applicant to say that a business has been running at these premises, but it appeared that no evidence has been submitted to verify that it has been run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for 20 weekends over the last 10 years. 
• The level of use and the occasions of use do not appear to be consistent.
• The marquee is a relatively recent addition to the premises and is used for training purposes.  It is unknown whether planning permission has been sought or is indeed required for this marquee.  The need for additional space in the form of a marquee would suggest that the business has outgrown the premises. 
• The applicant has produced accounts for the last ten years as supporting evidence.
• The parking may possibly be an obstruction to people using the lane
• This business has grown up over the years and possibly outgrown the site.
• This application may have been viewed differently if it had come straight in as a new application.

It was Agreed to ask Wealden District Council Planning Officers to go through the notes / documentation accompanying the application and see if there is any proof that this business has only been running on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for 20 weekends for the last 10 years, and not been carried out as a full time business.

If Wealden District Council is minded to approve this application the Committee asks that the use is restricted to 20 weekends per annum for only three days a week as specified in the application.

Finally, the Committee would like clarification as to the reason for the marquee being permanently installed on the premises.

5.1                               Application No:            WD/2006/0958/F

Applicant:                   Mr E Waller

Location:                    Old Police House, Clockhouse Lane, Nutley

Description:               Demolition of existing dwelling house. Erection of 3 No. three-bedroom terraced cottages including existing garages and parking provided off The Vintry. Provision of footpath in Clockhouse Lane.

The following points were noted in discussion:

• The three ridge/valley roof design as depicted on the rear elevation drawing is a poor design.  The pitch going the other way would be preferable, however it was noted that such a design would make the ridge slightly higher and also that the fronts of these proposed properties have been staggered.

• Three houses on this plot would be overdevelopment of the site.
• A new 1.5 m pavement will be put in and from this there will be steps up to the houses.
• On the original appeal the provision of additional parking was an issue.  The current application illustrates the provision of ten spaces for parking as marked on the drawings submitted.  However, there seems to be insufficient room/depth for parking a car.  Councillors don’t’ feel there is enough space for the 10 parking spaces as marked out on the drawings.
• Concern that although additional parking has been provided it still may not be used because of its distance from the houses.

It was Agreed to recommend Refusal noting the following:

• The application constitutes over-development of the site
• There is insufficient parking provision and Councillors are not sure that the size of the parking spaces is accurately depicted on the plan.

Mr Bright left the meeting.

5.4                               Application No:            WD/2006/1173/F

Applicant:                   Mr & Mrs Westerman

Location:                    The Drey, The Drive, Maresfield Park, Maresfield

Description:               Erection of a single storey, timber framed, glazed conservatory to rear.

It was noted that due to the size of the plot, there are no immediate neighbouring properties that would be affected by light intrusion.  It was Agreed recommend Approval.

6.          Deferred Applications – None.

7.            Minutes of previous meeting – 24^th April 2006.

            7.1             Adoption – The minutes were Adopted.

            7.2             Matters arising from these minutes not elsewhere on the Agenda

It was noted that the LDF documents have now gone out to the Conservation Groups for their comments.  The next meeting of the Maresfield Conservation Group is not until July and a response should therefore probably not be expected until August.

Re. Item 11 – sewage problem at Fairwarp – regardless of whether or not the site is to be looked at for future Affordable Housing development, the Parish Council should take steps to resolve the current sewage problems in Fairwarp.

ACTION:  Clerk to bring this issue to the attention of the Environment Department at WDC.

8.            Decision Notices:-

The Assistant Clerk read the salient points from the following decision notices:

Approvals:-

8.1            WD/2005/1711/F            Garages 4, 5 & 6, Oldlands Hall, Herons Ghyll

Demolition of garages 4, 5 & 6 and rebuilding off new foundations.

8.2            WD/2006/0409/FE            Land at Mallards, Maresfield Park, Maresfield

Renewal of Outline Planning Permission Ref: WD/94/2951/O for six detached dwellings as modified by Planning Permission Ref. WD/03/2007.

8.3            WD/2006/0415/F            The Hermitage, Fairwarp

Two-storey extension to front with first floor balcony, replacement of PVCU cladding with tile hanging, new windows and new external staircase.

8.4            WD/2006/0541/F            The Sheiling, Straight Half Mile, Maresfield

Extension to form sun lounge at rear.

8.5            WD/2006/0568/F            52 Parklands, Maresfield

Construct a 1.8m wood panel fence on the western boundary of the property to provide privacy to rear garden.

8.6            WD/2006/0578/RM            Rear of 1 The Mill House, Maresfield

New replacement office for company.

8.7            WD/2006/0588/F            Alchornes, Bell Lane, Nutley

Single storey rear addition.

8.8            WD/2006/0681/F            16 Churchfields, Nutley

Replacement of existing gas fire in ground floor sitting room with open solid fuel fire with new external stack.

Refusals:-

8.9            WD/2006/0251/F            Old Timbers, Batts Bridge Road, Maresfield

Two storey extension to include a single-storey extension to ground floor with first floor extension above to side of property.

Appeals: – None.

9.         Onyx application for a waste facility at Maresfield Camp – review of current position

The Assistant Clerk reported the following:

• Cllr King is currently looking at traffic flow data with Mr Dick Thompson (Maresfield Conservation Group).  Measurements will be taken in the area of the proposed waste site as it stands at present.
• Cllr King continues to pursue the issue of the lease – i.e. lease of land from the County Council and whether or not they tried to achieve the best possible price for the lease.
• Cllr King is looking into East Sussex County Council’s handling of the application, i.e. whether or not the decision regarding the granting of the lease should have gone before the full Cabinet and not solely CCllr Tony Reid.

10.            Ashdown Business Park – review of current position

The Assistant Clerk reported the following:

• Cllr King continues to encourage development of this site as a business park.  He is also looking into specifics of the piece of land owned by East Sussex Fire and Rescue.
• It was noted that the land agent, Lawsons, has been trying to negotiate with Wealden District Council for four years now for the piece of land which they own.  Lawsons want to by the land without an “overage” condition.
• Part of the issue is that WDC has insisted for many years that the site should be a “high-tech” business park.

11.            Affordable Housing – review of current position

The Assistant Clerk reported the following:

• A response is awaited from Wealden District Council regarding the three possible sites in the Parish.
• Cllr Ogden was at a meeting last week at WDC regarding Affordable Housing where there was talk of self-build, this being the first time that such a discussion has been on the agenda.
• Work on future Affordable Housing provisions in the Parish is ongoing.

12.            Communication -

The residents of Hill End Farm at the end of Chelwood Gate Road have erected a tall silver metal chimney stack which it is believed is for the indoor swimming pool.  This addition is extremely ugly on an otherwise very nice old farm building and could be improved by being clad in something.  It was noted that this chimney most probably requires planning permission.

ACTION:  Clerk to write into Wealden District Council to state that this has been brought to the Parish Council’s attention.

Cllr Stevenson reminded the committee of his first meeting in October 2005 and the issue he raised of the sky dish on the listed building in Nutley.  He has not had a response yet to this enforcement issue. 

ACTION:  Clerk to investigate.

ACTION:  Cllr Ogden to raise this at the forthcoming Listed Building meeting he is due to attend.

13.       Date of next meeting – 22^nd May 2006.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20.45.