Minutes of the Maresfield Parish Council Planning Committee

held on Tuesday 30 September 2003 in the Parish Office, Nutley

Present. Cllr K Ogden (Chairman), Cllr J Gutteridge, Cllr G Hardy, Cllr W King, Cllr S Leaney, Cllr C Stephens, Cllr P Tester, Cllr Miss M Thomas.  District Cllr J Hollins and District Cllr Brown were present.  Clerk: Sue Wilson.

1.         Public Questions.  There were no members of the public present.

2.            Apologies for absence.  There were none.

3.            Declarations of interest.  Cllr W King declared an interest in Item 6, Application WD/03/2215/F – Girl Guiding Sussex East.

4.            Deferred Applications:

Application No:             WD/03/1985/LB          

Applicant:                     H B Property Holdings Ltd

Location:                      Stone Barn, Hendall Manor Farm, Herons Ghyll, Nr Uckfield

Description:                 Demolish attached modern portal frame extensions on part of north-west and                                  whole of south-east sides.  Demolish southern half of curtilage building to the                         north.

Cllr Miss Thomas and Cllr Ogden had made a site visit.  The farm consists of approximately 300 acres and, as far as Councillors are aware, is the only viable farm left in the parish.  It has been purchased by a financier and divided into plots which have been sold to separate companies.  The buildings referred to in the application are relatively modern and it is not intended to demolish the house which is Listed or the stone barn which is possibly also a Listed Building or within the curtilage of the Listed house.  Councillors agreed that once the buildings were demolished it would no longer be possible to operate a viable farm.  Councillors agreed it is a fine property of intrinsic value to the vicinity.  Although District Cllr Hollins advised that there were no planning grounds for refusing the application, Councillors felt that Wealden District Council (WDC) should seek further advice from East Sussex County Council (ESCC) Agricultural Consultant and the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group.  Cllr Ogden referred to Planning Condition DC8 – proof that business use has been tried and found to be unsuccessful, Clause 6.10 of the Local Plan  regarding the need to sustain the agricultural industry in the area and Clause 6.31 of the Local Plan which discourages inappropriate fragmentation of land.  It was agreed to draw these matters to the attention of the Planning Authority on the consultation sheet.

5.            Amended Applications:

Application No:             WD/03/            1451/FR

Applicant:                     Mrs G Tolton

Location:                      Ashdown Forest Garden Centre, Duddleswell, Nr Uckfield

Description:                 Amended description – repairs, renovations and replacement cladding to                               match existing (retrospective) and change of use of nursery storage building                                    to a tea room.

Any alterations to this property cannot be seen from the road.  After a short discussion it was agreed to recommend approval in line with the Council's policy of supporting the viability of businesses in the Parish.

6.            Applications:

Application No:             WD/03/2215/F

Applicant:                     Girl Guiding Sussex East

Location:                      Picketts Wood Camp Site, Nutley

Description:                 Erection of replacement timber framed and clad Guide hut following fire                               damage to original hut.  Provision of new access ramps to hut.

The site is at the bottom corner of Cornwell's Farm, Picketts Lane and the original hut was used for storage of tents and other equipment.  Councillors agreed to recommend approval.

Planning minutes 30 September 2003                                                                            Page 2

Application No:             WD/03/            2245/F

Applicant:                     Mr J & Mrs P Shepard

Location:                      Chiltern, Crowborough Road, Nutley

Description:                 Proposed rear single-storey infill link and lean-to log store.

After a short discussion it was agreed to recommend approval.

7.            Decision Notices:

WD/03/0801/F             Melbourne, Crowborough Road, Nutley                            Approved

Cllr Leaney said he considered the approved property to be an over-development of the site which would dominate the three neighbouring properties.  Cllr Brown advised that the height of the house had been reduced by one metre compared with the original application.  Six Councillors attended a site meeting arranged by Cllr Ogden on Bank Holiday Sunday, to express their views.  Cllr Tester queried whether a WDC member had represented the Parish Council's objections and Cllr Brown advised that District Cllr Mrs S Martin had expressed concern at the WDC meeting.  Cllr Leaney felt it was important for the Parish Council to express its views more strongly and to brief District Council members.  Cllr Brown suggested this was a matter which could be raised at the District/Parish Council Conference in October.  He kindly offered to obtain a copy of the planning officer's report.

WD/03/1726/F             Croft Cottage, Crowborough Road, Nutley                            Approved

WD/03/1799/F             Little Foxes, Duddleswell, Nr Uckfield                                           Approved

WD/03/1830/F             Forest Ridge, The Drive, Maresfield                                            Approved

Cllr King expressed surprise that the Decision Notice stipulated chain link fencing in a dark green finish as this is more visible, when viewed against a background of trees and shrubs, than fencing with a black finish because the green colour never matches nature's greens.  It was agreed the Clerk should write a letter to WDC to point this out and suggest an amendment to the planning condition.

Action: Clerk

8.            Matters arising from the Wealden District Council weekley lists:

Nothing of note.

Approval of minutes of previous meeting (omitted from agenda).  Cllr Miss Thomas said she would like two amendments to be made to the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2003.  At the end of the first paragraph of Item 1, "via the A22" should read "via Crowborough Road".  The sixth paragraph, third line of this item refers to "undertook to make good the footpath".  Cllr Miss Thomas asked that the words "as far as his use is concerned" be added to the end of this sentence.  Cllr Miss Thomas proposed the minutes be adopted.  This was seconded by Cllr Leaney and agreed.

In answer to his question, Cllr Hardy was advised that Cllr Ogden attending the site meeting at Old Nether which is referred to in Item 18 of the minutes of 15 September 2003.  Cllr Ogden said the Inspector had been thorough, looking at the Listed Building, the Medieval Pale and referring to the notes and plans.  Cllr Tester proposed the minutes be adopted.  This was seconded by Cllr King and agreed.

9.         Brief résumé of Wealden District Council meeting on Tourism – Cllr Hollins.  Cllr Hollins said the WDC performance review had referred to tourism as a wasted resource.  However, it can create problems.  Hartfield, for instance, gets about 100,000 visitors because of the Winnie the Pooh Centre but there is insufficient car parking and no public toilets.  A survey had been carried out at a cost of £10,000 which advised WDC and ESCC to adopt a policy of ceasing to advertise and avoiding attracting people to the area.  The report was not underpinned by professional advice and this was merely local opinion.  In fact it is organisations such as Coca Cola, McDonalds and Disney who create interest in Winnie the Pooh.  WDC will review the problems to ascertain what is wrong and what solutions there are, as the flow of visitors must be dealt with.

Planning minutes 30 September 2003                                                                            Page 3

There are about one million visitors annually to the Ashdown Forest and the Conservators only collect about 27p per head which does not cover the cost of collecting the litter they leave behind.   This is partly due to the Forest Centre being hidden.  Cllr Hardy said the Forest was not for tourists and in his view the Conservators should not be trying to attract visitors.  He felt the Forest issues needed discussing.  Cllr Hollins said he would welcome Councillors' views on tourism, after discussion, which could be added as an agenda item for a WDC meeting.

On the subject of the Wealden Draft Local Plan, Cllr King asked whether the objections raised by Parish Councils were being noted and acted upon.  Cllr Brown answered in the affirmative.  Cllr King asked that District Councillors note that Maresfield Parish Council's objections do not relate only to Park Farm and that there are other matters at the back of the report.  Cllr Hollins said he had a copy of the report and advised that the next WDC meeting for the Local Plan Review is on 7 November.

Cllr Ogden had received a telephone call from Mrs Blake in connection with the amended application for The Highlands, Nether Lane, Nutley.  The developers have applied to re-route Nether Lane close to the site of four new houses.  This will straighten the road and provide improved visibility for vehicles.  Parishioners living in the vicinity should be made aware of the application and proposals, and advised that plans will be available for viewing in the Parish Office.  Cllr King suggested a larger hall should be booked for the next planning meeting.  Cllr Ogden said that if the plans did not arrive on the following day with the courier, he would arrange to collect them from WDC.            Action: Clerk and Cllr Ogden.

Cllr King left the meeting.

Cllr Tester proposed that the meeting go into closed session to discuss a confidential and commercially sensitive matter and District Councillors were asked to leave.  This was seconded by Cllr Hardy and agreed by Parish Councillors.

Cllr Brown and Cllr Hollins left the meeting.

The matter was discussed.

10.            Correspondence

Cllr Tester reported that a new tree has been planted near the old village hall, against the wall.  He questioned whether it was a wise idea as it is already overhanging the pavement.  Cllr Stephens kindly volunteered to have a look at it.                                                                     Action: Cllr Stephens

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.05pm.