PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Planning Committee meeting held on Monday 7th June 2004 at 7 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse

Present: Cllr. E J Derrick (Chairman)

Cllrs. J S Bolwell, J W Graham, M J Gregory and Mrs. M Kennedy.

One member of the public.

An apology was received from Cllr. F J Day.

Public Session: There were no comments or questions.

  1. Chairman

    2. It was confirmed that Cllr. Derrick was elected Chairman for the year 2004/2005 at the Annual Meeting of the Council.

  2. Minutes of a meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th May 2004

    3. These minutes, which had been previously circulated, were taken as read agreed a true record and signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.

  3. Correspondence

    4. a). B&NES. Public Footpath Diversion Order - Carlingcott Mill

    Members were asked to make a final decision on this proposal as B&NES were about to "make" the Order. If objections were still received B&NES would be obliged to either abandon the Order or to send the diversion proposal to Whitehall for determination by the Secretary of State. Members still wished to object and a copy of a letter from Camerton PC to B&NES had been sent with agenda - a letter with which all members agreed. It was finally agreed to continue to object to the diversion on very similar lines to Camerton and the Clerk was asked to convey this Council's views to the B&NES Rights of Way Department.

    b). B&NES. Draft Rights of Way Enforcement Policy

    A copy had been sent with the agenda for this meeting and the Chairman asked for comments. He felt that most of the procedures mentioned had already been covered by a very good set of booklets published several years ago by the Government. Clerk to send a satisfactory comment to B&NES.

    c). The Norton Radstock Regeneration Company

    The Clerk received a copy of their booklet entitled "Questions and Answers Factsheets" for retention.

    d). Somer Housing Trust

    A copy of an Email was sent out with the agenda which stated that Somer were having very good constructive talks with Highways on a possible access to the land at Albert Avenue. Sketches are now being produced to show that parking benefits would be in evidence for the existing houses. Members agreed to "watch this space" and keep their counsel until plans were received.

    e). B&NES. 12 Bloomfield Terrace

    On instruction from the Chairman, the Clerk had made enquiries to the Enforcement Officer concerning work being carried out in the garden of this property. Members were reminded that plans for a gymnasium had been recently refused, but some work was going on.

    If has now transpired that the owner is building new garden walls and the Enforcement Officer was told that a revised, but smaller, scheme might come in for the gymnasium. Again members decided to await the plans before comment.

  4. New applications

    5. There were four considered and three were supported. The other, that for a two storey extension in Adams Close was recommended for refusal due to its formation of a long terrace and the loss of a starter/first time buyer's house contrary to Policy B.4.3 of the Peasedown St John Parish Design Statement.

  5. Recent planning decisions made by B&NES

    6. Three were reviewed - two were refusals in line with this Committee's comments.

  6. Highway Problems in Springfield.

    7. Cllr. Gregory raised this problem and described in detail the facts as he saw them happening. He said that when the new houses in Laxton Way were built a gap was left in the new fencing, which has allowed an access into Springfield, which of course is a private right of way. The access is now so well worn that it looks very "legal". He had reported the problem to the Clerk as he saw it evolving when the builders were still on site. The Clerk had reported this Council's fears many times to planning officers, but nothing was ever done to finish off the fence and therefore block the access. Members felt that the problem should now be put to a chief officer hoping to get answers and action.

  7. Any other business - being an exchange of information for noting or placing on a future agenda

Clerk reported that, this very day, he had received a paper showing the B&NES official response to the new Government planning regulations on "delegations to committees". He had scanned the papers quickly and could report that B&NES would still be looking for commitment and co-operation from the Parishes even when working within the new mandatory restraints. He would get the papers copied for the next meeting of this Committee, possibly to be held on 5th July.

Meeting closed at 8.30 p.m.