MINUTES OF THE WRAXALL & FAILAND PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 10 March 2009 AT FAILAND VILLAGE HALL

 

PRESENT:- Cllrs. Ambrose(Chairman), King(Vice Chairman), Smith, Law, Thompson, Mrs Moon, Sheppard, Pitt & Delmas.

 

IN ATTENDANCE:- District Cllrs. Cook & Roberts, PC Adam Clarke,  Chairman of Long Ashton PC~Charles Cave, Chairman of Parish Plan Steering Group~Doug Macmillan, Ruth Gofton National Trust & Clerk

 

APOLOGIES:- Cllrs. Mrs Shaw & Sage, Liaison Officer Sally Varley.

 

PUBLIC:- 13

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:-  Nil.

 

161              MINUTES – The Minutes of the meeting 10 February were agreed and signed.

 

162              CRIME FIGURES – From 1 February to date there were 8 crimes.

 

163              TYNTESFIELD – See below.

 

164              ISSUES

a)         TRANSPORT PROPOSALS – Will be discussed at APM.

 

c)         SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 2007 – The following was sent as a response:- “We are unable to comment in the detail you requested.  We can comment that Communication & Publicity are two important aspects for Parish Councils to deal with; they are also the two most difficult to achieve successfully and are costly.

Not withstanding the heading of the consultation document ‘Communities in Control, real people, real power’ the aspect of the consultation that really concerns us is the fact that we have less say, less power and less control in our communities now than ever before.

 

d)         COMMUNITIES IN CONTROL – This is about publicity by Local Authorities.

 

b)         PARISH COUNCIL POSITION & PROPOSED ACTION ON DEVELOPMENT IN GREEN BELT.  ASHTON HILL FARM & AREAS AROUND WESTON ROAD.

 

MEETING CLOSED 7.42pm.

A long discussion took place and the

MEETING RE-OPENED AT 8.51pm.

 

Cllr. Ambrose proposed that a working group should be set up after liaison with Long Ashton PC with a public meeting asap – when FVH is available.

 

MEETING CLOSED 8.53pm

Seven people put their name forward for the Working Group.

Cllr. Ambrose will write the terms of reference.

MEETING RE-OPENED 8.55pm.

 

e)         RESPONSE TO PLANNING FOR WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES.

Option ‘c’ proposed by Cllr. Ambrose.  Cllr. Law agreed.

 

f)                     PARISH PLAN – Doug Macmillan, Chairman of PP Steering Group gave a presentation and handed Draft copies of the Plan to Councillors.

 

163        TYNTESFIELD

Ruth Gofton gave a progress report on Tyntesfield.

They will open 4 April & also have Easter activities.

There is to be two new paths – NOT Rights Of Way.

 

Cllr. Delmas commented on a recent planning application to refurbish the roof when concrete is to be put on the ground for the scaffolding which must not touch the house.

Cllr. Ambrose said that grab handles should be put in the concrete so that a crane could pull it out.

Cllr. Delmas suggested that a barrier should be installed to stop the concrete seeping into the ground.

 

165               PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT

 

a)        APPLICATION 09/P/0165/TPO ~ Hemlock x 1 – 15-20% crown reduction 

        application by Mr A Tavener for Ormsby, Tibbington, Lodge Lane, Wraxall

 

 RECOMMENDATION ~ Support.

 

b)        APPLICATION 09/P/0177/F ~ Erection of carport for Mrs L Green, 19 Woodland  

        Close, Failand.

 

 RECOMMENDATION ~ Approve.

 

c)        APPLICATION 09/P/0229/LB ~ Erection of a single storey front extension to link

 house with detached converted garage and construction of 1.2m high wall for Mr 

 M Lindrea, Rock Bottom, Bristol Road, Wraxall

 ALSO PRE DECISION AMENDMENT RE. 0071 & 0229, Amendments:- Change

 of porch roof to cat-slide roof and changes to French windows

 

RECOMMENDATION – No objection.

 

d)       APPLICATION 09/P/0234/F ~ Erection of a 5-bed house with garage and vehicular access following demolition of existing dwelling (part retrospective) for Ekistics Limited at Hazel Grove, Tower House Lane, Wraxall.

 

RECOMMENDATION – No objection.

 

e)       APPLICATION 09/P/0236/F ~ Erection of a two storey side extension for RJ & KD Franklin, Brookfield Rise, Lodge Lane, Wraxall.

 

RECOMMENDATION – Approve.

 

f)         APPLICATION 09/P/0322/F ~ Erection of a replacement glasshouse for Mr D Ord, Wraxall Court, Wraxall Hill, Wraxall.

 

RECOMMENDATION – Support.

 

g)       APPLICATION 09/P/0323/LB ~ Erection of a replacement glasshouse for Mr D Ord, Wraxall Court, Wraxall Hill, Wraxall

 

RECOMMENDATION – Support.

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL REPORTED SINCE LAST PC MEETING

            RESPONSE TO PLANNING APPLICATION: - 08/P/1814/F

Erection of Tiger House and Associated Fencing – Noah’s Ark Farm

Councillors (CA,GM,RK,BS) met to discuss this application on Friday 13th February

As the Parish Council had at its meeting earlier in the week expressed grave concerns over this planning application.

Councillors identified a number of matters that had not been addressed by the applicant:

The design and access statement makes no mention of;

1.       A specialist keeper employed to deal with carnivores.

2.       No indication of a marksman on patrol 24 hours per day.

3.       No indication of a secondary security fence.

4.       The proposed location of the compound Is near a PROW and the boundary, where horses are kept in the adjacent field. This we believe will distress both animals

5.       There is too much development in the green belt for the small number of animals involved.

6.       The acreage on the planning application form appears to be incorrect by a factor of two?

7.       The Parish Council has been supportive of the previous planning applications, relating to herbivores and animals which live on fruit and vegetation.

8.       The Zoo / Farm is well supported with its present arrangement, with over 120,000 visitors per annum, and whilst we recognise the need to keep the attractions fresh we believe this can be achieved without the need to extend into dangerous animals.

9.       Some members of the public feel strongly that it is inappropriate to keep tigers in such a confined space.

Councillors therefore recommend that the PC does not support this application.

~~~~~~~

APPLICATION 08/P/1884/F - Car Park Noah’s Ark Farm

Councillors considered this application and concluded that they supported it in principle and wished to draw attention to the following;

1)That the Car park should allow for the PROW requested to be included in the PROW order associated with Moat House Farm Zoo.

2)That the surface be specified as gravel only and no Tarmac / concrete to be allowed to ensure water can drain freely.

~~~~~~

PLANNING APPLICATION 09/P/0010/F MOAT HOUSE FARM

Councillors (CA. RS. GM. RK.) considered the application in the light of the reply to earlier questions raised by the PC with NSC.

This is an unusual retrospective application in that it covers the changes which have taken place over the last 10 years, from Farm to "Tourist Attraction" and now to "Zoo Farm".

Councillors are content to approve the changes that have taken place thus far.

However, there are great concerns and reservations regarding future development proposals under the title of "Zoo".

It is accepted that for the venture to flourish, it is necessary for it to develop with new features.

However, the stated intention is to use the land for the "keeping of exotic and large zoological animals." Which raises concerns?

These concerns range from the general (e.g. the increasing plethora of animal housing buildings in the Green belt) to the specific, regarding the type of animals considered suitable in this environment (e.g. the current application for tigers).

Councillors, mindful of the fears of local people, would like to restrict the type of animals and would like guidance on how this can be implemented.

Councillors wish to state that they consider it an imperative that a condition is imposed on the application such that no work can commence on proposed new enclosures until the existing PROW are formally extinguished and the new proposed routes accepted.

At the same time the order must include that, at all gates facilities for the disabled in the form of say the "Bristol Gate" (a gate within a gate) must be provided.

 

 

h)       APPEAL ~ Mr  P Jones re. 45 Clevedon Road, Failand re 08/0294 & 08/1796. Both Dismissed.

 

i)         PLANNING GUIDE to be produced by Dr. Wendy Le-Las 2010.

 

j)         SEVERN ESTUARY SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN read to Cllrs.

 

166              HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION – There is a new system for reporting problems to Highway’s Dept.  Anyone can go directly to H’ways.

However the following were brought to the Clerk’s attention for reporting:-

a)   Large trucks are going across the kerb and breaking it up at the junction of Lodge  

      Lane & Elm Lodge Road where there is no left turn.

b)       Horses and electric tape are across a PROW. Cllr. Law will let clerk have details.

c)       PROW Finger post at Dandy View, West Hill is missing.

 

167              PROW

 

a)       Foot Path LA20/33 Opposite top of Portbury Lane diagonally to Tyntesfield Drive.

Passed to Enforcement who are monitoring.  

 

             b)   PROW’s MOAT HOUSE FARM

D/Cllr. Cook advised that the 3 planning application had been passed by NSC but DEFRA must approve too re. PROW’s

Cllr. Mrs Moon advised that, re. The Tiger House, she is in touch with someone knowledgeable about tigers and the space they require as ‘roaming’ animals. She will keep us informed.

           

c)   LA20/50 – Orchard Farm.  The amendment to the PROW was thought acceptable

However Cllrs. Pitt & Smith will check.

 

168              MEETINGS

 

a)       SEVERN BARRAGE PROPOSALS INFORMATION EVENT Tuesday 31st March.

Cllr Thompson wished to attend.

 

b)       TARMAC ~ DURNFORD LOCAL LIAISON GROUP MEETING 11 FEBRUARY

Cllr. Ambrose gave a report on the meeting.

 

169              CORRESPONDENCE – Nil.

170              FINANCE

 

a)       GRASS MAINTENANCE ~ OPENING OF TENDERS

Six tenders received and opened.  Contract awarded to Landscape Services.

 

b)       ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

 

Chq No.        Payee                                                                               Details                                                                          

1804

North Somerset Council

Unlocking & locking school. PC 10.2.09

18.00

1805

Tristan Browne

Parish Plan Stats. Analysis

400.00

1806

Cove (SW) Ltd       (Printers)

Business Cards x 2

69.00

1807

Tonkin & Daughters

Repair & re site Notice Board 235.00

Renovate & re site Notice Board 150.00

Secure seat at bottom Wraxall Hill 35.00

 

 

420.00

1808

Woodland Trust

Subscription

72.00

1809

Mrs F Shattock

Reimburse for consumables

199.17

1810

Connaught Environmental Ltd

Emptying Dog Bins ~ January

18.40

1811

Mrs J Cobb

Safety Reports, Mill. Green ~ February

40.00

S/O

Mrs F Shattock

Salary February

1069.77

 

 

171               BUSINESS FOR NEXT MEETING – Nil.

172       CHAIRMAN’S URGENT BUSINESS – Nil.