MINUTES OF THE WRAXALL & FAILAND PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD FVH 7.30PM 14 JULY 2009

 

PRESENT ~ Cllrs. Ambrose (Chairman), Thompson (Vice Chairman), Delmas, Mrs Shaw, Law, Mrs Moon, Sage & from 7.45pm Cllr. Pitt.

 

IN ATTENDANCE ~ Liaison Officer Sally Varley, PC Adam Clarke, Clerk & from 9.58pm District Cllr. Roberts (After a previous meeting).

 

PUBLIC ~ James Bray re Combe Cottage 213e, & from 7.50pm John Ives.

 

APOLOGIES ~ Cllrs. King & Sheppard & District Cllr. Cook.

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ~ Cllr. Pitt 213h – Knows the applicant.

 

209              MINUTES ~ The minutes of the meeting held 9 June were agreed and signed.

 

210              CRIME FIGURES ~ PC Clarke reported 5 crimes since the last meeting.

 

Burglary ~ Belmont Hill ~ Musical Instruments taken ~ now recovered.

Harassment ~ Domestic.

Offensive Weapon ~ White House Lane ~ Pocket Knife.

Theft ~ Ashton Hill Car Park ~ 22/6 4pm.

Theft ~ Budgens.

 

211              TYNTESFIELD ~ Ruth is still away from work, ill.

212              ISSUES

 

a)       NEW TOWN & PARISH CHARTER WORKING GROUP

Those attending encouraged others to attend.

 

b)       COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANS

These are in the process of being drawn up.  Sally Varley suggested that Swine Flu should be considered.

 

c)       ELECTRONIC CONSULTATION RE. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

It was felt that we should wait to see what others do.

 

d)       SCOPING REPORT: TRIANGLE OF LAND TO S OF LONG ASHTON

It was felt that if all the expected P/As come in NSC has not got the capacity to deal with all at once and so those not dealt with in time would go to appeal.

 

e)       REPORTS FROM IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEES RE PARISH PLAN

Peterjohn Smyth is trying to get residents of The Grove to his meetings.

 

                              There is a difference of opinion at the PROW meetings.

            EXTRA ITEM

            A meeting of The Forum with Backwell PC, Nailsea TC, Tickenham PC and

            ourselves has been arranged for 4pm at Nailsea TC offices on 16 July 2009.

 

213              PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT

a-d have already been advised to NSC.

 

a)       APPLICATION 09/P/0853/F – Change of use from country house estate to country house and estate open to the public with retention of a temporary car park, visitor facilities to include, catering kiosk, portaloos, shop and reception buildings at Home Farm and replacement of marquee with a temporary portacabin all to end of March 2011 for National Trust at Tyntesfield.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION – Approve of the temporary application until the season

 end 2011.

b)       APPLICATION 09/P/0873/F – Installation of LPG Calor gas tank together with the construction of concrete base and erection of fencing to rear of the stable block building for National Trust, Tyntesfield.

 

RECOMMENDATION – It is felt that the location of this installation would impact strongly on views etc. when going up the lane.  Cllrs. suggest that an acceptable alternative would be on the other side of the road, behind the trees where there are some flat spaces.

They are not against the installation but are against the location.

 

c)       APPLICATION 09/P/0897/F – Works to provide temporary car parking area for up to 23 cars adjacent to Estate offices.  Also, temporary use of east slip area of Toggles field for car parking.  All to be until November 2011.

 

RECOMMENDATION – Cllrs. have split this into two as they are recommending

      different answers.

Re: temporary car parking for 23 cars adjacent to Estate Offices.  No problem.

 

However, they are not happy with the suggestion to use Toggle field ~ it is too far

      away from the area of work so would involve carrying of tools etc. to the place of

      work, which is unlikely to happen.

It would be clearly visible across the valley, which is picturesque when viewed

from the other side.  Cllrs. feel that an alternative site should be chosen.  It could,

of course, be screened but they felt that was not the appropriate approach ~

      Refuse on this site.

 

d)       APPLICATION 09/P/0901/TPO – Walnut x 1 – Remove lower limbs.

                                                        Cypress x 1 – Remove lower limbs

       By Swift Tree Surgery re. Wraxall House, Bristol Road, Wraxall.

 

       RECOMMENDATION – Approve.

 

e)       APPLICATION 09/P/0971/F – Rebuild dwelling house with addition of roof including gable on east elevation for Mr & Mrs Bray re. Combe Cottage, Portbury Lane, Wraxall.             &

f)         APPLICATION 09/P/0972/LB –  Rebuild dwelling house with addition of roof 

       including gable on east elevation for Mr & Mrs Bray re. Combe Cottage, Portbury   

       Lane, Wraxall.   

      

Councillors were aware of the 2003 application which had been supported by the Parish Council and rejected by NSC and on Appeal.

Since that date, the whole site has been cleaned up and in particular the house and its immediate surroundings, such that, walls, floors and structure are clearly visible.

The main omission is the roof and some courses of a gable wall.

This is a very important fact in the present application as the Appeal decision was based on flawed information and assumptions which lead to an unsound judgement.

Suggesting, therefore, that the 2003 Appeal decision should be set aside.

There are therefore no grounds for refusing this application; on the contrary, there are many positive reasons for supporting it.

Many planning guidance notes encourage us to make best use of existing properties.

Appropriate References seem to be… ECH 4 favour of preservation

ECH 7 encourage to improve, H 2 best use of existing resources

H 10 retain dwelling, PPS 1 actively seek to bring back into use

PPS 7 reuse previously developed site and therefore support this application.

Of the other grounds referred to in the Appeal decision;

The access onto Portbury lane will now be relocated creating an acceptable entrance and exit.

There are no immediate neighbours so there can be no harm caused.

The green belt is not impacted as it will only be restored to its original state in both size and appearance and will enhance the area.

This seems to the Parish Council to be considerably more preferable to a derelict and dangerous building and we therefore, unanimously, recommend supporting this application.

             MEETING CLOSED 8.25pm for Mr Bray to speak.

                               Mr Bray said that the house was built in the mid 1600’s with further parts in

                   1800’s and late 1900’s.  The appeal decision in 2003 stated that 50% of walls

                    would have to be rebuilt.  Clearly this is not so when the vegetation is removed.

                   He was advised that Appeals could not be overturned but he said that he had

                    been advised that the fundamental reason for the refusal was flawed and so it

                    could be OK.

                   Planning Dept. have advised us that when they receive an application re. an

                   ‘abandoned’ property items re. Green Belt come into play.

                   Cllrs. felt that a listed property should not be lost but should be repaired and kept.

                   If it were dangerous, which this is not, then demolition is the preferred course of

                    action ~ If it had to be covered with tarpaulin it would look worse.

                   MEETING OPENED 8.45pm

                   RECOMMENDATION – Unanimous Support.

 

g)       APPLICATION 09/P/0979/F – Erection of new stables, tack room and garage/store for Miss A Batten, Belmont Combe Cottage, Flax Bourton Road, Failand.

 

The stables are very large 14’ x 14’.  The overall proposal being 11m x 7m ~ almost as large as the original house.  It was queried whether LB was required.

            8.55PM JOHN IVES LEFT THE MEETING

RECOMMENDATION ~ NOT to support on grounds of size, scale and the fact that it will be seen from Flax Bourton Road.

     

h)       APPLICATION 09/P/1027/F – Erection of a two storey and single storey side

       extension.  Extension to rear timber decking for Mr & Mrs Pilley, Cetina, Tower

       House Lane, Wraxall.

       This decision was postponed until 20/7 so that Cllrs. could contact the

       neighbours who could be affected.

 

      EXTRA ITEMS

      APPLICATION 09/P/1094/F - Refurbishment works to existing property including     

      alterations to roof. Erection of single storey side extension and first floor infill  

      extension. Erection of front extension to create new lobby entrance for Mrs

      Enderby, Ridge House, Horse Race Lane, Wraxall.

      There seems to be some discrepancy with names of applicant and agent (2). The

      proposal, whilst on the same footprint, would increase the floor area by something

      in the order of 370 sq.m, mainly through the in-fill at first floor level, BUT it does

      increase the bulk/mass appearance of the house. The removal of the extension 

      labelled 'kennel' would probably compensate for the small single-storey proposed

      side extension. Although the statement says that the plans approved in 2008,

      which included a double garage, are not going to be activated we note that there

      are no garages shown on the 'new' plans. This causes concern that there could

      be a further P/A adding to the overall built area We hold several previous P/A's

      which were rejected, as well as the total rebuild application which was approved,

      but is not now to be used. However we do not hold any earlier than 2006. Have

      there been previous extensions which have already added to the volume?.

 

     RECOMMENDATION - Support BUT Councillors had concerns regarding the

     volume the proposal would add and the fact that it is in the Green Belt. It is also on

     view from Horse Race Lane.

 

9.35PM CLLR. MRS SHAW LEFT THE MEETING DUE TO PAIN IN HER BROKEN LEG.

EXTRA ITEM    APPLICATION 09/P/1082/LUE – Tickenham Planning Application for   

     Information only ~ No comments

 

i)         Clerk reported on decisions made by NS Council on Planning Applications previously considered by this Parish Council.

 

214              HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION ~ Nil

 

215              PROW

 

a)       PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER No. 1  2009

Re. LA 20/30, LA 20/31,  LA20 /32 & LA 20/32a.

NOAH’S ARK ZOO FARM, CLEVEDON ROAD, WRAXALL

Confirmed 19 June 2009. ~ Noted

 

 

b)       PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER No. 4  2009

Re. LA20/79 LIMEKILN HOUSE, PORTBURY LANE, WRAXALL.

Confirmed 19 June 2009 ~ Noted

 

 

c)       PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER No 2  2009

Re. LA 20/50 ORCHARD FARM, BRISTOL ROAD WRAXALL.

Objections had been sent 23.6.09 (Deadline 29.6.09)

      

There was much dissent when Councillors discussed this matter at the Parish Council meeting. They all felt that it was unnecessary to start the diversion at point A ~ preferring to start the diversion at point C. It was decided that three councillors would walk the footpath and the diversion again and report back. I give below the comments of the three:-

"Richard, Bob and I walked this path again on the 13th June and concluded that although we think it reasonable for the path to be diverted around the buildings of Orchard Farm, we feel it unnecessary to begin the diversion at point A which would cause a loss of farmland and be a less enjoyable experience for the footpath user. We suggest the diversion should begin at point C and therefore believe this objection should be raised with NSDC before the cut off date of 29th June".

Will you please take their comments into consideration.

 

216              MEETINGS

 

a)       TOWN & PARISH DEVELOPMENT CONTROL WORKSHOP  11 JUNE 2009

A report of this meeting was given to Cllrs.

 

b)       TARMAC at Durnford Quarry 11 June 2009

This involved the proposals for the next 20 years.

It has been picked up by Waste Dept.

 

9.40PM JAMES BRAY LEFT THE MEETING

 

c)       PARISH COUNCILS AIRPORT ASSOCIATION  16 June 2009

Cllrs. had been circulated with PCAA papers.

 

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

 

d)       MAKING NORTH SOMERSET HEALTHIER 16 JULY 2009

 

e)       FLP re Weston Road . The company FLP had not given sufficient time for residents to attend public meeting so they are to hold 2 more meetings.

 

              DISTRICT CLLR. ROBERTS JOINED THE MEETING ~  9:58pm.

             EXTRA ITEM ~ SEVERN ESTUARY FORUM ~ Brochures handed out.

 

217              CORRESPONDENCE

 

a)       AVON & SOMERSET POLICE AUTHORITY – POLICING PLAN

Available.

EXTRA

                  COMMUNITY ACTION AGM  2 ~ 3.30 pm 29 July ~ Cllr. Thompson will attend.

218              FINANCE

 

EXTRA ITEM ~ COMMUNITY ACTION SUBSCRIPTION INCREASED TO £30 ~ Approved.

 

a)       ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT ~ Approved

 

Chq. No        Payee                                                                Details                                                            Amount

1859

JWJ Frappell

Gate stop & spring – Mill Green

26:00

1860

North Somerset Council

Wraxall School for PC meeting 9/6

18:00

1861

Landscape Services

Grass cutting – May

213:58

1862

Avon Wildlife Trust

Membership renewal

42:00

S/O

Mrs F Shattock

Salary – June

1069:77

1863

Landscape Services

Grass cutting – June

213:58

1864

Mrs J Cobb

Safety Reports – Mill. Green – June

50.00

1865

Connaught Environmental

Empty Dog Bins – April & May

36.80

1866

Mrs F Shattock

Reimburse – Broadband 18.58

Opal – ‘phone calls         13.75

Stamps on Parish Plans 12.16

Stamps on Parish Plans   2.08

Stamp on Parish Plan         76

 

 

 

 

47.33

 

 

 

219              BUSINESS FOR NEXT MEETING ~ Nil.

 

220       CHAIRMAN’S URGENT BUSINESS ~ Nil.