Minutes of the Wraxall & Failand Parish Council meeting held 7.30pm 3 July 2006 in The Community Room, The Grove, Wraxall

PRESENT – Cllrs. Ambrose (Chairman), King (Vice Chairman), Sage, Mrs Parsons, Sykes, Down, Sheppard & Mrs Shaw.

IN ATTENDANCE – D/Cllrs. Roberts & Clerk.

PUBLIC – Eight all residents of The Elms.

APOLOGIES – Cllrs. Delmas, Mrs Moon & Sapsed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Cllr. Mrs Parsons 48a Personal Interest only – Shaw Healthcare. Cllr. Ambrose 48a Personal Interest only – M. in Law in Sycamore House.

47 MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held 13 June 2006 were agreed and signed,

48 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT –

APPLICATION 06/P/1384/F – Erection of an 80 bed elderly and mentally infirm care home with a ten person day care centre, accommodation for 6 key workers and parking for 31 cars for Shaw Healthcare Homes Ltd at Elm Lodge, Lodge Lane, Wraxall.

MEETING CLOSED 7.37 PM – Public asked to state individually how they feel about the current proposal. Their concerns are listed elsewhere.

MEETING OPENED AT 8.30 PM.

Councillors then discussed the proposal – The ‘Outline’ proposal was smaller – 60 Beds and 1 retail unit. The previous proposal had been turned down because of the mass, overcrowding and parking.

The current proposal for 80 beds forfeits space for the workers – rooms are 9’ x 8’ – Patients rooms are only 12’9” x 9’7”.

There is still insufficient space for delivery vehicles, medical personnel visiting and patients visitors, also ambulances which would come every day to bring the day care patients. Highways Dept. have not taken on board the over-spill which will be onto the narrow Lodge Lane and adjacent roads.

Although the height has been reduced the proposed building will still be 3 storeys but Cllrs. still maintain that it is too big. N.H. Trust are still not building EMI homes to 80 be size. There is no specific dining area and not much garden (where patients will be allowed to walk). It will be dwarfed by the building and there is then only a footpath between the Proposal and the Retail site.

Councillors believe that a good barrister could fight and win against this proposal because the boundary has changed significantly. However it would be costly and it is difficult to use public money for such a purpose.

In future the Cllrs. will insist on Outline being either in more detail to prevent abuse of the system or more vague to allow for a proper challenge at full application stage.

The kitchen area is too small to feed the proposed 80 patients & 25 staff and this would mean bringing in ‘cook and chill’ meals requiring more transport.

The ‘quiet rooms’ are too small.

It was felt that NS are ‘bulldozing’ the PC – if we don’t approve this proposal we could end up with something worse.

At 21.00 hrs the Chairman gave his apologies and left the meeting to attend to a serious domestic matter.

The Vice Chairman took the chair and continued the meeting.

THE PROPOSAL was unanimous for REFUSAL on the grounds of patient facilities, residents facilities, vehicle problems and the height and size.

Cllr. Sheppard left the meeting.

EXTRA ITEMS (To meet NS’s deadlines)

FERNEY ROW APPEAL – Cllrs. voted to accept Cllr. Sykes submission to the Inspectorate.

APPLICATION 06/P/1356/F – Erection of a side/rear conservatory for Mr & Mrs Adams, 35 Green Pastures Road, Wraxall

RECOMMENDATION – Approve.

APPLICATION 06/P/1360/LB – Erection of a two storey frame-less glass infill conservatory to existing cottages for Mr R Lewis, Laundry Cottages, Belmont Estate, Wraxall

APPLICATION 06/P/1362/F – Erection of a detached double garage with ancillary accommodation over and erection of two storey frame-less glass infill conservatory to existing cottages.

RECOMMENDATION – Cllrs. approved Cllr. Sykes report and voted NOT to support.

APPLICATION 06/P/1388/F – Conversion of existing 4 bedroom dwelling into 2 no. two bedroom houses for Mrs J R Pickering, 53 Weston Road, Failand.

There is insufficient detail to consider this application. Clerk to speak to P/O to ask for more plans.

APPLICATION 06/P/1435/F – Erection of rear conservatory extension to provide play area for Charlton Nursery Ltd. 49 Charlton Drive, Wraxall.

RECOMMENDATION – Approve.

CROSS TREE SITE – The 6 remaining Cllrs. voted to support the application which is to be made by Cllr. Sapsed and to instruct the Chairman to act on the Council’s behalf in applying for funding and the subsequent contract.

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