KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Committee
held in the Epworth Hall at 6.30pm on Monday 1 June 2015
Present: Cllr Harwood (Chairman), Cllrs Curtis, Evans, Lane and Sutton
In attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session: B/Cllr Ward and 10 members of the public were present.
74. Apologies
74.1 None.
75. Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 May 2015
75.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2015 had been circulated with the agenda.
75.2 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Evans, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2015 be accepted as a true record.
76. Matters Arising
76.1 There were no matters arising.
77. Declarations of Interests and Requests for Dispensations
77.1 Cllr Evans declared an interest in the application 14/02819/OUTS and Cllr Lane declared an interest in the application 15/00987/OUTS and both abstained from voting.
78. Consideration of Planning Applications
• 14/02819/OUTS – land between Eldon Road and Furzedown Road – erection of up to 60 dwellings, landscaping, open space and play area, surface water attenuation, vehicle access and ancillary works (amendment to description and supporting information). Councillors welcomed the large public attendance to express their views against the proposal. Cllr Sutton questioned whether there might be a finite number of houses acceptable to the community but others thought not. Proposed Cllr Curtis, Seconded Cllr Lane, RESOLVED with Cllr Evans abstaining (business interest) that an objection be made to the application on the grounds that the reasons submitted previously remained extant; the availability of the affordable housing proposed would not be limited to local persons and this was deemed to be of serious concern given the lack of employment opportunities in the area and lack of public transport to those areas with some employment prospects; the lack of rigorous consultation with the community at large, the fliers issued by the applicant only going to selected adjacent dwellings; the exit from the proposed area was on to a single track road in a dip which meant approaching a blind summit with limited line of sight and a further junction with the Lancaster Green estate recently completed; and the preference for organic development from inside the community rather than adding estates on the periphery to the detriment of the surrounding countryside. Additionally, councillors took the view that if some development was to occur, a serious need existed to improve the local road infrastructure as the potential increase in traffic volume in the area was deemed to be severe and not as stated in the applicant’s traffic survey which was taken at a slack time of day; significant improvements to drainage and sewage disposal would be required as evidenced by the recent major flooding when a mix of surface water and sewage from this area flowed through the village centre; and addition upgrading of the electricity supply would be required again as evidenced by the regular power cuts suffered during strong winds and storms especially in Winter. On amenities, an increase in the population especially young families would engender a need for public transport improvements especially the re-introduction of a regular bus service during the day. The acquisition of a community bus, further modernisation of the Village Hall as the one of the focal points in the community to foster social cohesion, a new dedicated pre-school and the addition of a doctors’ surgery would be of considerable benefit to the community at large and partially offset the disadvantages of the proposed development.
• 15/00791 PDMBS – Cow stall conversion, Horsebridge Road – previous concerns remained relating to vehicle access, lack of bat survey information, and the undesirable nature of the proposed development in an isolated countryside location
• 15/00987/OUTS – Ourn, Up Somborne Lane – erection of dwelling and garage – councillors supported the two written objections received on the grounds that the proposed development would be out of character with the area, too large a building was proposed, access would be from a single track road and some 20 trees were to be felled
• 15/00649/FULLS – The Old Exchange, Romsey Road – amendment to previous application to erect a detached oak framed open double garage and garden store with room over – support
79. Report on Recent Planning Applications
• 15/00866/TREES – Garden Lodge, Winchester Road – crown reduce Willow back to pollarded points – support. Permitted.
• 15/00962/TREES – Rekero, 3 Old Iron Foundry – remove 2 Yew – support. Permitted.
80. Clerk’s Report
80.1 The Clerk reported that a review of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) was in progress and this would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting for consideration.
81. Date, time and place of next meeting – Monday 15 June 2015 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, Winchester Road, King’s Somborne
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 7.15pm