AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Held on

Tuesday 5^th January 2010 at 7.30pm

 In the Council Chamber, 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill.

Report No.6/2009

Present: Councillors Mrs S Bacon (Chairman), P Duckett, P A Eversley, R A Holden, Mrs P Foster, M A Smith, G Pascal, G Summerfield, R Tebbutt, Mrs M Wilson, Mrs M A Wright and the Deputy Town Clerk.

1. 1.                  Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllr R A D Chappell (unwell).

Also in attendance were Mr D Williams and representatives from Bidwells along with eight members of the public.

1. 2.                  Public Participation

Mr D Williams spoke in relation to the application located at the south side of the Rugby Club Woburn Road. Mr Williams provided the reasons behind the application from the Rugby Club’s perspective.

1. 3.                  Declarations of Interest

Cllr P Eversley declared a personal interest in the application from the Rugby Club as he is a former player and still a member of the club.

Cllr G Summerfield declared a personal interest in the delegated application for Russell School as he is a Governor at the school and also on relation to the Rugby Club application as he had held conversations with the club before and since the application was lodged.  As Cllr Summerfield is also a Central Bedfordshire Councillor he is not able to neither take part in any vote on the Rugby Club application nor participate in consideration of the Swaffield Close item.

Cllr PDuckett joined the meeting at 8.00pm and declared his interest in the application for the Rugby Club and Swaffield Close item as he is a substitute member on the Central Bedfordshire Planning Committee.

Cllr G Pascal declared a personal interest in the Swaffield Close matter as he is a friend of the owner of the land.  Cllr G Summerfield and P Duckett would not be voting on this matter as they are Central Bedfordshire Councillors.

Cllr Mrs P Foster declared a personal interest in the application for 2 St Andrews Close as she is known to the applicant.

1. 4.                  The following applications considered under delegation by the Deputy Clerk in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman was noted:

CB/09/06504/FULL

4 The Maltings, Bedford Street. Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of ground floor rear extension.

Mrs A Kneller

Resolved: That the above application be supported, subject to there being no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

            CB/09/06367/FULL

            Russell Lower School, Queens Road Retention of Temporary classroom building.

Mr Richard Last

Resolved: That the above application be supported, subject to there being no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

CB/09/06424/FULL

South Gate Lodge, Gas House Lane. Change of use from garage to ancillary use to the dwelling.

Mr Peter Warner

Resolved: That the above application be supported, subject to there being no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

CB/09/06704/FULL

16 Flitwick Road. Demolition of existing garage and front porch and erection of a new front porch and side wall.

Mr Ian Waller

Resolved: That the above application be supported, subject to there being no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

1. 5.                  The following applications received from Central Bedfordshire Council were considered:

CB/09/06722/FULL

Land on the south side of Rugby Club, Woburn Street. Change of use from agricultural land to D2 sports pitches, training land with associated ground works.

Ampthill & District RUFC

Standing Orders were suspended at 7.45pm to allow Members to ask questions of Mr D Williams resulting in the following information being obtained:

• An environmental impact study has been carried out, but has not been submitted with the application.
• It is hoped that the impact on wildlife and the SSSI will be kept to a minimum by the use of a cut and fill technique for siting of pitches.
• The bore hole test has shown that eighteen inches down there is sand.
• There is no intention for any lighting.
• The existing club has sufficient changing room space, but is lacking in pitch space. The proposed pitches will initially be used for juniors, but could be used by adults in the longer term.
• The pitches would be maintained to match standard.
• The current pitches are overused and therefore this shows the need for further pitches.

Standing Orders were resumed at 7.50pm.

Members went on discuss the application before them with the following comments being made:

• The site plan does not identify an access from the existing club to the proposed pitches.
• The application does not address the ecological impact that the scheme will have on the SSSI – Coopers Hill.
• Intensification of traffic gaining access from the A507.

It was then:

Resolved that the Town Council OBJECTS to this application on the following grounds;
i)          That no Environmental Impact Assessment was provided with the application.

ii)                  Access to the site is across the SSSI at Coopers Hill.

iii)                There could be a potential for damage to the areas of wet flushes.

iv)                The application is contrary to Policy CS18.

v)                  This application is called in to be considered by the Central Bedfordshire Planning Committee.

1. 6.                  Land off Swaffield Close, Ampthill

Members received a verbal report from the Committee Chairman on her meeting with representatives from Bidwells (acting on behalf of Bedford Estates) held at Central Bedfordshire Council regarding the continued allocation of the site for residential development within the emerging Site Allocations Development Plan Document.

Members were advised of the following:

• The principle of development has been long established on this site and Central Bedfordshire is now proposing to take the site out of the site allocations for residential development.
• Ampthill Town Council agreed the principle of residential use of this site and therefore feels it should be retained within the site allocation for a residential development.

Standing Orders were suspended at 8.35pm to allow David Bainbridge and William Shearer of Bidwells to address the committee. It was advised that a meeting was held on 23^rd December to establish the residential use of Swaffield Close as a residential development and Bidwells wants to engage local views on this.

Standing Orders were resumed at 8.40pm. It was then:

Resolved that:

i)                    An email is sent to Cllr T Nichols Portfolio Holder, Cllr P Snelling, Chairman of Site Allocation Working Group and Simon Andrews, LDF Manager all at Central Bedfordshire, to advise that Ampthill Town Council strongly support the retention of land off Swaffield Close as a residential development site within the Local Development Framework.

ii)                  Cllr R Holden is to attend the Central Bedfordshire Council meeting on 7^th January to relay this view.

1. 7.                  The following applications received from Central Bedfordshire Council were then considered:

CB/09/06693/FULL

8 Church Avenue. Single storey rear extension.

Mr Carr

Resolved: That the above application be supported subject to no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

CB/09/06850/FULL

22 Hazelwood Lane. First floor side extension. Part two storey part single storey rear extension.

Mr Gary Moore

Resolved: That the above application be supported subject to no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

CB/09/06907/FULL

2 St. Andrew’s Close. Single storey rear extension. Tile and pitch existing garage and lobby roof. New dormers to existing rear roof.

Mrs Stanford

Resolved: That the above application be supported subject to no adverse effect on neighbouring properties.

1. 8.                  The following late applications received after the preparation of this agenda were considered:

CB/09/06888/FULL

            John Crosse Home, Station Road. New access and erection of double garage.

            Mr F Caldwell

Resolved: That the above application be supported subject to the height and position of the double garage not obstructing the vision of traffic using the A507 in any way.

            CB/09/06985/FULL

            24 Hazelwood Lane. Dormer to side elevation.

            Mr M Maizey

Resolved: That the above application be supported subject to no adverse effect on neighbouring properties and obscure glass is used in any overlooking windows.

            CB/09/06415/RM (Reserved Matters)

            Land r/o 104 Flitwick Road. Erection of 1 no. dwelling. – REVISED PLAN.

            Mr Feazey

Resolved: That the Town Council has no objection to the design and layout, however, due to the size of the dwelling there is concern about the lack of sufficient parking to serve a dwelling of this size. Increased traffic movements and the exit/entrance to the site are concerning on highway safety grounds and there could be a conflict with school traffic movements. The access also appears to be along a public footpath.

1. 9.                  To consider the introduction of a criteria template for considering planning applications.

Members were provided with a draft template as appended to these minutes and subject to a few minor additions it was agreed that the template would be a useful aid for the committee when considering applications.

            Resolved that the template be adopted for use.

1. 10.              Central Bedfordshire LDF (North Area)

Central Bedfordshire Council has adopted the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (DPD).

Two further documents will be consulted on between January and March 2010 and these documents are Site Allocations DPD including final opportunity to make comments on this document prior to examination by the Planning Inspectorate and Gypsy and Traveller DPD which will set out the Council’s preferred sites for accommodation.

Central Beds Council will contact us nearer the time with further details.

Resolved that a letter be sent to Central Bedfordshire to enquire as to whether any Gypsy and Traveller sites are being proposed in Ampthill.

1. 11.              John Crosse Home, Station Road, Ampthill 

The above mentioned property has the change of a house name and will be known as Wren House, Station Road, Ampthill, MK45 2RE.

1. 12.              Wind turbines

Following a recommendation from the full council for the planning committee to consider making representation to the Central Government’s proposal to fast track applications for wind turbines an enquiry has been made at Central Bedfordshire.

The only change they are aware of that is currently being mooted is to allow an element of permitted development for renewable energy at non residential properties.

Members were therefore requested to consider whether they wished to make any representation to Central Government.

Recommended that a letter is to be sent to Central Bedfordshire Council advising that the Town Council is already concerned at the lack of control at local level regarding planning applications and it is felt that all planning applications should be considered at local level.  A copy of the letter is to be forwarded to Nadine Dorries MP. 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25pm

CHAIRMAN                                                              DATED