AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCILREPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Held on

Monday 23^rd February 2009 at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, 66 Dunstable Street.

Report No 7/2008 

Present: Councillors Mrs S Bacon, , P A Eversley, Mrs P Foster, R A Holden (Chairman), G Pascal,  G Summerfield, R Tebbutt, Mrs M Wilson, Mrs A M Wright and the Deputy Clerk Donna Searle. Also present: Mr Marcus Osborn of Oliver Street, Ampthill. Apologies: Councillors R A D Chappell (unwell) and M A Smith (prior commitment). 

1.         Public Participation

Mr Marcus Osborn registered to speak in relation to his objection to application number 09/00195/Full – 16 Oliver Street. 

2.         Declarations of Interest

Cllr Mrs A M Wright declared a personal interest in application 09/00172 as her husband is the applicant’s architect. 

Cllr G Summerfield declared a personal and prejudicial interest in application 09/00172 as his property abuts the bottom of the land at 16 Oliver Street.

Cllr Summerfield therefore took no part in the discussion or voting of the application. 

Cllr Mrs S Bacon declared a personal interest in application 09/00172 as her daughter lives opposite 16 Oliver Street. Cllr P A Eversley declared a personal interest in application 09/00172 as he is personally known to the applicant. 

3.         The following applications considered under delegation by the Clerk in consultation with Planning Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman were noted:-            

BC/CC/2009/1

The Firs Lower School. Station Road. Nine additional parking spaces.           

Bedfordshire County Council            

Resolved: That the above application be supported.            

09/00051/CAC

Ampthill Town FC, Woburn Street. Two storey visitors centre adjacent to Ampthill Town Football Club and pitched roof to replace flat roof of football club.Ampthill Town Council 

Resolved: That the above application be supported. 

4.         The following applications received from Mid Bedfordshire District Council were considered: 

09/00195/FULL

Land at 16 Oliver Street. Erection of 1 no. two bedroom dwelling, parking, drainage and ancillary works.Mr G Lester 

Resolved: That the above application be recommended for REFUSAL:

a)      If permitted the proposal would lead to an intensified use of the very narrow vehicular access into the site with a lack of adequate vision splay;

b)     Lack of adequate on site parking manoeuvrability which could result in vehicles backing out onto the road and causing potential harm to other road users and pedestrians especially as this part of Oliver Street is a safer route for the three local schools;

c)      Loss of privacy and overlooking of neighbouring properties, especially no. 18 Oliver Street;

d)     Proposed development of a one and a half storey dwelling would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the conservation area as the proposal fails to preserve or enhance the area’s special interest. 

Cllr P A Eversley abstained from voting on the above application.     

09/00183/FULL41 Bedford Street. Demolition of rear conservatory and replace with single storey rear extension, single storey garage, remove hip end to roof to form gable end and rear dormer. Demolition of detached outbuilding.Mr Moffett 

Resolved: That the above application be supported subject to there being no loss of amenity to neighbouring properties. 

09/00179/CAC41 Bedford Street. Demolition of existing outbuilding.Mr Moffett 

Resolved: That the above application be supported. 

09/00249/FULLLand at Alameda Road. Erection of 30 oak posts and removeable cast iron bollard.Ampthill Town Council 

Resolved: That the above application be supported. 

08/01890/FULL (Amended)Land on the north side of Church Street. Provision of a new long stay town centre car park comprising 100 spaces and 38 new residential units (30 houses and 8 apartments).Waveley 

Resolved: That whilst the Town Council acknowledge the need for additional long stay car parking in Ampthill we do not feel that this site is suitable for any form of development and therefore recommend that this application be REFUSED: 

a)      The site is outside of the current SETTLEMENT ENVELOPE and there is no live proposal to amend the boundary in this location; 

b)     Local Plan policy states that new residential development outside Settlement Envelopes will generally be resisted; 

c)      Prematurity there is a process in place to decide the best sites to bring forward – The Preferred Sites Option and Issues Consultation – which this application seeks to pre-empt; 

d)     The site is designated as an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) and any development would appear as a significant extension to the urban area that would seriously damage the site’s rural character; 

e)      The Town Council has concerns about the hazardous exit and egress from the site, narrowing of footpaths and the potential hazard to the on-site watercourse; 

f)       This area is one of the most important approaches into Ampthill and must be preserved. This proposal would urbanise the rural approach into Ampthill; 

g)     The proposed three storey high dwellings are not in keeping with the properties situated in St. Andrew’s Close. 

h)     The terraced blocks are out of keeping with the character of the surrounding area; 

i)        It is unclear at this stage who the ‘parking authority’ will be but it should be noted that Ampthill Town Council have no current plans to adopt, manage or maintain any future car parks at this time. 

5.         The following planning matters received after the preparation of this agenda were considered:            09/00172/FULLReddings Wood, Hazelwood Lane. Reinstatement of former site access road for farm access.            Lockheed Martin UK INSYS Ltd            

Resolved: That the above application be supported.             T

Tree Preservation Order No. 3 2008 (Station Road). The above order has been confirmed.            

Resolved: That the above be noted. 

6.         To NOTE the following planning decisions received from MBDC: Approvals           

 08/02042/FULL: 27 Parmiter Way. First floor side extension. 

08/02283/FULL: 4 Station Road. Demolition of existing garage, erection of two storey side extension. 

08/02264/FULL: 49 Russell Drive. Single storey side extension. 09/00039/CC: Firs Lower School, Station Road. Nine additional car parking spaces. 

08/02397/FULL: 8 Dunstable Street. Dormer to rear elevation. 

08/02014/FULL: 20 Flitwick Road. Single storey side extension. 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.12pm.   

CHAIRMAN                                                                DATED