Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting of 13 May 2008 held at 7.00 pm. in the Reading Room Buxted.    

Present: Cllrs. Sheard (Chairman), Chalmers, Coxon, Daniel, Harding and Warner. Cllrs. Dopson, Downing and Treacher.

Public: 10.  Sally Jackson spoke of her objection to application WD/2008/ 0981/F for Great Totease Farm because of the additional sewerage that would be generated. Her own property had been flooded three times. She was not convinced that the proposed soakaway would be sufficient.  Jennifer Arch objected to the Great Totease Farm application, she was concerned about the gate giving access onto the field. Mike Buncombe said that the application would result in an unacceptable increase in traffic onto Church Rd. A resident said that the application would be an overdevelopment and that it was not acceptable to have extra traffic in Church Road. There was already congestion in Church Road and sometimes emergency vehicles could not pass. A resident of St. Mary’s Mead said that more parking spaces should be provided.

1.

Apologies: Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr. Crowe and Rose. Apologies also received from WDC Cllr. Buck & ESCC Cllr. Reid

2.

Declaration of Members Interests in respect of items on this agenda

None this meeting.

3

Planning Applications

3.1.

Application No. WD/2008/0981/F

Location: Derelict farm buildings, Great Totease Farm, Church Road, Buxted

Description: Demolition of existing farm buildings and erection of 2 x 1 bedroom apartments, 1 x 2 bedroom apartment and four x 2 bedroom courtyard dwellings with parking for 12 cars on site, turning and covered cycle/bin storage area

Applicant: Rydon Homes Ltd

Agent: Rydon Homes Ltd

 The Council objects to this application unless vehicular access is prevented to or from the site immediately to the west (Land west of Church Road) when developed, adequate sewerage and drainage provision is made so there is no exacerbation of the current problems (especially at ‘The Folly’ to the south west of the site), new landscaping screening is introduced between the application site and the immediately adjacent property 4 St. Mary’s Mead and no construction vehicles are parked on Church Road at any time. The Council appreciates the sympathetic treatment of the site and welcomes smaller units in the village; however it does have concerns about whether the number of proposed parking spaces will be adequate for the development. Church Road is often badly congested between the application site and the junction with the A272. The Road is used for parking by commuters and also for short term parking. A Traffic Order is to be implemented later in 2008 and double yellow lines introduced which will hopefully regulate parking, but the Council would not want to see any additional vehicles from the proposed development add to the current problems.

3.2.

Application No. WD/2008/0881/F

Location: High Hurstwood Village Hall, Chillies Lane, High Hurstwood

Description: Siting of a container for storage of equipment.

Applicant: High Hurstwood Management Committee

Agent: David Scott

No objection.

3.3.

Application No. WD/2008/1075/F

Location: Cedar Haven Etchingwood, Buxted

Description: Proposed roof conversion to bungalow with new dormers and single storey front extension

Applicant: Mrs A Revell

Agent: M E Cassam Associates Ltd

No objection provided that the obscured glass windows do not result in light pollution onto the adjacent property Kirkland Lodge.

4.

Any other matters properly notified

The Clerk reported that an amended plan, application WD/08/0871 for Tuckswood, had been received which he would pass to the Chairman. As a response was required within 7 days, authority to respond was delegated to the Cllr. Crowe & Cllr. Sheard.

5.

Announcements

None this meeting.

The meeting closed at 7.30 p.m.

Signed:                                                                         Committee Chairman

Date: