Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting of 27 May 2008 held at 7.30 p.m. in the Reading Room Buxted.    

Present: Cllrs. Sheard (Chairman), Chalmers, Dopson, Harding, Rose.

Public:

None this meeting.

1.

Apologies: Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr. Crowe, Coxon and Warner.

Apologies also received from WDC Cllr. Buck.

2.

Declaration of Members Interests in respect of items on this agenda

None this meeting.

3

Planning Applications

3.1.

Application No. WD/2008/1097/F

Location: Ooty Dale Chillies Lane, Crowborough

Description: Proposed conservatory and new pitched roof over breakfast room

Applicant: Mr Colin Smith  

Agent: M E Cassam Associates Ltd

No objection.

3.2

Application No. WD/2008/1128/F

Location: Homestead Cottage Hurstwood Road High Hurstwood

Description: Two storey rear extension. Single storey side/rear extension, internal alterations

Applicant: Mr Downs

Agent: Mr Steve Derhun

No objection but the Council notes that:

-          the size of the property will increase by some 50% - regrettably leading to the loss of yet another small property in High Hurstwood

-          it is proposed to increase the domestic curtilage by taking in agricultural land – and to partly build the proposed extension on the agricultural land. It is noted that the ‘red line’ is shown differently on the ‘Planning Drawing’ from the ‘Block and Location Drawing’

-          a new fence has been installed on the proposed new curtilage boundary on the agricultural land

-          a new access has been cut through the field hedge on to Hurstwood Road.

3.3

Application No. WD/2008/1204/F

Location: 12 Framfield Road Buxted

Description: Two storey side addition

Applicant: Camic Developments Ltd

Agent: Mike Hill - Architectural Services

The Council objects to this application.

The Council is concerned that the application will result in the loss of a small two bedroomed house when there is an under supply of small properties and an over supply of larger properties in Buxted. The Council is also concerned that there is no off road parking spaces are to be provided given that the proposed extension will at some future point lead to increased parking need at the property. It is acknowledged that there is on-road parking spaces available on Framfield Road, but the Design & Access Statement is misleading in that it does not point out at the same time that the available parking spaces are, during the working week, almost entirely taken up by commuters using the nearby station – and that there are currently insufficient spaces for residents especially those living in properties, such as number 12, where there is no off road parking provided. In this part of Framfield Road there is constant friction between residents and commuters over parking spaces which has led in recent years to several incidents of criminal damage, to both cars and properties, and is an area that requires a frequent Police presence to deal with parking and traffic congestion problems. This property is situated immediately opposite to the access to the Basil Ionides Memorial Centre where it is proposed to locate the new Buxted GPs surgery and new Community Hall – it is therefore undesirable that applications such as this should exacerbate the current traffic congestion.

3.4

Application No. WD/2008/1233/F

Location: The Roches London Road Ringles Cross

Description: First floor rear extension to provide new bedroom

Applicant: Mr P Kavanagh

Agent: Mr John Butterfield

No objection.

3.5

Application No. WD/2008/1234/F

Location: Merlins Burnt Oak Road High Hurstwood

Description: Erection of single storey garden room extension

Applicant: Mrs Francis Robertson

Agent: Kember Loudon Williams Ltd

No objection.

3.6

Application No. WD/2008/1045/F

Location: St. John’s Church Heron’s Ghyll

Description: Extension to existing car park with mobility access provisions up to Church entrance

Applicant: Arundel & Brighton Diocese c/o Mr. B Clegg

Agent: M E Cassam Associates

No objection but the Council would prefer to the proposed new screening to be of yew, a natural species, rather than laurel.

4.

Any other matters properly notified

It was noted that the Ward Homes public exhibition about the housing proposals for the Grampian site would take place at Five Ash Down between 4.00 pm and 9.00 pm on Thursday 5 June 2008.

5.

Announcements

None this meeting.

The meeting closed at 8. 06 p.m.

Signed:                                                                         Committee Chairman

Date: