Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Committee Held on Wednesday 8Th June 2011 at 7

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE 2011 AT 7.00PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, SIMPSON CENTRE, STOTFOLD

Committee Members present:S Hayes (Vice-Chairman)

Mrs S BundockB Collier

Mrs M CooperB Dack

L Stoter

Also present:Councillors Mrs A Clarey and Mrs J Hyde, 2 members of the public and the Clerk

6258.APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Cooper, Smith and Mrs Turner.

6259.DISCLOSURE OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

Councillor Hayes declared a personal interest in the planning application relating to Parcel 4 & 4a Land South of Stotfold due to his close proximity to the pedestrian access up for discussion. Members were reminded that if at any time during the meeting they feel they have an interest in an item being discussed, they should declare it at that point.

6260.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

There were no questions, comments or responses from the members of public present.

6261.MATTERS ARISING

None to report.

6262.CORRESPONDENCE

None to report.

6263.DECISION NOTICES

None received.

6264.PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Resolved that the comments made on the planning application as listed and forming part of these minutes be forwarded to Central Bedfordshire Council Planning Department.

After the agenda was produced for this meeting, Hannah Pattinson, Central Beds Planning Officer, has asked if our comments on the following application could be reconsidered, following confirmation of details relating to it.

CB/11/01830/RM

Parcel 4 & 4A Land South of Stotfold, Norton Road

Erection of 126 dwellings (pursuant to outline planning permission MB/02/00242/OUT)

Our comments at the 1st June Planning Committee meeting were as follows:

Object on the following grounds: the plans do not include the pedestrian and cycle route from Chapel Place, which is a required safer route to school. A further bungalow should be included on the boundary near Chapel Place.

However, the plans do show 5 bungalows on that section of boundary: House Type X is a 3 bedroom bungalow and House Type W is a 2 bedroom bungalow. A section diagram on the affordable housing plans shows their height in relation to the properties in Chapel Place to the rear of the site.

The second point referred to in our comments was regarding the Safer Route to School. The Planning Officer confirms that there is no agreed Safer Route to School via Chapel Place, and has forwarded a plan to confirm this, which was provided for Members.

Therefore, Members were asked to consider if they would be ‘minded to amend their comments to be returned to Central Beds Council on this application to be No Objections’.

Councillor Mrs Bundock advised that she had recently met with the Planning Officer and Education Officer regarding the Safer Routes to School for the new RoecroftSchool. The Planning Officer advised that the route via Chapel Place was not in the approved design statement. The bridge for access to Hyde Avenue is about to go in. The Brook Street access won’t be open until building works have finished in that area. Grange Drive will be open for pedestrian access only, once the school is opened. Councillor Mrs Bundock had queried the condition of the roads and footways, and pointed out that they should be fit for use.

After due consideration it was:

Resolved that the Planning Officer is advised that the Committee are minded to remove the previous objections regarding the bungalows.

With regard to the request for the pedestrian and cycle route forming part of the safer route to school via Chapel Place: the Committee is minded to amend the wording of the objection to say that it would make a safe route to school, given the size of the site and the number of residents, and it would be desirable to have as many safe pedestrian routes as possible.

Advise that we believe there are documents that exist to prove that the original site plans show pedestrian access to the site via Chapel Place, and it was always understood that there are three footway/cycleway access points into the site: Hyde Avenue, Brook Street and Chapel Place. Ask when the Chapel Place access was removed from the plans, and request that it is reinstated due to the enormity of the site.

6265.ATTENDANCE AT CENTRAL BEDS DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT MEETING

Resolved that it is not necessary for a representative of this committee to attend the Development Management Meeting at Central Bedfordshire Council on behalf of the Town Council.

6266.ITEMS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY

A request was made for Members to check the building works being carried out on the corner of Regent Street and Whitecrofts against the approved plans.

The Clerk will check against records whether planning permission has been granted for a large timber building with tiled roof at East Lodge on the edge of the Fairfield development.

There being no further relevant business the meeting was declared closed at 7.17pm

CHAIRMANDATED

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09/06/11