Minutes of a Badgeworth Parish Council Meeeting Held at Badgeworth Village Hall on Tuesday

MINUTES OF A UPTON ST LEONARDS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE PAVILION ON

MONDAY 2nd OCTOBER2017 AT 7.30PM

Present:Cllr Keith PearsonChairman

CllrChrissieCastle

Cllr Graham Hayes

Cllr David Hunt

Cllr Paul Long

Cllr Mary McLachlan

Cllr Matt Sargeant

In Attendance:8Members of the Public

PUBLIC QUESTION

A Member of the Public raised there concerns about the environmental impact which the recent development has had along Dirty Lane in particular the drainage and also the removal of the wild flora. The Chairman explained the background to the issues regarding the drainage and advised that a solution has now been found which will involve the laying of an underground drainage system at the top of Dirty Lane; this will then be followed by wild plant landscaping.

PRESENTATION

The Council received a short presentation from NewDawnHomes on the proposed development along Bondend Lane.

1.TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

The Council accepted apologies from Cllrs Roy Roberts, Hilary Morris and Pete Wilson and also County Councillor Keith Rippington.

2.DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA

There were none.

3.TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 2017.

The Minutes were accepted as an accurate record of the meeting and duly signed.

4.PLANNING: to consider the following applications:

a.S.17/2079/REM – Land Adjoining Bowden Hall Farm. The Council agreed to make the fowling comments:

The Parish Council Neither Supports or Objects to the application but makes the following observations for consideration by the Planning Authority:

i.The Parish Council insists that effective drainages systems for both sewerage and surface water are demonstrated prior to approval of this application, the Council has its reservations that the foul drainage system has the capacity to cope with the additional properties, the Council is also concerned that the development may cause an additional flooding risk with the water run off into the River Twyver. The concept of having underground drainage tanks to hold flash flood situations featured strongly in the original application (S.13/1844/OUT). The current application just states ’we will introduce a SUDS system where possible. ‘ The outline applicant produced a drainage consultants report which concluded that there was a serious flooding problem that needed to be overcome and that storage tanks (not a SUDS scheme)were needed to hold back flash flooding. These do not feature in the current application although the developer at a presentation with the Parish Council stated that they would be considered because the provision of such facilities requiresubstantial engineering works it is the Parish Council view that details should be submitted as a part of this application (as with the original proposals)

ii.The Parish Council has concerns in regards to the access to the development, please can a Highways assessment of the proposed access point be given to ensure that access can be achieved and maintained, the main concerns are the tightness of the access and the impact of ensuring access during peak periods, such as School pick up / drop off times.

iii.Finally, the Council would ask for a condition to be applied to ensure that the all landscaping is completed prior to occupation of the properties.

1. APP/C1625/W/17/3177291 – Prinknash Abbey. The Council agreed to make the following comments:

i.The Parish Council maintains its original objection to the development as submitted on 3 Nov 2015.

Ii,In addition and in response to matters raised in the Appellant’s Statement the Parish Council raises the following issues. In the Appellant’s Statement ‘Planning Balance and Conclusions’ Para 5.6, the following conclusion is offered, regarding the proposed development site:

‘The land is not of high environmental value and it is highly material that the site is brown field and a sensitive re-use is desirable’

iii.The PC profoundly disagrees with this opinion. To maintain that the site does not have ‘high environmental value’ is quite untenable as any site visit will reveal The entire site is located along the face of the Cotswold Scarp edge, a key feature within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Cotswold scarp is an internationally renowned landscape much visited and appreciated by tourists from both home and abroad. The Parish Council believes that the site’s position, within a nationally protected landscape designation, inside the parkland setting of a grade 1 listed building, establishes beyond doubt the environmental value of the land in question.

iv.Whilst it is conceded that the abbey is clearly an unused building this conclusion does not mean, in the PCs opinion, that the site becomes classified as a ‘brownfield’ site. The PC is aware that the Government is introducing clear guidelines on which sites can be included in the proposed Brownfield Registers. Guidelines suggest that such sites must be suitable for housing development and in particular should not include ListedBuilding sites or land where there are significant environmental issues. This appears to exclude the possibility of this site ever being considered for such designation. Also even if the site of the unused abbey were to be considered acceptable for some form of redevelopment this could not justify development of the extended new housing site which is approximately ten times the area of the abbey footprint and consists of landscape remnants from the grounds of the Old Abbey (St Peters Grange Grade 1 Listed Building) and scrub growth typical of much of the scarp face. Attempting to maintain that the proposed new development is just the reuse of a brownfield site is therefore quite misleading

v.To justify that the proposed re-use is sensitive, the appellant has employed landscape consultants (PBA) to analyse the site. A part of the study is the presentation of photographs showing the existing abbey from a distance. This image is then compared with a visualisation of how the scene might look with the abbey removed and the proposed housing inserted.

A footnote states that the existing trees on site prevent views of the new properties.

vi.The Parish Council maintains however that the evidence produced invites just the opposite conclusion. Firstly the dispersed footprint effect is clearly demonstrated. Secondly, where the trees do offer cover this will not be maintained in winter when the leaf cover is lost. In this connection the PC is also concerned that lighting from within and around the proposed new dwellings will have a profound night time impact. Examples of this can be clearly seen in isolated existing cases elsewhere along the scarp face.

ViiThe PC is also aware that the proposals involve changes to the boundary and an effective reduction in parking spaces remaining to serve existing visitor attractions on site. In particular the BirdPark, a growing tourist attraction, is likely to be adversely affected by these changes. The Parish Council supports the BirdPark management in their requests for the current parking arrangements to be unchanged for the reasons set out in their formal submission.

ViiiIn conclusion the Parish Council maintains that whilst the PC is hoping that an alternative, appropriate use for the site can be found, the redevelopment as proposed would introduce inappropriate uses into an area substantially bigger than the existing site with long term adverse consequences for an area of international environmental significance- the Cotswolds AONB. The Parish Council therefore asks that the Appeal be rejected, for the planning reasons set out in the Council’s original letter of objection.

5.TO RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING REPORTS:

a Police/Neighbourhood Warden. PCSO Lianne Hiscock updated the Council on recent police issues in the Parish, she reported upon a recent burglary in the Village and anti social behaviour in Coopers Edge. PCSO Hiscock also reported that cars crime was a current concern in Gloucestershire and reminded the public to ensure that all valuables are removed from cars and to ensure that they are locked when not occupied. Finally, she advised that householders should be vigilant as the darker evenings are drawing in.

b.CountyCouncillor. There was no report given.

c.District Councillor. District Cllr Keith Pearson updated the Council on an increase in parking fees throughout the District, the need to reduce the staffing levels at the District Council by 20 per cent over the next for years and finally the sad passing of District Councillor Liz Peters.

d.Coopers Edge. Cllr Matt Sargeant reported that a meeting with Brockworth and Hucclecote Parish Councils is to take place on Monday 9th October 2017 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall Training room to discuss concerns about the lack of Public Footpaths on the Coopers Edge Development.

e.Clerk. The Clerks report was circulated prior to the meeting; in addition the Council agreed that a notice displaying the Clerks telephone number should be affixed to the Parish Office door so that he can be contacted when he is not in the office.

5.TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE M5 WORKING GROUP

Cllr David Hunt reported that letters have been sent in regards to incorporating the M5 Gloucestershire into the Speed Trial Zones, formal responses have not yet been received. He also advised that he felt that the road surface noise measures have had very little impact on noise reduction.

7.TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE VILLAGE PROJECTS

In the absence of Cllr Pete Wilson this item was deferred until the November Meeting.

8.TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON A RECENT SITE MEETNG IN REGARDS TO THE DRAINANGE CONCERNS ALONG DIRTY LANE.

This matter was covered under Public Questions.

9.TO RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING REPORTS:

a.Chair. The Chairman reported that the resurfacing of Bondend Road is to take place during the next half term holiday.

1. Allotments.There was nothing to report.

c.Recreation Ground/Pavilion. Cllr David Hunt reported upon the additional parking concerns especially connected to the Football Club, it was agreed to hold a meeting with the Football Club to seek a solution.

d. Environment. Cllr David Hunt reported upon an overgrown bush which was obscuring a road sign on Nut Hill, this is to be trimmed back by USCAN. He also reported that a white line by the Pound has appeared, it was agreed to report this matter to County Highways.

e.Village Hall.The Chairman reported that a Village Hall meeting is to take place on the 17 October 2017 and that the Committee are considering replacing the lighting system.

10. FINANCE

a. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNT to approve the Accounts for payment. The following accounts were presented for payment:

The Council unanimously approve the payment of the accounts.

b.To receive and note the comments made in regards to the Annual External Audit for the Year Ended 31 March 2017. The Council took note of the comments made by the External Auditor.

c.To consider and approve a quotation for a replacement Pavilion Chairlift. The Chairman detailed the 3 quotes received to the Council who unanimously agreed to accept the cheapest quote of £1625.00 (net), subject to two positive references.

d.To consider a request for a grant made by Stroud District Council towards the costs of emptying dog waste bins in the Parish. The Council agreed not to make a contribution at this stage, however if all other Parish / Town Councils were prepared to make a contribution then the Council would reconsider this item.

11.DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

Monday 6th November 2017 at 7.30pm in the Pavilion.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING CLOSED AT 9.05 PM

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