STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning and Development Committee held in The Chanctonbury Room, The Sullington Parish Hall, Thakeham Road, Storrington, on Thursday, 12th July, 2007, commencing at 7.00 p.m.

Present:  Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese in the Chair, Mr. J. Macey, Mr. A. Mullard, Mr. D. Roper and Mrs. L. Wheatley.

In Attendance:  Mr. A. Aldridge

26.    Apologies for Absence were received from Mr. R. Dawe (personal reasons).  The reason for absence was duly ACCEPTED.

27.    To Receive Declarations of Interest from Members.  Mrs. Wheatley declared an interest in Sunset Cottage, Merryfield Way (DC/07/1068).

28.    To Approve and Sign the Minutes of the Last Meeting held on the 14th June, 2007.  These Minutes were duly APPROVED as being a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were signed by the Chairman.

    Matters Arising :-

29.    Minute Nos. 5, 20, 38, 59, 76, 98, 9: Storrington Character Assessment – Update.  It was felt that the information contained in the Historic Character Assessment (written by W.S.C.C.) could be used when creating this document.

30.    Minute Nos. 6, 21, 39, 60, 77, 99, 10: Southern Water – Update.  No reply had been received from Southern Water or the Information Commissioner.

31.    Enforcement Appeal, Sullington Lane.  The appeal had started and would continue in August.

32.    Hillcrest, Mill Lane, Storrington.  This should be chased.

33.    DC/07/0392: Hurston Lane Trees.  Will Jones of H.D.C., agreed that these trees were of high amenity value and in good condition, but W.S.C.C., had had to pay out claims for damage.  He therefore felt claims would increase and should the District Council refuse permission for the trees to be felled, the District Council would become liable for whatever damages were awarded.  Regretfully the Parish Council had gone along with this, but had insisted that replacement tree screening of some sort (with roots that would not cause such damage in the future) should be planted, such as reasonably mature trees that had small root balls.

34.    H.D.C., Review of Licensing Policy for Public Entertainment, Late Night Refreshment and Sale of Alcohol.  This document contained a questionnaire.  Mr. Mullard was delegated to respond thereto.

    The 2CV application was to be looked at by H.D.C., tomorrow, when they would decide whether or not it needed to go to committee. 

35.    H.D.C. Scrutiny and Overview Work.  A list of suggested items had been distributed to Members.  It was suggested that one  heading  should  be  ‘Inequality  of  spend  between Horsham town and Parishes’ and the relevant examples of this should then be listed under this.  The Clerk should try to condense this to a few points.  Should anyone have anything else that they feel should be included, they should advise the Clerk.

36.    Planning Applications Awaiting Comment – Appendix I.   DC/07/1054: Stone Barn Farm, Hurston Lane – It was decided that there should be no objection to this as the building was very derelict and if it was not repaired it would become dangerous.

37.    Planning Application Decisions – Appendix II.  The meeting was pleased to see that DC/07/1064: Sawyards, had been turned down.

    DC/07/0245: Lime Chase, had been granted.  The reason for this was that the tree had grown leaning over and was extremely top heavy and failed some test to do with thickness of boughs.  The house should never have been build in that location, but this had been granted on appeal.  The Parish Council had stated that this tree should be replaced with a broad leaf tree.

38.    Planning Applications, Comment Summary – since the meeting on the 14th June, 2007 – Appendix III.

39.    Letters of Explanation from H.D.C. :-
    DC/07/0314: Nyali, Hurston Lane, Storrington – tree works.  The Parish Council had objected to this application, but H.D.C., officers were to recommend approval to their Members.  The line of trees runs along the north eastern boundary of the small Hurston Close estate (an old field line).  This delineates this area from the far larger Hormare estate, there being a narrow ransom strip between the trees and the rear boundaries of the properties in this area of Dean Way.  The trees therefore provide a backdrop to the Hormare estate (Dean Way in particular) and are of high amenity value.  They long pre-date both areas of residential development.  This line of trees was presently subject to three applications; this one being the only one submitted by the trees’ owners.  The other two (DC/07/1272 and DC/07/1274) have been submitted by the resident at 52 Dean Way, and will be dealt with separately.  The proposed works involve light surgery to two large ash trees, to balance the crowns and, where applicable, to trim back branches from the house.  The large oak is to have deadwood removed only, and a small hazel bush is also to be trimmed away from the house.  These works appear minor, prudent, and in line with best arboricultural practice.  It is proposed to fell a small oak tree; this is however a poor suppressed tree of little merit.  It is best removed and replaced elsewhere in the garden.  It is proposed to use a replanting condition to ensure its replacement.

40.    Appeals Lodged:
    DC/06/2720: 1 Merryfield Road, Storrington – erection of rear conservatory.  The Parish Council had no objection to this application.

41.    Appeal Decisions:
(a)    DC/06/1424: Hareswith Cottage, West Chiltington Road – single storey side extension and entrance lobby/cloakroom.  The appeal had been granted.

(b)    DC/06/0905: Land at Southdowns House, 48 West Street – erection of chalet bungalow.  The appeal had been granted.

Chairman’s Announcements:

42.    DEFRA – Proposed South Downs National Park.  New boundaries had been proposed, but these did not affect Storrington.  There was re-consultation on these changes.  Mr. Aldridge was not sure that this would go ahead because of the cost, certainly not for the foreseeable future.  The four County Councils and the many District Council had not yet agreed demarcation on who would do what.  Mr. Aldridge would produce a report on this.  A National Park in this area was first muted in 1954, but the South Downs were not wild, the land was farmed and privately owned.  The advantage should it go ahead would be that it might be possible to obtain grants.  There were 22,000 visitors to the South Downs, it was a well used line from the southern parts to the West Country.  There was already A.O.N.B. protection so they would never build on the Downs.  The projected cost of this in 2000 was £4 million, currently the budget was £74 million. 

43.    DC/07/1195: 2 Brook Close, Storrington.  This application was in Thakeham parish, but it was felt that this Council should support Thakeham Parish Council and add comments about sewage, water and infrastructure.

44.    To Decide Whether to Keep Planning Applications or not.  This topic had been raised due to the shortage of storage space in the Parish Office.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    To keep all applications for one calendar year, plus any contentious applications.  When applications came in Members should indicate whether at the end of the year each application should be kept or disposed of, i.e.,  applications for tree surgery, conservatories, garages, porches, should be disposed of.  At some stage the last three years of applications should be gone through and sorted.

45.    Greenacres.  The Enforcement Officer should be advised because this gate was still open and in use.

46.    Christmas Lights.  Discussion ensued on this topic and it was suggested that the Parish Council should be the driver or provider of funds.  Various clubs and societies putting on things in the centre of the village.   A programme of events on the run up to Christmas should then be published.

47.    H.D.C. Formation of 25 Spaces Long Stay Car Park on West Side of Meadowside at Hanover Walk.  H.D.C., had written to the Environment Agency regarding the installation of an area of grass paving.  The layout had been revised to provide at least 8m clearance between parking spaces and the top of the bank.  The details was not thought to be harmful to the river corridor and the permeable surface provided by the “Netpave” grass paving system was considered to be a suitable “at source” means of pollution treatment.  Trees would be retained and a new tree with low shrub planting was proposed to replace the loss of the multi-stem shrub.

48.    Oak Trees at Laverock, Fryern Road.  Will Jones of H.D.C., had not come across this, but there was a TPO oak tree in the front garden (TPO 809) and the trees immediately to the rear were under TPO 399.  It was though the contractors were working on other oaks that were not covered by TPOs.  Mr. Jones should be asked to carry out a site visit to see what works had been undertaken.

49.    DC/07/1425 – Miramar, Fryern Road, Storrington.  H.D.C., had registered this as a TPO request.

50.    Oak End, Sullington.  Mr. Jones had checked the land at Oak End to see whether any TPO’d trees had been removed.  Mr. Jones had advised that some had been taken down and H.D.C., were deciding upon the way forward.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.40 p.m.