The Parish Council met on Thursday 3rd May in the
Hall of Holywell Primary School where 7 Councillors were present and 5 members
of the public, including Cllr John Wright.
Public
time - SW/12/0334 Oastfield Stud & Livery, Track off Holywell
Lane-
A resident explained that she was disappointed with the lack of support from
the Council with regards to this planning application. Members agreed to
arrange a meeting to have a look at the site. Hursell Farm – A resident
wished members to understand her gypsy way of life.
Planning
- The
following applications were considered: SW/12/0331
Frog Farm, Susans Lane – Retrospective application for construction of barn
-no objections.
SW/12/0334 Oastfield Stud & Livery, Track
off Holywell Lane – Change
of use from private stables to stud & livery farm including erection of 3
foaling boxes, static mobile unit and provision of parking and turning – The plans show a significant increase in the
floor area of the buildings, on what should be green field. Therefore, the
Council would object to the size of the mobile home if it was big enough
for permanent habitation. Also, there is a risk that the road could begin
to look like a suburban road with an increase in vehicular traffic.
TC/12/0040 St Marys Church, Horsham Lane – Remove
2 x Leyland Cypress, 1 x Sycamore and 2 x Ash trees – no objections.
SW/12/0399 Co-Op, 3 The Street – Advertisement
Consent for one internally illuminated wall mounted display unit – The
majority of members objected to this proposal.
SW/12/0413 Court Lodge, Breach Lane – Lawful
Development Certificate for occupation property without complying with the
terms of condition VI (agricultural occupancy) appended to planning permission
SW/78/1283 (existing) – no objections.
SW/12/0418 Land at Breach Lane – Change
of use of land for the mixed use of agriculture and keeping of horses with the
provision of three new stables, tack rooms, haystore, and sand school – no
objections.
SW/12/0393 Land r/o 24 Wallbridge Lane – Demolition
and replacement of existing building for use as a tractor and implement store
and part domestic garage – no objections.
SW/12/0464 The Oast, Holywell Lane – Single
storey rear extension with room in loft area. No objections.
SW/12/0439 Bedfont House, Holywell Lane – Change of use from
commercial offices to private
dwelling (5 in total), extend length of north facing dormers to accommodate
juliette balconies
and additional windows in flank elevation – It was commented that
members would like
to know if information had been provided that indicated whether there was a
demand for this property to be marketed as offices.
SW/12/0330 Tanzor Riding School, Poot Lane – Retention
of existing timber building in support
of livery use of land – The Planning Review Team will review this
proposal.
Other
planning matters:
The Local Government Boundary
Commission – Electoral Review of Swale: Draft Recommendations – the proposals for Hartlip,
Newington & Upchurch ward remained unchanged.
Rural Needs Housing –Members considered the draft
wording of the questions on the voting form “Do you support the development of a small, new, affordable, housing
site in Upchurch? and “Which of the
two sites A or B do you think is most suitable for such a development or do you
think either site would be suitable? It was commented that the Council
should be consistent when referring to the proposed scheme i.e. rural needs
housing or local needs housing or affordable housing. Members discussed the
possibility of asking ACRK or other body to independently supervise the count.
The working group would meet to discuss further.
Members were informed that a
letter had been received from Mr Sketchley concerned by the proposed Rural
Housing Needs Drop In event. His concerns were that opposition groups would not
be allowed to oppose, local residents were being denied the same democratic
right as those extended to external organisations, the draft voting form was
obtained from the organisations wishing to promote the project and that many
local residents had no idea what the proposal actually meant. The Clerk will
forward a copy of the letter to all members.
Finance – Annual
Audit Return – The Clerk had
circulated copies of the relevant pages of the Audit return. It was agreed that
section 1, statement of accounts, be approved. Section 2, Annual governance
statement, was perused and completed satisfactory. Both sections were signed. Local Engagement Forum Grants
Scheme - applications
submitted for 2012-13 – the applications for Paddock Play Equipment and the
re-pointing of the Church Wall have been approved at the Swale West Parishes
meeting, totalling around £6,000. A highways grant application to the sum of
£1,000 has also been submitted for Speed Watch equipment.
Administration - Vacancy
for one councillor –
Members will be arriving at 7pm at the next meeting, for a confidential session
with any person interested in this vacancy. One person has expressed an
interest.
Allotments and Recreation
Ground – Goal Posts installed in the Recreation Ground – It is hoped to fix pig/rabbit wire on
the fence bordering Chaffes Lane to prevent footballs straying into the road. Wigmore under 11s football team – a request to use the Recreation
Ground for an awards ceremony on Saturday 26th May 2012 from midday
has been allowed. Use of
Hosepipes at Allotments – Southern
Water have confirmed that hosepipes will not be allowed whilst the water
restrictions are in place.
Burial Ground and Churchyard - Trees
in Burial Ground – the
removal of 8 x large conifers to ground level and one large ash tree will be
carried out shortly. Availability of remaining space in the Burial Ground- It is hoped to carry out another
formal assessment on the future capacity of the Burial Ground.
Environment - Queens
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations – The
Committee are making good progress.
Highways - Speed
Watch – Cllr
Catford reported that he would be meeting the Police Officer responsible for
Speed Watch on Friday 11th May 2012 to discuss setting up this
scheme. Parking in driveways, not in the road – due to the parking problems in Upchurch, residents are requested
to use their driveway for parking if they have one.
Next
meetings – Thursday 7th June and Thursday 5th
July. Please note that the meetings are held in the Hall of Holywell School and
start at 7.30pm.
Claire Attaway, Parish Clerk,
33 Church Farm Road, Upchurch.
Please note the office is open
between the hours of 9am and midday, Monday –Thursday.
Upchurch Parish Council
