The monthly meeting of the Parish Council took place on Thursday 4th
August 2016 in the Village Hall and 8 Councillors were in attendance. Also present were Kent County Cllr Mike
Baldock, Ward Cllr John Wright, Mr Mike Whiting (representative for Gordon
Henderson MP and thirty four members of the public.
Cllr Tucker welcomed Mrs Licence who has taken over the role of Clerk to
the Council.
Public Time
i)
The Paddock Project
Councillors heard about a project which
has been set up to improve The Paddock and Swale Borough Cllr Lewin has been
approached for funding. The group would
like to put two picnic benches, one at either end of The Paddock and they are
also looking for volunteers to help with the project.
Cllr Tucker said that The Paddock is
being targeted by vandals and drunks and any problems must be reported to the
Parish Council.
ii) Affordable Housing
A resident expressed concern that
all planning applications are for four and five bedroomed houses asked if the
Parish Council can adopt a policy so that developers build two and three
bedroomed houses.
The Parish Council raised this issue
at the Four Gun development but was ignored. The Parish Council is a consultee
on planning applications and Swale Borough Council is the planning authority.
iii) Traffic problems
Residents raised concerns about
speeding vehicles and parking problems in the village however most of the
people who speed through the village are residents. The Parish Council has requested a pinch
point in the area but KCC will not do this. The parking problems are thought to
be contributed to by cars being left by the car dealers, the police are aware
and are monitoring the situation.
PLANNING
MATTERS
16/505738/OUT - Land at Forge Lane
Upchurch
Outline planning
permission for up to 110 residential dwellings (including up to 30% affordable
housing), land for a potential car park for Holywell Primary School for
approximately 40 spaces, introduction of structural planting and landscaping,
informal public open space and children's play area, surface water flood
mitigation and attenuation, vehicular access point from Forge Lane and
associated ancillary works. All matters to be reserved with the exception of
the main site access.
A large number of residents had
attended to object to the proposal. Concern was raised about the impact it would have on the village; the
infrastructure would not be able to cope; insufficient amenities; inadequate
drainage system in the village; the school has not been contacted about the
land for a potential car park for forty spaces.
Mr Whiting informed the meeting that
MP Gordon Henderson will not support any development on land which is not in the
Local Plan.
Swale Borough Cllr Wright explained
it is an outline application detailing access to the site with an indicative
number of houses for the site. It is important for everyone to comment on the
application. There are high ways
constraints; it is unsustainable; the site falls outside the Bearing Fruits
Local Plan; there are insufficient facilities in the village; insufficient
infrastructure; it will impact on the conservation area; loss of grade 1
agricultural land; it will impact the heritage coastal path; it will affect the
views towards the church and conservation area; and it will also impact on the
open farmland. The application at Moor
Street has been turned down at appeal by the Planning Inspector and this has
set a precedent.
Concerns were expressed that the
sewers cannot cope at peak times. Councillors considered
the application and the comments made in the Public Time and agreed unanimously
to object to the application.
Cllr Lewin had sent a report
informing Members that he has asked an officer from the Environmental Team at
Swale Borough Council to consider whether there are any Health and Safety
issues not dealt with by Planning at the Gypsy and Traveller site next to the Three
Sisters. Cllr Lewin has asked Planners
to investigate whether the recent occupancy of the Gypsy and Traveller site
next to the above site should be subject to planning permission as is a
designated Gypsy and Traveller site but has conditions of occupancy. Cllr
Lewin has asked officers to investigate the recent additional caravan at the
Gypsy and Traveller site at Ridgedale Stables, Halstow Lane and its siting in
the flood plain. Cllr Lewin has asked
officers to advise their next steps on Gypsy and Traveller site Holywell Lane,
Upchurch (15/500107/ENF) following the appeal decision earlier this year; there
is a planning application in this location but it is not this site. Following Cllr Lewin’s pressure last year on
Medway and Swale to co-operate on consultation responses of mutual interest, Swale
Borough Council have sent a letter of objection to Land at Otterham Quay Lane
(MC/16/2051).
Finance
The internal auditor is retiring and
quotes will be obtained from other auditors for their services.
Allotments
There have been complaints about the
state of the allotments. Unfortunately the undergrowth is full of rubbish and
parts of the site are overgrown. Some
plots have not been worked for over a year which exasperates the untidy
appearance. The low rental income is not sufficient to cover extra work on the
allotments so a meeting will be arranged with the allotment holders to find a
solution to the problem.
Burial Ground and
Churchyard
The Parish Council has received a
request from a non-resident to pre-purchase a burial plot. Councillors
considered that current residents have been refused permission to pre-purchase
plots due to the shortage of space in the burial gorund and agreed they could
not make an exception in this case.
Councillors agreed to a request for a memorial bench in the burial
ground.
Best Kept Garden Competition
The
Best Kept Garden Competition has been highly successful.
The
winners were:
Category: Mixed Flowers/Shrubs
15
The Poles
Category: Small/Hanging/Troughs
97
Beckenham Park
Category: Flowers
Orchard
Cottage, Poot Lane
Overall WINNER 1st Prize awarded to
15
The Poles
Highly commended:
21
Drakes Close
90
Oak Lane
11
Chaffes Lane
Yew
Tree Cottage, Poot Lane
Highways
There
has been a serious case of fly tipping in Canterbury Lane, part of which comes
under Medway Council, and Seymour Road which has closed the roads. This has been reported but the contractors
are given ten days in which to clear the area.
Bus Shelter
The
Council is still waiting for confirmation of a date for installation of the bus
shelter.
Date of next meeting Thursday 1st
September 2016 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
Wendy Licence
Clerk to the Parish Council
