October 2020 - Minutes
OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING 27 OCTOBER, 2020 7PM BY ZOOM
PRESENT: Cllrs Lowndes Chairman, Percy, Stephens, Burrows and Parish Clerk David Holmes.
Also present one member of the public.
1. APOLOGIES: Cllr North had apologised prior to the meeting. Accepted as an acceptable reason.
2. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND DISPENSATIONS: None
3. PLANNING:
a) Consideration of Outline Planning Application S20/1615 for 2 no 3 bed dwellings with the existing gardens to no. 3 Farm Cottage and Keepers Cottage, Grantham Road, Old Somerby.
In the interests of transparency details of the applications had been delivered throughout the parish some 9/10 days earlier. The clerk reported he had had 9 responses from a total of some 12 individuals. Copies or a summary of all responses had been sent to the councillors prior to the meeting. There followed a discussion. The councillors also had regard to current SKDC Local Plan p 40 2:12 and SP3 Infill Development p. 43 as well as their own Referendum Version of Old Somerby Neighbourhood Plan.
AGREED: They had carefully noted the above Responses. Whilst in principle the councillors had no objection to the development of this site they considered that:
ACCESS ROAD: The proposed access road seemed to the councillors to be unnecessarily wide. In their view an access equivalent to a small private driveway would be sufficient to enable access to the proposed 2 dwellings and the proposed parking area behind No 3 Farm Cottage. The councillors also noted that there is already an existing access to that area.
The proposed access road measured some 5.5 metres and appeared to take up some 1/3 of the proposed development site.
WELL FIELD: The councillors wondered why new access to the Well Field was necessary as the field has an existing access that has been used for many years. This was not made clear in the application. A view across the Well Field was listed as an Important View in the Referendum Version of the Old Somerby Neighbourhood Development Plan (View F page 44)
The councillors considered the proposal was just too over-crowded for the proposed site generally.
DWELLINGS: The councillors considered that any dwellings instead of facing each other should face kerb side in keeping with the other houses on that side of Grantham Road. Any new dwellings should be constructed to reflect the style of the adjacent cottages and be constructed in natural stone with pantile roofs. The councillors felt that two detached dwellings plus a roadway of 5.5 m would not be in keeping with the character of the area.
DRAINAGE: The councillors also considered that there already exists serious issues concerning drainage along Grantham Road including the area in question which is currently being addressed by representatives of the LCC Highways and the landowner. Flooding often occurs in that area. This issue would need to be adequately addressed if the application goes ahead.
ACTION: THE CLERK to distribute a draft response to Councillors before dispatch by the deadline. Those who had responded may also wish to contact directly the SKDC with their points of view.
b) Consideration of Planning Policy Consultation document dated 8 October 2020 and a possible response. Councillor Percy had circulated discussion notes to councillors prior to the meeting. The Councillors were concerned to learn of issues which could affect the way forward regarding future planning applications for travellers- making it more likely than not that they would be granted. In particular they were concerned about the effect of those issues upon the current pending appeal before the Inspector against the refusal for such a site at Cold Harbour. The refusal had followed strong objections from local parish councils including this parish council.
ACTION: THE CLERK: Together with Cllr Percy to make contact with neighbouring parish councils and ascertain their views on this important topic. Then to report back to Councillors to enable there to be a suitable response to the Consultation by the deadline of 23 November 2020.