To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.
Minutes:
Referring to item 11 on the agenda, 19 Exeter Road, Silverton, Mr Peter Davies said that this was the fourth set of drawings we’ve had to object to and each time it has been because the objections we have made have not been addressed significantly. The list of objectors to the previous plan was considerable and included the Parish Council, the Ward Councillor, 14 neighbours, the Conservation Officer and this Committee. Once again the Parish Council have come out strongly against. The implications report concluded that there are reasons for refusal and nothing in the revised plan changes this. The Committee rejected the previous plan because of over development and this remains unaltered. Members complaining of shoe horning two buildings onto the site and cramping them in will still be disappointed. The committee rejected the previous plan because of the street scene. The two two-storey buildings will still have an over powering visual affect and look completely out of context in this row of bungalows. Positioning them back one metre will have little significance. The Committee also rejected the previous plan because of the impact on the conservation area. The hedge bank at number 19 continues along Exeter Road to the country lanes leaving the village. This was previously 1.7m high. Mid Devon District Council’s Silverton conservation area appraisal plan reports that the character of Exeter Road is enhanced by its hedges and that removal would impact greatly on the street scene. This bank is to be replaced by a narrow wall as seen in the drawing 1p16. As this wall will only be up to 900mm high there will be a large open frontage creating a suburban feel and certainly not improving or enhancing the conservation area. Furthermore with a large tarmacked front garden and wide visibility lines there will be little room for any planting. At the last committee meeting a Member wished to be reminded of the pre appraisal plans. The first planning officer from this council decided that the site was only suitable for one dwelling with amenity space to the front and back. I would also add that one could then keep the same gated entrance and all the bank and hedge. Members have also remarked that one dwelling would sit better on the site. May I ask the current officer if such a proposal would not better satisfy every one of the Committees objections? As these revised drawings fail to implement these objections I can only urge the Committee to uphold its previous decision and reject this application on the same basis of over development and detrimental impact on the street scene in a conservation area.
Mr John Joliffee, Executive Head Teacher of the Exeter Federation which includes Newton St Cyres Primary School, referring to item 12, said that as there are several members of the Planning Committee that were absent from the briefing meeting that was held last week he would like to ask if they were aware of the very tight timescales that the EFA are now working under and that this would mean that any delay to the proposed new school could jeopardise the whole scheme and also I’d like to ask if the Committee Members have had the opportunity to read the schools updated travel plan and the support that parents have shown for walking buses, scooting and cycling to school and finally to ask if those committee Members are aware of the overwhelming support of the community for the new school and their support for the new improvements to the junction of the A377 and Station Road and the benefit that this will be to the whole community.
Mr Bill Croome, speaking to the item regarding 19 Exeter Road, Silverton and to the Three Tuns, Silverton, said that my concern is with regard to over development on the site at the Three Tuns and at Exeter Road and I believe this concern is shared by Members. The enlarged house proposed at the Three Tuns will be on higher ground than the cottages at Exeter Road which are at street level, the house will be overbearing and will take up parking spaces which highways have expressed reservations about if conversion of the pub is contemplated. I truly regret the closure of Silverton’s most historic inn and had hoped that the original part may be kept as a pub. Would the Planning Officer confirm that an application has been made for the development and conversion of the Three Tuns itself? In the report reference is made to the development at the rear of 4 Exeter Road and I understand that revised plans have been submitted for this. Is the Planning Officer aware that the property is tenanted which may explain the lack of objection to the proposal? The proposal for 2 houses at number 19, even with the revisions before you, is also over development. You will see from the site plan which will be displayed that this site is smaller than the one re-developed at the rear and is barely capable of taking two buildings of the size proposed.
Dr Phillip Bratby, referring to Edgeworthy farm, said it is stated in the officer’s report that one of the reasons for the large digester capacity, and I quote ‘is to be in accordance with guidance from the Environment Agency with regards to planning for contingency’. Has the officer confirmed this with the Environment Agency and does it not seem odd that Greener for Life is wanting to increase contingency here whereas at Menchine farm and Red Linhay it has been going against the Environment Agency advice by wanting to increase the feed stock thereby reducing contingency? Can the officer confirm that figure 1, the overview, digestate main location, shows the full extent to the pipe line in both North Devon and Mid Devon and that it includes the pipeline passing to the south of the B3137 to Merryfield Hayes.
Mrs S Coffin, Templeton Parish Council referring to Edgeworthy Farm, said an 11000 v electricity cable of which Western Power Distribution were totally unaware has recently been laid through Nomansland between Menchine Farm and Edgeworthy Farm is the officer aware of the purpose of the cable and how it fits in with this application?
Mrs Sally Smythe, Chairman of Cruwys Morchard Parish Council, referring to Edgeworthy farm said that the report states that if an emergency spill occurred on the site it is proposed that this would be directed to the existing slurry lagoon on the south side of the buildings. This slurry lagoon sits above and is in close proximity to a tributary of the River Dart. Can the officer confirm that she has inspected the lagoon and that a spill would be directed around the buildings into the lagoon, and whether the lagoon is of adequate size to contain the spill and that it can be covered?
Ms Kirra Broadhurst, referring to item 11 on the agenda, 19 Exeter Road, Silverton, said that as a representative of the younger generation in Silverton said that what was needed in the village was houses that young families could buy not enormous bungalows or massive houses that only in-comers could afford. The proposed gardens were of an ideal size and ideal for children to play in. The recent builds in Newcourt Road are attractive, in keeping with the times and an asset to the village, they are the type of houses that we need. They were built on a plot approximately the same size as the plot in Exeter Road and passed without any hesitation. There were only two of them which were rapidly occupied. We now have the opportunity to have two more of the same quality. The emerging Neighbourhood Plan also included houses at a greater density than this proposal. Can the officers advise any specific plot sizes or density figures that apply in Mid Devon?
Mr Graham Sherburn, also referring to item 11 on the agenda, said that the National Policy Planning Framework states ‘at the heart of the National Policy Planning Framework is a presumption in favour of sustainable development which can be seen as a golden thread running through both plan making and decision making’. I understand that the Planning Officers now recommend that the revised drawings that have been submitted improve the overall scheme. The presumption in favour of sustainable development, such as this scheme, has not however been expressly mentioned or previously discussed by the Committee, so can the officers advise please if the presumption is relevant in the determination of this decision?