22 December 2015 – Minutes

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 22 December 2015 at 6.44pm In the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

 

Present:  Cllrs B Austin, P Cowell, M Deacock, N Dixon (Town Mayor), D Dodds, L Emery (Deputy Mayor), H Fickling (Chairman), A Midwinter, M Stiles and T Wyse
Officers
G Hunt, Town Clerk
A Oughton, Committee Services Officer

 

 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Bretherton (Unwell).

 

 

Cllr Austin declared an interest in item 7: Tythrop Way / Kingsey Road roundabout as a member of East Thame Residents Association and a resident of Fanshawe Road.  Cllr Deacock declared an interest in planning application P15/S3279/FUL as a resident of Cotmore Gardens.  Cllr Emery declared an interest in planning application P15/S3750/HH as a resident of Maple Road.

 

 

Public participation recorded at each agenda item.  There were no public questions.

 

 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

 

9551
P15/S3279/FUL
27 COTMORE GARDENS
Amendment No. 1
Demolition of garage and erection of two-storey 2 bedroom dwelling incorporating parking for No. 27 and new dwelling ‘design of dwelling altered and additional landscaping provided as shown on amended plans and supporting documents received 4 December 2015.
RECOMMEND REFUSAL
Comment:  It was felt that the proposed amendments did not address the original issues for which the Town Council had recommended refusal.  That of:
1. Overdevelopment
2. Poor Design
3. Access and Parking

 

 

9566
P15/S3534/HH
54 BROADWATERS AVENUE
Amendment No. 1
Demolition of existing single storey ground floor lean-to to the rear.  Replace with a single storey brick built pitched roof extension, stretching the breadth of the rear elevation with bi-fold doors into the garden.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D4, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

 

9577
P15/S3796/HH
2 SPRING PATH
Gable to hip roof extension, enlargement of an existing dormer window, introduction of the new roof over a garage was converted to residential space and removal of the chimney.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16. ESDQ19, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D4, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

 

9578
P15/S3750/HH
16 BEECH ROAD
To erect a conservatory to the front of the property.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies:  ESDQ16
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

 

9579
P15/S4030/AG
MEADOW BROOK FARM, MORETON
Erection of an agricultural storage building.
RECOMMEND – The Town Council considered that the application should provide further details of the proposed work for discussion.

 

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: WS13, ESDQ16, ESDQ20, ESDQ22, ESDQ26
SODC Local Plan Policies: EP2, D1, EP1, EP6, G6, A1, T1
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

 

9580
P15/S3931/HH
THE OLD BAKERY, MORETON
Demolition of existing conservatory and replacement with oak framed orangery extension (amendment to planning and listed building consents P15/S2892/HH and P15/S2894/LB.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Subject to no objection from the District Conservation Officer

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ20, ESDQ21, ESDQ22, ESDQ26
SODC Local Plan Policies: CON2, CON3, CON7, D1, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN3

 

9581
P15/S4013/LB
THE OLD BAKERY, MORETON
Demolition of existing conservatory and replacement with oak framed orangery extension (amendment to planning and listed building consents P15/S2892/HH and P15/S2894/LB.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Subject to no objection from the District Conservation Officer

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ20, ESDQ21, ESDQ22, ESDQ26
SODC Local Plan Policies: CON2, CON3, CON7, D1, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN3

 

9582
P15/S2536/A
SMART’S FISH & CHIP SHOP, 41 UPPER HIGH STREET
Front of shop aluminium sign tray 5000 x 600 x 50mm with vinyl graphics and main overhead light, fluorescent sign light (retrospective).
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Subject to the removal of the illumination, two advertisement flags attached to the building and no objection from the Conservation Officer.

 

The committee regretted that permission had not been sought prior to the work being completed.

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: WS2, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ20
SODC Local Plan Policies: CON3, CON5, CON7, CON8, D1, AD1
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEM1, CST1, CSEN3

 

9583
P15/S3813/LB
SMART’S FISH & CHIP SHOP, 41 UPPER HIGH STREET
Proposed replacement of illuminated sign to shop frontage and hanging sign (retrospective).
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Subject to the removal of the illumination, two advertisement flags attached to the building and no objection from the Conservation Officer.

 

The committee regretted that permission had not been sought prior to the work being completed.

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: WS2, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ20
SODC Local Plan Policies: CON3, CON5, CON7, CON8, D1, AD1
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEM1, CST1, CSEN3

 

9584
P15/S3911/HH
20 HAMPDEN AVENUE
Two storey rear extension and proposed front porch.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D4, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

 

9585
P15/S3800/HH
11B OXFORD ROAD
Erection of conservatory
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
Comment:  It was noted that the Town Council recommended refusal of the original planning application for construction of a dwelling at 11B Oxford Road as it would not provide adequate amenity space for future occupiers.  It was felt the application for construction of a conservatory highlighted the previous concerns.

 

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D4, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

 

 

Melanie Hayden and Esme Humphries addressed the Committee with regard to the Notification of Appeal.  Esme Humphries summarised the planning and permitted development applications that had been made with regard to 1 & 2 Moats Crescent and events that had taken place up to this point.  It was strongly felt the applicant had deliberately abused the planning system with the sole intention of gaining permission for two dwellings to be built at the rear of 1 & 2 Moats Crescent.

 

Melanie Hayden asked what could be done to protect the town from others with similar intentions to construct dwellings in the back gardens of their properties.  The whole process had been very stressful and would continue to be so for the foreseeable future.  She did not have anything to gain by objecting to the proposals but wanted to protect the local character of the area.  All the residents of Moats Crescent, with the exception of one, were of the same opinion and opposed to the application which would ruin the character of the area and create parking and safety issues for both drivers and pedestrians.  The proposal, if agreed, would create two bungalows that would be cramped and incongruous and set a precedent for other such developments in the town.

 

After discussion Members agreed that a response be sent to the Inspectorate strongly reiterating the reasons for the original recommendation of refusal, that approval would set a precedent for similar proposals in the Town, inadequate access to the proposed dwellings in the event of an emergency and the process by which the applicant had tried to circumnavigate the planning system to their own advantage.

 

 

Cllr Austin reported that a recent accident on the roundabout had resulted in a vehicle crashing through a brick garden wall and penetrating the dwelling in Fanshawe Road.  Two other accidents had taken place this year at the same roundabout which had both resulted in vehicles crashing into garden walls.  It had only been luck in all three cases that a serious injury had not occurred to either the drivers, pedestrians or residents.

 

Members noted the correspondence between the East Thame Residents Association and the County Council and agreed that the Town Council write to Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police to express their concern at the recent accidents and request notification of the results of their investigations together with any proposals to mitigate future accidents.

 

 

The submission to the District Council with regard to the above application was noted.  The Town Clerk apologised that the submission had been sent without the opportunity for further discussion but was done so in order to meet the deadline set by the District Planning Officer.

 

 

It was agreed that the Town Council would consider building names / development site names, if required, at the time of the planning consultation and submit suggestions to the District Street Naming and Numbering Department.

 

 

a) Transport Representative – Cllr Stiles reported that the Transport Representatives had not met since the last Planning & Environment Committee meeting.  Cllr Stiles would continue to monitor the County Council’s plans for the proposed withdrawal of the bus subsidies and would report any news to Councillors.

 

 

The items for information were noted.  The Town Clerk drew Member’s attention to the change of wording with regard to notifications of Certificate of Lawful Development which encouraged Members with specific concerns to raise them at the meeting.

 

With regard to the Notification of the temporary closure of Gas Alley it was noted that the footpath was used by children walking to and from school.  The Town Clerk would check the distribution list and forward the information to Barley Hill and John Hampden Primary Schools if required.

 

The meeting concluded at 7.43pm

 

 

 

Signed ……………………..
Chairman, 12 January 2016
22 December 20150Page 1