Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 29th January 2020 at 7pm in the Council Chamber, The Old Courthouse, Jaycroft Road, Burnham-on-Sea.
Present: Cllr Andy Brewer (Chairman), Cllrs Peter Clayton, Nick Tolley, Louise Parkin, Bill Hancock, Helen Groves, Sue Harvey with Lorna Williams (Deputy Clerk) in attendance.
4 member(s) of the public were present and 1 representative of the press
The chairman suggested that application 11/19/128 be considered first on the list, members agreed to this request
Public Participation
01/20/PC Apologies
Cllr Rich Gardiner-White
02/20/PC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
Cllr Brewer declared an interest in application 11/19/138 and would leave the meeting when discussed
Cllr Hancock declared an interest in application 11/19/130 and would leave the meeting when discussed
Cllr Groves declared an interest in application 11/19/137 and would leave the meeting when discussed
03/20/PC Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 18th December 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
04/20/PC Planning Applications considered
A member of the public spoke representing many of the residents of Walrow and asked members to object to application 11/19/128. The objections raised were that many of the surveys that had been carried out were out of date or not a true reflection of the area, for example a travel survey of vehicle movements had been submitted but only recorded 1 hour in the morning and the evening. Other objections sited were concern with regard to flooding, lack of parking, style of the development and lack of infrastructure.
11/19/128 Location: Land to The North Of, Walrow, Walrow Road, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9
Proposal: Erection of 46 dwellings, formation of access and ancillary works.
Case Officer: Dawn de Vries
Applicant: Flower & Hayes Ltd.
Members discussed this application in depth as there were many concerns that this development would have on the immediate surrounding area. A traffic data survey had been obtained recording vehicle movements for a nine-day period in March 2018 and showed significant disparity in the figures presented with the application. Members agreed this should be forwarded with their comments. Members agreed that their previous objections to the application still stand and agreed that Sedgemoor’s objections be combined in to the Town Council’s response.
Comment: Members objected on the grounds:
• Has inadequate Highways access through Walrow Road and with serious safety concerns regarding proximity of the bridge and the entrance to the site. The bridge is poorly maintained and a weight restriction already exists.
• Represents overdevelopment of the site as the size of the properties is disproportionate with adjacent properties in Walrow Terrace and Walrow Road.
• Contains insufficient flood mitigation measures, and concerns relating to contaminated surface run-off water having a detrimental effect on Walrow Ponds. Council supports Environment Agency’s comments.
• Concern over the capacity of the geo-cellular tanks and the discharge flowing back from the River Brue impacting on the water level in the ponds giving rise to a potential risk of flooding – the Environment Agency reported there was a flood event in 2014 concerning the Walrow Ponds
• Would require considerable investment in infrastructure to ensure adequate safety. Council supports Network Rail comments relating specifically to the proximity of some of the properties to the railway line.
• Would be detrimental to existing wildlife especially with the removal of the hedgerow. Wildlife that would be affected are Badgers, Slow Worms, House Sparrows and Bats – with six different species being recorded on the ecology survey for the Lakeside Open Space field just a short distance away to the North of the site. Relocation projects invariably do not work.
• The proposed development due to its siting and design is considered to result in inappropriate development that would be out of keeping
• with the character of the surrounding area and due to its relationship to the elevated highway (Walrow), proposed access ramp and existing properties in the south east corner of the site the proposal is considered to result in poor amenity for existing and future occupiers contrary to advice contained within the National Planning Policy Framework and Local Policies D2 and D25 of the Local Plan.
Members feel it imperative that Highways visit the site so that they can fully examine the inadequacies of the site access and volumes of traffic using the bridge.
11/19/112 Location: 16 Poplar Estate, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3AN
Proposal: Erection of a first floor extension over existing single storey side extension.
Case Officer: Shanta Parsons
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Eryilmaz
Comment: No observations
Cllr Hancock left the meeting11/19/130 Location: 2 West Avenue, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3HB
Proposal: Erection of double garage partly on site of existing single garage to be demolished
Case Officer: Shanta Parsons
Applicant: Mr Groves
Comment: No observations
Cllr. Hancock returned to the meeting11/19/132 Location: The Rosewood, Love Lane, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1EZ
Proposal: Display of 1no. internally illuminated fascia sign, 1no. externally illuminated fascia sign, 1no. externally illuminated wall mounted sign, 2no. externally illuminated directional post sign, 1no. door plaque sign, 1no. non-illuminated welcome sign and 2no. externally illuminated double sided post signs.
Case Officer: Shanta Parsons
Applicant: Greene King Pub Company
Comment: No observations
11/19/135 Location: 137 Berrow Road, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PN
Proposal: Erection of single storey extension to rear (west) elevation
Case Officer: Shanta Parsons
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Mainwaring
Comment: No observations
Cllr Groves left the meeting11/19/137 Location: 26 Golf Links Road, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PW
Proposal: Erection of single storey extensions to front (south) and rear (north) elevations
Case Officer: Amelia Elvé
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Livings
Comment: No observations
Cllr Brewer left the meeting and Cllr Clayton took the chair11/19/138 Location: 6 Holm Close, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1NJ
Proposal: Erection of a single storey extension to the front elevation.
Case Officer: Amelia Elvé
Applicant: Mrs Popperwell
Comment: No observations
Cllr Brewer re-joined the meeting11/19/139 Location: 11 Sutherland Avenue, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1ND
Proposal: Demolition of existing porch and erection of a single storey extension to the side east elevation.
Case Officer: Amelia Elvé
Applicant: Mrs Smith
Comment: No observations
11/20/003 Location: 136 Stoddens Road, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, TA8 2DE Proposal: T1 Sycamore – Reduce crown by 50% (7-8m) Thin crown by 20%. T2 Eucalyptus – Fell. T3 Sycamore – Remove ivy & reduce crown by 50% (7-8m) Thin crown by 10%. T4 & T5 Sycamores – Re-pollard to previous pruning head, remove crossing/rubbing branches. T6, T7 & T8 Sycamores – Remove crossing/rubbing branches, reduce crowns by 50% (7-8m) Thin crowns by 10-20%.
Case Officer: Janette Burton
Applicant: Mr Neilson
Comment: No observations
05/20/PC Applications considered under delegated authority
Two minor applications for work on trees 11/19/131 Beaufort House & 11/19/125 184 Berrow Rd. 11/19/101 a minor amendment to licensing at the Rosewood and 11/19/127 Shelley Drive, a retrospective application for a Juliet Balcony.
There were no observations to be made on these applications.
06/20/PC Correspondence from the Clerk
Members NOTED the BT payphone draft decision notice and schedule that included 3 phone boxes in Burnham-on-Sea, two of which this Council were objecting to the removal of.
The meeting was informed that Somerset County Traffic Management were currently carrying out a larger Town Wide Parking Review of areas of where parking issues are a concern. However as this is a longer term project a smaller list of safety only concerns for Sedgemoor is being formulated so that a parking amendment order can be produced this year. Rectory Road has been added to this list. The Clerk will notify the Residents of Allendale Court of this order.
The Clerk is to attend a short seminar at Sedgemoor on the topic of ‘delivering affordable housing, direct delivery of council new build housing and our thinking about commercial housing’. A report will be delivered at the next meeting.
07/20/PC Date of Next meeting
It was noted that the next meeting of this committee will be held on Monday 24th February 2020 at 7pm at The Old Courthouse.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8:05pm