PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE DRAFT MINUTES TO BE CONFIRMED ON MARCH 3
Minutes of the 130th planning meeting of Wellington Town Council held in the United Reformed Church Hall in Fore Street, Wellington, on Monday 4th February 2008 at 6pm
PRESENT: Councillors D. Mitton (chairman) who presided, P. Critchard (vice-chairman), R. Bowrah, C. Hindley, A. Govier, G. Goodwin, J. Reed, J. Govier, G. Copley, V. Stock-Williams, and N. Wilson and R. Henley (who both arrived at 6.38pm) and the clerk Mr A. Brown, the assistant to the clerk Mrs J. Thorne, and Taunton DBC planning manager Mr J. Hamer. There were apologies from Councillors S. Walters, J. Lloyd, and J Clark. There were 6 members of the public present.
14586 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Councillors Critchard and Bowrah stated they were members of Taunton DBC planning committee and reserved their right to vote differently at Taunton DBC planning committee meeting than at the town council planning meeting as different facts could be placed before them.
14587 APPLICATION FOR 24 THE BRAMBLES, WELLINGTON
The council received details of the following application: Demolition of detached garage and erection of two storey extension at 24 The Brambles, Wellington (43/2007/180). There was one letter of objection from Mrs K Harland, of 22 The Brambles, on the grounds the proposal was too obtrusive. Mr Hamer said the proposal was for a two storey extension on the existing property. The planning department was happy with it as it would be in-keeping with properties there and it was recommending approval. The council suspended standing orders to allow the applicant Mr P. Watts to speak who handed out photos of the property and similar properties to give councillors a better idea on how the extension would look. He said the extension would be very similar to others in the area and did not feel it would be too obtrusive. Councillor A. Govier said he had visited the site and felt the proposal was acceptable as it would be similar in design to other properties there. Councillor Hindley agreed and said he thought the extension would fit in with the existing properties. Councillor A. Govier proposed approval which was seconded by Councillor Hindley and was agreed unanimously.
14588 APPLICATIONS TO BE DETERMINED BY TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL
The council considered the following applications: (a) Demolition of 3 holiday lodges and erection of 2 dwellings and associated access of works on land adjacent to Sandstone Rise, Westford, Wellington (43/2007/182). Mr Hamer said there had been a previous outline application on this site for two single storey dwellings and this application was in line with that. He said the planning department were happy with the proposal and were likely to recommend approval. Councillor A. Govier recommended approval with Councillor Critchard seconding which was agreed unanimously by the council.
(b) Amended scheme for extension and conversion of public house into 11 flats, Sanford Arms, South Street, Wellington (43/2008/006). There was one letter from the applicants explaining the reasons for the amendments. Mr Hamer said the application was for a relatively small variation to the already approved scheme to provide an additional dormer and additional window and it could no longer be dealt with as a minor amendment. Councillor Critchard said he was not happy with the original application and remained unhappy about the plans so he would be voting against it. Councillor Copley said she felt if something was not done on the site the existing building would just fall into disrepair. Councillor Hindley recommended approval which was seconded by Councillor Stock-Williams and was approved by 4 votes, with 2 against and 4 abstaining.
(c) Erection of dwelling at 1 Greenway Road, Rockwell Green, Wellington (43/2008/004). Mr Hamer said there had been a previous application on this site for two small dwellings which the planning department had been concerned about because of the tightness of the space and the application was withdrawn. He felt this proposal overcame some of the problems of the previous application but highways comments were still awaited and there were still concerns about the tightness of the space and he thought the proposal would be out of character with the existing properties. Councillors agreed to suspend standing orders to let Rev. Chris Rowley speak who raised concerns about parking. Councillor Critchard said his main concern was for road safety and the amount parking on the junction with Rockwell Green made it difficult for the bus to get down there. Councillor A. Govier thought the proposal was overdevelopment and councillors agreed unanimously to recommend refusal on the grounds of overdevelopment on a small site and also because of highway concerns.
(d) Erection of employment units, Blocks 2, 3, and 4, West Park 26, Chelston House Farm, Wellington (43/2007/183). Mr Hamer said the proposal was a detailed application on part of the site for employment units. The only concern the planning department had was that the proposal should not encroach on the landscaping area. Councillor Bowrah said that any development like this he was in favour of in view of the increasing population. Councillors agreed unanimously to recommend approval subject to no adverse affect on landscaping.
(e) Installation of submersible foul sewage pumping station, erection of control panel kiosk and formation of access track on land to the north of Chelston House Farm, Wellington (43/2008/009). A letter was received from the applicants explaining the reasons for re-location of the pumping station. Mr Hamer explained the proposal was for the re-location alongside the main road into Wellington and most of it would be underground and it was needed for the new development to take place. Councillor Critchard recommended approval which was seconded by Councillor Hindley and was agreed by councillors unanimously.
(f) Retention of conservatory at 3 Burrough Way, Wellington (43/2008/007). Councillors agreed unanimously to recommend approval.
COUNCILLOR BOWRAH LEFT THE MEETING HERE AT 6.30PM
(g) Erection of dwelling on land adjacent to Bruins, Burchills Hill, Wellington (43/2007/089). Mr Hamer said the proposal was within the garden area of the last property going out of Burchills Hill. He said the proposal could be a flood risk and was awaiting comments from the Environment Agency. Councillor Stock-Williams raised concerns about road safety. Councillors agreed to recommend approval subject to a satisfactory flood risk report and adequate road access.
COUNCILLOR BOWRAH RE-ENTERED THE MEETING HERE AT 6.34PM
(h) Erection of 1.8m close boarded post and rail fence with gate at 4 Corams Lane, Wellington (43/2008/010). This was a county council application and was to be determined by the county council. Councillor A. Govier declared a personal interest as a member of Somerset County Council. Councillor Copley thought the proposal was a good idea because the area was used to dump rubbish. Councillor Hindley also thought it would be a good tidying up exercise and recommended approval which was seconded by Councillor Copley and was agreed unanimously by councillors.
(i) Re-roofing of Friends Meeting House, High Street, Wellington (43/2008/011LB). Mr Hamer said the application was for a listed building and the conservation officer was happy for this to be done providing second-hand Welsh slates were used. Councillors agreed to recommend approval subject to the conservation officer’s views of using second-hand Welsh slates.
COUNCILLORS HENLEY AND WILSON ENTERED HERE AT 6.38PM
14589 PROPOSAL FOR FOOD STORE AT BULFORD
Plans had just been received for the following application: Demolition of building, erection of retail A1 food store comprising approximately 2,580sq. m gross internal floor area with associated parking, servicing and landscaping served by an improved access off Bulford and new pedestrian access via Fore Street, Wellington Medical Centre and Bulford Car Park, Bulford, Wellington (renewal: 43/2008/013). The details were for information purposes to give members adequate time for consideration before the next planning meeting.
14590 PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC HOUSE/RESTAURANT AND HOTEL AT CHELSTON
Plans had just been received for the following application: Erection of public house/restaurant and hotel with ancillary parking, access and landscaping, land at Chelston House Farm adjacent to roundabout (A38/B3187), Chelston, Wellington (43/2008/012). The details were for information purposes to give members adequate time for consideration before the next planning meeting.
14591 NEW SOMERFIELD STORE UPDATE
Mr Hamer updated members on the latest situation with the proposed Somerfield store on the old Kwik Save site. He said contracts were in place for Hawks Meadow Properties to develop the site and for Somerfield to occupy the new supermarket and therefore any suggestion the new store would not be built was incorrect. The building contract for the new development including the High Street buildings would be let in about 8 weeks time and the project was currently out to tender with tenders due back in 4 weeks time. This would give a start date of early April with a subsequent completion date of October this year. Somerfield anticipated they would be open for trading in late November this year. The clerk also informed members he had it on very good authority that the steel work for the development had also been ordered.
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 6.43 PM
