MINUTES OF THE 137th PLANNING MEETING OF WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HALL IN FORE STREET, WELLINGTON, ON MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2008 AT 6PM
PRESENT: Councillors P Critchard (Mayor), J Reed (Deputy Mayor), J Clark, J Govier, A Govier, D Mitton, R Henley, N Wilson, J Lloyd, V Stock-Williams, G Copley, G Goodwin, R Bowrah and S Walters (who arrived at 6.12pm)
Julia Thorne, (Assistant Town Clerk), Christina Green (Assistant to the clerk) and John Hamer (Taunton DBC planning manager).
There were apologies from Councillors C Hindley who was on holiday. There were 14 members of the public present.
14822 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
The mayor and Councillors Bowrah and Copley stated that they were members of Taunton Deane Borough Council Planning Committee and reserved their right to vote differently at Taunton Deane Borough Council Planning Committee meeting than at the town council planning meeting as different facts could be placed before him. Councillors A and J Govier declared personal interests in the application at 78 Sylvan Road because they knew the applicant and Councillor A Govier also declared a personal interest in the application about the medical centre because he was member of the Somerset PCT.
14823 3 OLDWAY PARK, WELLINGTON
The council received details of an application for the erection of an extension and loft conversion at 3 Oldway Park, Wellington (43/2008/103). The council received a total of 5 letters of objection on the grounds of loss of privacy, overdevelopment, affecting the character of the street scene and concern about the existing trees. Taunton DBC planning manager John Hamer explained the previous application for an extension on the site had been withdrawn which the planning department had concerns about. However this application which was to again alter the bungalow to form a two-storey house had reduced the height of the proposed extension to 5.6 metres which they felt was perfectly acceptable in that location. He acknowledged the objections from the neighbours but planners felt there would be no undue overlooking and the landscape officer was happy with protective fencing to be provided to protect the existing trees on the site which were covered by tree preservation orders. Councillors agreed to suspend standing orders to allow two members of the public to speak. Mr R Newman of Oldway Park said he felt this proposal was little different to the original application in terms of scale and felt it was too big for the site. Although the plans were now for a 2 bedroom property rather than a 5 bedroom property as proposed in the previous application, he felt the rooms were so large they could easily be divided to create more rooms. He also felt the gable end window would result in a loss of privacy to the neighbouring property. He also indicated the proposed garage would be built under the existing trees on the site and could not see how they would be unaffected by the proposal. Mrs Webber of Blackmore Road also spoke and cited loss of privacy as her main objection to the proposal and she agreed with Mr Newman the proposed dwelling was sufficiently large that the applicant would be able to increase the amount of rooms. Mr Hamer said he was happy to go back to the applicant about the concern over the windows.
Resolved that the application be REFUSED on the grounds of overdevelopment and detrimental to the street scene.
14824 78 SYLVAN ROAD, WELLINGTON
The Council received details of an application for the erection of a two storey extension and single storey flat roof extension to the front of 78 Sylvan Road, Wellington (43/2008/095). Mr Hamer explained he had just received amended plans for the site which the planning department were happy with as it had overcome their previous concerns about no external window and affecting the character of the terrace.
Resolved that permission be GRANTED.
14825 30 DRAKES PARK, WELLINGTON
The Council received details of an application for the erection of a porch, single storey rear extension and erection of two storey side extension including balcony at 30 Drakes Park, Wellington (43/2008/093). The council received a report from the planning officer recommending refusal because the proposed balcony would result in overlooking neighbouring properties to an unreasonable degree. Mr Hamer explained it was only the balcony that was causing concern to the planning department and the reason for recommending refusal. The council suspended standing orders to allow the applicant Julie Keirl to speak. She explained she wanted the balcony to enjoy the view directly opposite across the fields and it would also provide an emergency exit. She had no desire to look at her neighbours and thought it would be near impossible to do so as she would have to lean right over on the far side of the balcony to do so. There had been no objections from neighbours to the application so she hoped the council would give it favourable consideration.
Resolved that permission be GRANTED.
14826 APPLICATIONS TO BE DETERMINED BY TAUNTON DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL:
The Council considered the following applications and made the following recommendations:
(a) Erection of Medical Centre with attached services, including car parks, external works and landscaping and formation of access to Mantle Street, land to south and west of 112B Mantle Street, (Part of Trinity Farm), Wellington (Revised proposal) (43/2008/091). The council received one letter of objection from Mr Orszag-Land of Mantle Street, on the grounds of loss of parking, increase disruption, noise and pollution and concerned about the effect on local wildlife.
Mr Hamer explained the proposal was for a slightly smaller footprint on the site to the previous application which had been given permission so the planning department were likely to approve it. However councillors objected to the proposal because they felt it was the wrong site for the medical centre. Councillor J Govier also had concerns about the effect it would have on the neighbouring property and recommended refusal.
Recommended that permission be REFUSED by 2 votes with none against. There were 12 abstentions.
(b) Erection of bungalow on land adjacent to 27 Ashford Road, Wellington, (43/2008/104).
Recommended that permission be granted.
(c) Application to fell and replace one cherry tree included in Taunton Deane Borough (Wellington No 1) Tree Preservation Order 2007 at The Old Vicarage, Wellington (TD1022)(43/2008/073)
Recommended that permission be REFUSED unless the tree is diseased or dangerous.
(d) Residential development consisting of 50 Units with associated garages, parking courtyards, roads and footpaths at Cades Farm, Wellington as amended by plans (43/2008/068). This application was for approval of reserved matters following the grant of outline planning permission. Access was agreed at outline stage, assessment is required in respect of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.
Recommended that permission be GRANTED
(e) Demolition of garages and outline application for the erection of residential units and associated garages at land adjacent to Oak Villa, 1 Northside, Rockwell Green, Wellington (43/2008/098)
Recommended that permission be GRANTED if Somerset Highways have no objections.
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 7.12PM
