WELLOW PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk: Mrs A Rhys Roberts, Honeybatch Railway Lane
Wellow Bath BA2 8QG
Tel:
01225-833107 e-mail angharad@waitrose.com
Minutes of Wellow Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 17th April
2007
Present: Councillors Betts,
Elvin, Humphreys, Lewis, Martin, Chairman and Pike. Clerk and 5
Parishioners.
7.36 Apologies for absence
District Councillor Gitte Dawson, Cllrs Halewood, Colston and Watson.
7.37 Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held 12 March 2007 were
approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
7.38 Matters arising from the minutes and not on the agenda
(a) Cllr Pike noted that, on the Wellow Conservation Character
Appraisal, White Ox Mead is not mentioned, although it has 4 grade II listed
houses. The Chairman reported that the conservation area specifically deals
with Wellow village.
(b) The Chairman voiced concern that no action had been taken about the
storm damage that had happened to Mr Chivers' property, and he would be
contacting Mr Chivers to discuss it.
7.39 Declaration of interest
Cllr Lewis declared an interest in agenda item 6d
7.40 Public Participation
The meeting was adjourned for public participation
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Mr Cole reported that
there was a lot of litter at the cemetery and at the Trekking Centre area, and
suggested that a group of volunteers might organise a litter pick-up.
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Mr Cole had noted that 4
lime trees by the church, and a Holm oak on the pavement by Church Farm House
may need surgery. BANES will be advised.
ARR
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Erica Smith advised that
the Wellow – Midford cycle path had been resurfaced and the result was most
unsatisfactory making it difficult for cyclists in many places. She has pursued
the matter with BANES who have promised action but she would appreciate it if a
letter could be written to BANES from the Parish Council to say how
disappointing it is that the path is in such a poor state.
ARR
The meeting was reconvened.
7.41 Planning.
Decisions received
(a) 07/00148/FUL Heathfield The Laurels Midford BA2 7DG. Erection of a single storey extension after
removal of existing rear porch.
PERMITTED
(b) 06/03390/OUT Plot C Foxcote Avenue Peasedown St John BA2 8SF. Outline application for a new
hospital with access, parking, servicing, landscaping and associated
facilities. PERMITTED
(c) Notification of work to trees in the conservation
area CA7608 White Baines, Bull’s Hill Wellow. PERMITTED
The Chairman reported that rectification works on The Batch to bring it
up to the standard specified in the Section 106 Agreement have still not
commenced despite the formal meeting between all parties having taken place 1st
August 2006. It appears as though the planning authority have still not agreed
with the developer’s architect the specification for the works to be carried
out. Having spoken to the case officer, the Chairman reported that it was hoped
to have this done within a couple of weeks. The Parish Council were left as a
consequence of the decision by the developers to adhere precisely to the terms
of the Section 106 Agreement holding 8 tonnes of granite setts purchased at a
cost of £1600 with parish funds. It had been agreed by the developers to use these
for the driveway across but they had reversed their decision and deposited them
in the Car Park. The Parishes Council is left not knowing whether they will be
able to recover any of the cost of these, as it appears increasingly difficult
to dispose of them. Overall it is felt, as had been said previously, BANES have
not applied the appropriate attention to discharging its’ responsibilities in
this matter.
(a) 07/0008/FUL Expiry date 7th June
2007 Weavers Farm High Street Wellow BA2 8QE.
Extension of track from bungalow/farm through site of original farmyard to new
cul-de-sac. JANUARY RE-SUBMISSION.
The Chairman advised this was a resubmission of an
application originally submitted in January, which was deemed to be invalid. It
seeks to retrospectively gain approval for a track constructed after completion
of Weavers Orchard. Additional plans had been provided which showed the
original layout of the site, the track and a copy of a section of the 1885
Ordnance Survey map showing the line of a track from behind Wellow House to a
point on Bath Hill where the current access for Weavers Farm Bungalow is
located.
The Chairman read out:
a)
A supporting letter from
the applicants claiming to have used part of the track since the existing
family had taken over the farm in the 1830’s.
b)
An extract from a letter from the Planning
Authority dated 7th October 2005 “…a, track appears to have been
created across this former yard to link up with a new gate to the rear garden
of Weavers Farm Bungalow. Whilst I accept that the gate would be again
permitted development owing to its height the creation of a track across the
land does not comply with the above drawing approved under condition 12. The
construction of a track is deemed to be engineering operation requiring
planning permission. Whilst it is open to you to submit an application for its
retention I am obliged to point out I could not support such a proposal in view
of its adverse impact on the appearance of the area which was to be reinstated
and top soiled and seeded with grass. I must therefore ask you to remove the
track and reinstate the land as a grassed area within 28 days of this letter
unless a planning application is received during that period.”
Mrs Horler has claimed the access/exit from Wellow
Farm Bungalow is dangerous and with her grandchild coming up to an age when she
would be starting to drive, she was concerned for her safety. None of this is
mentioned in the supporting letter. The Chairman advised the meeting that he
had been informed by BANES that Highways Department opinion was that the
access/exit, although not ideal, was not dangerous.
Cllr Humphreys proposed the application be opposed on
the grounds of its contravention of the planning permission, its impact on the
local conservation area and the loss of visual amenity. The motion was carried.
At this point, Mrs Horler interjected, advising the
meeting that as a consequence of this decision she would allow the use of her
land for motor cycling, claiming she could do this for up to 28 days per year
without seeking permission.
The Chairman, expressing disappointment with this
statement, advised Mrs Horler to think long and hard before embarking upon such
a course of action.
(b) 07/00571/FUL Expiry date 21st May 2007 Honeysuckle Cottage,
Bull's Hill, Wellow BA2 8QS. Replacement of metal railings and 2.5 m mixed
hedge with cast iron railings and 1.4 beech hedge. Cllr Lewis proposed that this should be
supported subject to the removal of the spikes on all of the railings. This was
agreed.
(c) 07/00670/ELEC Parcel 0091 White Ox Mead Lane Peasedown St. John. Reinforcement works to the
electricity supply points. This is an H
pole installation and a letter had been written to say it seemed to be rather a
random location.
(d) 07/00434/FUL Part of Former Somerset and Dorset
Railway Line between Tucking Mill, Midford and Bellotts Road, Bath. Use of former railway line as a shared
pedestrian and cycleway, construction of bridges at Millmead Road and Monksdale
Road, new access ways with associated engineering works and regrading of
land. SUPPORTED
7.42 Finance
(a) The payments were approved
(b) The monthly reconciliation was approved, and it was noted that the
mistake of last month's reconciliation had been rectified.
7.43
Update on traffic calming scheme
The Chairman advised the meeting draft proposals prepared by Alan Baxter
Associates for implementing the Shared Space proposals prepared by Hamilton
Baillie had been received. Ben Hamilton Baillie is in discussion with Alan
Baxter Associates regarding items of detail.
It was agreed to circulate to all members.
7.44 Parish Plan
Cllr Humphreys has
prepared a spreadsheet detailing areas of responsibility and volunteers. This
will be discussed at the next meeting when the new council would be in
place.
7.45
Calor Village of the Year Competition
It
is agreed to support the competition and Cllr. Betts agreed to organize it
SB
Mrs Horler requested that the white box by the side of the telephone box
be painted red
GL
7.46 Any Other Business
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Cllr Lewis thanked Frank
Shellard for kindly moving the granite setts, and Mr and Mrs Mucklow for
storing them.
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Cllr Lewis informed the
council that on the 30th June it is planned to hold a 'Music in the
Park' event to raise money for the Village Hall. It was agreed formal application would be
needed for the event. The Chairman
stated support would be given for it, and that there would be no charge for
using the playing fields.
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Cllr Humphreys stated
there needed to be more thought given to the carbon footprint and
sustainability in the village.
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Cllr Betts enquired about
the progress of the composting scheme.
Cllr Elvin informed the council funding had been obtained. Mrs Horler advised Cllr Elvin that her family
now withdrew any support or help for the scheme as a consequence of him voting
against her application. Mrs Mucklow
stated that she was not in favour of the scheme, she lived directly near it,
and the survey circulated was poorly put together.
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Mrs Horler told the council
she is sorry about the granite setts issue, but she and Mr Horler were not in
control of it. This is contrary to what she told the Chairman at the time. Cllr
Humphreys stated it would be good to see it all resolved.
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The Chairman wished to
give special thanks to the two members of council retiring – Cllrs Elvin and
Humphreys - for all their hard work.
7.47 Next Meeting
The
Annual General Meeting and the Annual Parish Meeting of
The
Wellow Parish Council will be held on the Monday, 14 May 2007, at 7.30 pm in
the Wellow Village Hall.
The
meeting closed at 9.05pm.