Betley, Balterley & Wrinehill Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 February 2002

 

PRESENT            Ian M Ashbolt                                                                               (Chair)

                        Rita Chisnall

                        Ken Eaton

                        Bob E Lindblom

                        Anne Mountford

                        John Price

                        Fifteen members of the public

 

APOLOGIES            Steven K Ball

                        Reg E Jenks

                        Roland P Seymour

Frank A Speed

Jennifer J Walton

G Roger Gleave                                                                             (Clerk)

 

ABSENT            Ronald C Howarth

 

30/02    The Council considered the following planning application.

02/00070/ELD: Application for certificate of lawfulness for an existing use as a dwelling house and use of land and buildings for use of car sales and repairs; Ivydene Garage, Main Road, Betley.

RESOLVED that:

(a)    The Council sees no grounds on which a certificate in respect of the blue-hatched area on the location plan should not be granted.

(b)   Equally it sees no reason to contest the evidence provided in respect of a ‘garden’ definition for the rest of the application area.

(c)    The Council does however want to place on record its grave concern that such an approval for the ‘garden’ area must almost inevitably lead to increased pressure for the development of this area for new housing.

 

31/02    The Council considered the following planning applications.

02/00114/LBC: Repositioning of stairs and creation of ground floor apartment; Summer House, Wrinehill.

RESOLVED that the Council had no objections to this in-house proposal.

 

32/02    The Council considered the following planning application.

                        02/0100/FUL & 01/102/LBC: Conversion of redundant agricultural building to form short-term lettable/tourist accommodation; Balterley Hall Farm, Back Lane, Balterley. 

RESOLVED that the Council is opposed to the granting of planning permission for the following reasons.

(a)    It is premature to grant this permission when the future of Balterley Hall, currently on the market but apparently the subject of a linked ownership condition with the propose development, is as yet undetermined.

(b)   It has always been major concern that the traffic to be generated by the totality of the development at Balterley Hall should not be channelled onto the Back Lane via the original access.  This concern was largely addressed by the creation of a new access onto the B5500 and the blocking of the original access.  However the current application requires the re-opening of access onto Back Lane (objected to in the County Highway letters of 23 February 2001 and 24 January 2002) does not make clear how Balterley Hall (with its existing permitted use a multi-bed roomed B&B) will now be accessed.

(c)    The Council recognises the current planning legislation offers little protection against ‘development by stealth’.  This latest application for yet more development at the Balterley Hall site is however regarded by the Council as further evidence of the applicant’s failure to ‘honour’ the verbal assurances made on his behalf about the intentions for the site (made at a site meeting to consider the conversion of the main farm buildings).

 

33/02    The Council received the results of the following planning applications.

(a)    01/00911/LBC: Creation of lower ground floor apartment; Summer House, Main Road, Wrinehill.

REFUSED

(failure to demonstrate that the proposal would not harm the appearance & character)

(b) 01/00961/FUL: redevelopment of site and refurbishment of existing   to provide residential. B1 office and retail accommodation; Wrinehill Garage, Main Road, Wrinehill.

                              REFUSED

(Inappropriate in Green Belt and contrary to Structure Plan)

(c) To report that there will be an informal hearing to hear the appeal lodged by Mr D Brookes and Miss E A Grimes in respect of the Newcastle’s Council’s refusal to grant permission for extensions and alterations at Peel Croft, Post Office Lane, Balterley.  Views to be sent by 1 March 2002.

(d) 01/00980/FUL: Two storey extension; Wellbank Cottage, Old Road, Wrinehill

REFUSED

(Inappropriate to Green Belt and disproportionate)

 

 

34/02            RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings (copies in minute book) held on 16, 23 & 31 January 2002 be approved.

 

35/02            RESOLVED that the following reports/actions consequent upon a consideration of matters arising be approved.

(a)    13/02 (a) Den Lane: A reply was still pending.

(b)    13/02 (b) Provision of notice board at Balterley: The Church Wardens at Balterley were considering if permission could be granted to place the noticeboard in the Church grounds.

(c)    13/02 (c) BT Telephone Box: An objection to the proposed siting had been received and no alternative siting could be found.  It was suggested that the box be removed from the village.

(d)    13/02 (i) Sign at Balterley: There should be further consultation with Rod Goode concerning the proposed sign on the B5500 and the relocation of the Betley sign at the northern entrance to the village.

(e)    13/02 (j) Road and pavement sweeping: Chairman to enquire further.

(f)     13/02 (l) Commonwealth Games and Gambia: Deferred to next meeting.

(g)    13/02 (n) NALC Business Plan: Chairman would be part of the drawing up of the corporate five-year plan.

(h)    20/02 Local Strategic Partnership and Community Development:  The Chairman said he would be a member of this group due to his involvement with the Primary Health Care Authority.

(i)      21/02 Notice board in the centre of the village: A suitable location for a new noticeboard would be where the BT box would have been located i.e. on the Village Green near the northern boundary wall.

(j)      26/02 Flooding by Horse Trough, Main Road: Rod Goode had said that he would be carrying out extensive work to prevent further flooding.

(k)    29/02 APM 17 April 2002:  It was hoped to have a power point presentation concerning the development of a village plan.  The Chairman would prepare a flier for distribution.

 

36/02            RESOLVED that the financial statement as at 9 February be received.

 

37/02    It was reported that District Audit had made no unfavourable comments on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001.

 

38/02            RESOLVED that the payment of invoices (copy in minute book) be approved.

 

39/02            Consideration was given to the production of a Village Plan.  It was agreed that an invitation to attend the APM should be sent to al local village organisations.

 

40/02             RESOLVED that approved minutes (excluding reserved items) should be placed on the website

 

41/02    The Chairman reported that:

(a)    Newcastle BC would be providing guidance as to the adoption of the model code of conduct for councillors; there had been clarification with regard to the definition of interests and gifts.

(b)    It was agreed that the Chairman should call together two members of the football team to meet with John Price and Ken Eaton to discuss the formation of a Management Committee for the sports ground at Laudy Croft.

(c)    Rita Chisnall had signed the Declaration of Office form in the presence of the Clerk

 

 

42/02            RESOLVED that the following correspondence be received and appropriate action taken.

(a)    Agenda Items 11(a)  - 11 (e) were tabled.

 

 

Signed…………………………….

 

Date………………………………