Ashburton Town Council

Transcription

1 TQ13 7QQ Ashburton Town Council MINUTES OF THE PLANNING MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2016 AT 7.00PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE TOWN HALL Present: Cllr Baker chairman Cllrs Parker-Khan, Ashford, Irens, Nutley, Dennis, Distin. Also Cllr Giles. In attendance: The clerk and one member of the public. 030/16P Apologies Apologies were received from Cllr Daw (previous engagement). Acceptance of this apologies was proposed by Cllr Baker and seconded by Cllr Parker-Khan. All in favour. 031/16P Election of chairman Cllr Baker proposed Cllr Daw, this was seconded by Cllr Nutley. All in favour. 032/16P Election of deputy chairman Cllr Baker proposed Cllr Irens, this was seconded by Cllr Ashford. All in favour. In the absence of Cllr Daw, Cllr Irens chaired the meeting. 033/16P Public comments/statements. The public may speak for a maximum of 10 minutes on items on the agenda or items that may be considered for a future agenda at the chairman s discretion. A resident from Old Manor Close wished to speak regarding TPO 16/0024. The resident gave an update and history on the situation raising concerns as he lives next to the trees. He had no issues with the oak but was very concerned about the Monterey Cyprus. 034/16P Declarations of interest. To receive any declarations of interest on items on the agenda. There were no declarations of interest. 035/16P Minutes of previous meeting of 27 April 2016 These were signed by the chairman as a true record. 036/16P Matters arising from previous minutes of 27 April 2016 There were no matters arising. 1

2 037/16P Planning applications awaiting decision 0179/16 44 East Street Cllr Baker Retrospective and proposed internal and external alterations Cllr Baker s report stated: 44, East Street is a Grade 11 listed building within the Ashburton Conservation Area. I reported on this application on 24th April 2016 and my recommendation that it was supported by Ashburton Town Council was approved. This amendment applies to the design of the proposed rooflight and architrave. More detailed plans of the siting of proposed rooflight and a decrease in size of said rooflight. Details of the proposed architrave around the opening between shop and store are also now presented. I propose that Ashburton Town Council support these minor amendments, this was seconded by Cllr Nutley. All in favour. 0225/16 45 Emmetts Park Cllr Baker Conversion and extension of garage, extension of porch, new double garage with storage over Cllr Baker s report stated: 45 Emmetts Park is a detached property situated in a large corner plot at the West end of a line of predominantly semi-detached houses in an estate of houses. Applicant proposes to convert and extend existing garage, extend porch and new double garage with storage over. The existing flat roof garage has a sloping access. It is proposed to convert this garage into studio space for applicant s partner who is a calligrapher and extend it to the rear line of the house at ground level to provide a utility room and W.C. and to add first floor accommodation of a bathroom and extra bedroom. The porch has a proposed extension and the roof altered to remove the flat roof and replace with a lean to roof matching the pitch and materials of the main roof. On the West side of the house is a large conservatory which applicants proposes to remove and replace with a new double garage with a storage area above. I visited Emmetts Park and discussed the proposals with the applicant on the afternoon of Wednesday 18th May. This application increases the size of the dwelling greatly but as part of the application is for storage and garaging the increase in habitable size is still under 30%. Emmetts Park has examples of recent extensions which meld well into the building style of the estate as does this proposal and so I am not concerned with the large size of the proposed extensions and conversions. I visited close neighbours but only one was at home and she had no objection to the application. 2

3 I propose that Ashburton Town Council support this planning application, this was taken by Cllr Parker-Khan. A vote was taken, there was one against. Therefore the application was supported by majority. 0243/16 Rew Farm, Rew Road Cllr Nutley Conversion of part of adjoining stable building to habitable accommodation Cllr Nutley s report stated: The application is for the conversion of part of adjoining stable building to habitable accommodation. The applicant wishes to convert part of the existing stable block to use as a breakfast room and ancillary extension to the existing dwelling, the conversion comes within the 30% requirement set out in the DNPA s policy guidelines. Construction will be natural stone wall, oak windows and doors, all of which will match existing dwelling. Due to the shallow pitch of the roof it is proposed to have a grey standing seam metal roof in zinc or terne-coated steel The previous application was to convert the whole of the stable block which was to be used as bed and breakfast accommodation, this was rejected at appeal by the inspector. Since the appeal the applicant has had further discussions with the Case Officer at the DNPA and the new proposals are set out as above. Having spoken to the neighbours on either side of the application site, one neighbour has no objections. However, the neighbour on the other side expressed concerns in that they would not want to see any increased height in the roof. The wall of the application site on which the existing roof sits is also the boundary wall between the two dwellings. I contacted the case officer and understand that there are concerns with the design element of the application. Having viewed the proposed application from the neighbor's property I also feel the design of the roof line and increase in the height will impact on the neighbours view. I feel that if the roof line was increased the whole length of the boundary wall then this would be acceptable to the neighbours. I feel the applicant should seek further advice from the DNPA s planning officer in order to resolve the design issues. It is therefore with regret that I propose that Ashburton Town Council objects to this planning application. This was seconded by Cllr Baker. All in favour. OBJECT TPO Holne Cross/Amberley Close Turkey oak reduce branches Monterey cypress fell Cllr Baker 3

4 Cllr Baker s report stated: I visited the site of the proposed tree works on Monday 23rd May The applicant (Teignbridge DC) wishes to take down a Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), and carry out major pruning works to a Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris), both growing on Public Open Space in the middle of Amberley Close. The trees are very visible in the local landscape, and have considerable amenity value. Intoduction: Teignbridge have apparently adopted the open space in the middle of Amberley Close, the development just above Holne Cross. They employ an external consultant, Dominic Scanlon, to specify tree works on their estate. Mr Scanlon had not checked whether the trees on site were TPO d, and had specified various works including felling the Monterey Pine. DNP were informed when the chainsaws started up, and the work was stopped after much of the lower crown of the Monterey Pine had been removed. The current application asks to remove the Pine, citing cracks in limbs in the upper crown, and previous limb-losses. DNP s tree officer Brian Beasley is not minded to refuse an application to fell, so it is unlikely to be worth objecting to this much of the damage has already been done to the tree. The application to work on the Turkey Oak, however, is more contentious, and, as specified, will lead to an unacceptable loss of canopy on a very fine specimen tree; it amounts to butchery. The tree has a radial crown spread on the SE side of 17m. The application asks to reduce the said crown spread from 11m to 8m. If allowed, this will remove all the foliage and the minor branch structure from this side of the tree, leaving an ugly mess and reducing the tree s leaf cover to an extent that will weaken it, rendering it open to infection and decay. The application also asks to crown lift the tree to give 4m clearance above ground. It is only necessary to have 2.4m clearance above heavily used pavements, so this work is unnecessary. As can be seen from the photos, the current crown has a clearance of 2-2.1m above ground (Cllr Baker is 1.67m tall) and the base of the crown is made up of large horizontal branches. The proposed work will mean doubling the clearance above ground, requiring the removal of an entire whorl of major horizontal limbs from the trunk of the tree, laying it open to infection and dysfuntion. Both proposals run counter to the current British Standard for tree works BS3998 which DNP will support as the current advice on appropriate works to trees. The two operations taken together would be an excessive amount of pruning. The application will render the tree ugly, and excessive pruning and the creation of large wounds will weaken the tree and render it open to infection by pathogens tree diseases. I propose that Ashburton Town Council do not support this application in its present form. 4

5 Councillors discussed in detail and it was proposed: Cllr Irens suspended standing orders. The resident who had spoken under 033/16 above wished to reiterate that he had no issues with the Turkey oak. Cllr Irens reinstated standing orders. 1. Cllr Baker proposed that the Monterey Cyprus is felled, this was seconded by Cllr Ashford. All in favour. 2. Cllr Baker proposed that the town council object to the reduction of the Turkey oak, this was seconded by Cllr Ashford. All in favour. OBJECT Grants of conditional planning permission - NOTED 0144/16 field opposite Dartmoor Lodge, Peartree Cross Formation of new field access 0601/15 Higher Brownswell Farm, Ashburton Down Creation of replacement access and new agricultural building 0148/16 24 Higher Roborough Convert basement into garden room and storage with shower room 0156/16 6 East Street Also Listed Building Consent Change of use of workshop and internal alterations to extend retail floor space Grants of Listed Building Consent - NOTED 0150/16 Café Green Ginger, 26 East Street Reinstate two original doorways and alter conservatory partition 0149/16 14 East Street Removal of part of rear external kitchen wall at ground floor level. 038/16P Correspondence i. regarding Denbury & Torbryan Neighbourhood Area Designation proposal (copied to councillors). 039/16P Matters raised by councillors for information only or possible inclusion on a future agenda The clerk distributed a section of the DNP design guide 2011 as requested by Cllr Baker and also informed Planning Committee members that there are several DNP documents available for them to read regarding planning policy etc. There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 7.15pm CHAIRMAN 5