Ampfield Parish Council Doreen Matthews Clerk to the Council Blue Haze, Ampfield Hill, Romsey SO51 9BD

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1 Ampfield Parish Council Doreen Matthews Clerk to the Council Blue Haze, Ampfield Hill, Romsey SO51 9BD Test Valle Miss Katherine Fitzherbert-Green, Case Officer, Test Valley Borough Council Council Offices, Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire SP10 3AJ 15 th April 2014 Dear Miss Fitzherbert-Green, Application No: Proposal: Location: Applicant: 14/00508/FULLS The use of land for the stationing of caravans for residential purposes for 1 no. gypsy pitches together with the formation of additional hard standing and utility/dayrooms ancillary to that use and the installation of sewage treatment plant. Paddock (E:441220, N:123299), Winchester Road Mr Anthony Ward Further to your notification dated 17 th March 2014 together with supporting documentation, I would advise you that Ampfield Parish Council held a Planning Meeting on 7 th April 2014 which was attended by over 130 people. The Meeting was suspended by the Chairman for approximately 60 minutes to allow representations to be made by a number of residents, all of whom opposed the application. The Meeting was then reconvened, and having heard the residents views the Parish Council Planning Committee unanimously: - VOTED TO OBJECT TO THE ABOVE APPLICATION Because of the complexity of the application and the wide ranging impact this proposal will have on the local community, the Parish Council has chosen to write a letter rather than using the standard TVBC response pro-forma. The Parish Council has consulted widely, and taken expert advice on Ecological and Botanical aspects of this application. Ampfield Parish Council believes the application is incomplete and thus, if the application is allowed to proceed to Southern Area Planning Committee, it should be refused due to lack of information. If however it is heard, we would make the following observations: - Ampfield Parish Council April 2014 Page 1

2 Application Accuracy We would draw to the Planning Authority s attention that a number of incorrect statements made in the Biodiversity Checklist, including that within 100m of the application site there are:- No Flower-rich meadow/grassland No Broad-leaved woodland; and, No veteran trees In addition, the applicant s submitted Biodiversity Checklist also states incorrectly that there is no Site of Special Scientific Interest within 500m of the proposals, and no pond within 200m. Biodiversity and Ecology: The Nevil s Copse SINC is part of Ancient and Ancient Replanted Woodland the southern edge contains Ancient and Semi-natural woodland including Hazel coppice, Bluebell, Wood Anemone and Wood Sedge. Nevil s Copse is just 32m from the proposed site. This is listed as a Priority Habitat on S41 of the NERC Act (2006). There is also an area of wet woodland within this SINC which is also a Priority Habitat. The A3090 Road Verge is of Ecological Interest (RVEI) and Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) is immediately adjacent to the application site which is designated under 2A Agriculturally Unimproved Grasslands; meaning that the applicant s statement on their Biodiversity Checklist that there is no flower-rich grassland within 100m of the proposal is incorrect. This SINC has the potential to become degraded through trampling and/or subject to nutrient enrichment through sewage run off from the proposed site, the proposed soak away system and digester, or from animal fouling. We would also draw to the Planning Authority s attention to the fact that Ratlake Meadows which is a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is 211m from the application site. The applicant s submitted Biodiversity Checklist therefore incorrectly states that there is no SSSI within 500m of the proposal. These meadows are arguably one of the best examples of this type of habitat on acid-to-neutral soils in the Hampshire Basin, supporting a variety of grassland butterflies and the Long-winged Conehead Conocephalus discolor which is a nationally scarce species of cricket. Other Designated Sites: We observe that 50m outside the notifiable distance of 2km is Emer Bog, Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It is something which we would have expected the Applicant to include in any supporting map documentation. Ampfield Parish Council April 2014 Page 2

3 Protected Species: It is in the opinion of our expert advisers there is a reasonable likelihood that the following may be present within the Zone of Influence of these proposals, but that no ecological information has been submitted to show that any consideration has been afforded them: - Great Crested Newts (There is a pond located in a private property to the east of the site within 200m.) Bats Badger Barn Owl and Breeding Birds Summary: Biodiversity and Ecology Considerations: The Parish Council would contend that until surveys are fully and comprehensively completed by a reputable Ecologist, the Planning Authority is being asked to determine an application with incomplete information. Without these being undertaken, and particularly in view of the incorrect information provided on the Biodiversity Checklist, the application risks misdirecting both TVBC as the Local Planning Authority, and HCC as their retained Ecological Advisors. In such instances Officers should refuse development applications which might result in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats in these ecologically sensitive areas. Even if these surveys are provided, the Planning Authority should only approve when it is confident that the need for development in this location outweighs the biodiversity importance of any features of ecological value that may be affected, on this and the adjacent areas. Ampfield Village Design Statement (VDS): This document was produced by local residents with the support of the Parish Council in It was subsequently adopted by the Parish Council and in the intervening years the Parish Council has continued to support this document. In the VDS the Ratlake SSSI was identified as an important landscape which should be protected and properly maintained. The VDS also recommended that development should not take place outside the existing settlements, thus maintaining the character of Ampfield. From the proposed site to the northeast, Oakwood House a Grade II listed building can be seen. Opposite is the Potters Heron Hotel which has one of the largest thatched roofs and deep eaves in Southern Hampshire. Adjacent is Potters Heron Cottage which is also thatched and whilst not listed, is typical of a Hampshire Farm Workers dwelling from the 1800 s. These fields form part of the natural boundary on the northern side of the A3090 between the St Mark s Church and Ratlake. Ampfield Parish Council April 2014 Page 3

4 Employment: The majority of Ampfield residents work outside the Parish. However some businesses have recently been developed. Within 200m of the proposed site are the Ratlake Farm which includes small high tech businesses, a Full Day Children s Nursery, plus the Potters Heron Hotel and Restaurant which is the largest employer in the Parish. Each of these enterprises has prospered and brought much needed employment into the Parish. The rural setting is important for each of these sites, and in particular the Hotel. It could be argued that the alteration to the street scene along the A3090 and the visual impact, if approved, would have a detrimental effect on them, including over 90 employees. Public Consultation: In the Localism Agenda as prescribed by H. M. Government, there is a need for a local public consultation exercise to be conducted by the applicant, especially as the proposed site is outside the Settlement Boundary. This appears to be missing. The applicant has also not demonstrated that alternative sites throughout Southern Test Valley have been considered, (the Sequential Test), and therefore why this site has been chosen in preference to others? Why Ampfield; are they locally based at the moment and working locally for a living? Need: We understand that TVBC will have to provide, over and above the current number, an additional 4 pitches by 2017 for traveller sites and an additional 7 by TVBC policy SET03 allows development in the countryside only if there is an overriding need. If existing unapproved sites were regularised, the Planning Authority would have met the current shortfall. Thus it might be argued that the creation of this site in the Borough let alone in Ampfield does not fulfil the criteria of an overriding need. Highways: The site is adjacent to the busy A3090, Romsey to Winchester Road which at this point has a 60mph speed limit. The site entrance is on a bend with restricted lines of sight in both directions. Thus the movement of vehicles towing either caravans or trailers, especially during the rush hours in the morning/evenings or at night would be potentially hazardous. A recent traffic survey completed over a seven day period showed that amongst other things: - there are in excess of 10,500 traffic movements on average each day, peaking at over 1,000/hour in the morning and nearly 1,100/hour in the evening. Ampfield Parish Council April 2014 Page 4

5 Other Issues: As a Parish Council we have been asked several questions to which we feel residents are entitled to both answers and explanations. These include: - We understand that the supporting text to Policy COM13 states that to support the applicant s case, it should be demonstrated that they have a specific reason to locate within the Borough. We see no evidence that this has been demonstrated. The Localism Act 2011 offers to provide genuine opportunities for residents to influence the future of places where they live. The Parish Council has noted the large number of objections on the TVBC Planning Portal which includes many households within 1km of the proposed site. We feel the Planning Authority should recognise and have regard to the views of residents when determining this application. The existing entrance was given permission for agricultural purposes not residential and thus the intensity of use for access will be considerably increased. This access has not been designed for this purpose. Will the occupants operate businesses from what is a proposed residential development and if so how will this be managed? Will the site be able to accommodate the storage and maintenance of vehicles and equipment without causing detriment to neighbouring residences and businesses? If the proposed sewage treatment plant is subjected to sewage from sources other than domestic housing, or the equipment fails, what will be the impact on the wild life/biodiversity currently found in this ecologically sensitive area such as the A3090 Road Verge SINC? Environmental issues such as light and noise pollution associated with activities on the site have not been addressed. Summary: The Parish Council recognises there is a requirement for a small number of additional gypsy pitches within the Borough after However this proposal for a single permanent site and a temporary pitch will make no material contribution to any need. This land has recently been acquired, but no Sequential Test appears to have been applied as to suitability in relation to local facilities such as shops and doctors, or secondary education. It is therefore not a sustainable location in any shape or form. The damage which this application could potentially cause to the surrounding areas, which include SINCs and an SSSI, has not been properly investigated. Ampfield Parish Council April 2014 Page 5

6 Summary continued/: The alteration to the street scene and its visual impact would have a major adverse effect on the character of the Village, could potentially affect local businesses and much needed employment for over 90 people. This stretch of the A3090 can be described as the gateway to Ampfield, and leads onto the Victorian St Mark s Church listed grade II with historic connections, the Ampfield Conservation Area of Knapp Lane and beyond. The Parish Council therefore contend this is the wrong location for this development. We would suggest that if the Planning Authority were to receive an application to build a single story detached house on this site for a family with local connections, it would be refused. We see no reason why similar criteria should not be applied to this application. Finally, this proposed development for the use sought is likely to result in the site being more prominent in the landscape as viewed from the public domain, with specific reference to views from Winchester Road/ Hook Road junction, and from the Potters Heron Hotel opposite the application site on the A3090, with an adverse and detrimental impact on the landscape character and visual amenities of the area. It is therefore considered that the proposal is contrary to the Test Valley Borough Local Plan (2006) policy ESN13 (criteria b and d). Yours sincerely, Allan Clark Chairman, Ampfield Parish Council Planning Committee cc. Paul Jackson Head of Planning TVBC Councillor Martin Hatley TVBC Councillor Alan Dowden HCC Ampfield Parish Council April 2014 Page 6