Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graham Payne, Rod Eaton (substituted by Councillor Andrew Davis), and Malcolm Hewson (substituted by Councillor Trevor Carbin).

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 March 2011 (copy attached.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2011were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2011.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests or   dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

W/11/00286/FUL - Demolition of existing triple garage and erection of three bedroom house and formation of two in-curtilage parking spaces - Land Adjoining 43 Crawley Crescent Trowbridge Wiltshire

Councillors Peter Fuller and John Knight declared a personal interest as

members of Trowbridge Town Council Development Committee. Councillors Peter Fuller and John Knight gave their assurance that they would consider the application with an open mind.

W/11/00283/FUL - Demolition of existing garages and construction of 2  no- 1 bedroom apartments plus 2 parking spaces and 5 off site parking spaces - Garages At Chalfield Crescent Melksham Wiltshire

Councillors Ernie Clark and Roy While declared a personal and prejudicial interest as Board Members of Selwood Housing Society Ltd.

There were no Chairman’s Announcement.

There were no Chairman’s Announcements as such but the Chairman informed the committee that the planning department was likely to temporarily move to Shurnhold.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an

application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 5.50pm on the day of the meeting.

The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against

an application and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Director of Resources) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 6 April 2011. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The Chairman welcomed all present. He then explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

The Committee considered the following applications:

Demolition of existing triple garage and erection of three bedroom house and formation of two in-curtilage parking spaces - Land Adjoining 43 Crawley Crescent Trowbridge Wiltshire

Public Participation:

-       Mr Matt Whiting spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Alan Duggins spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Stuart Young spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Richard Cosker, agent, spoke in support of the application

Councillor Helen Osborn, Unitary Member for Trowbridge Lambrok, spoke in objection to the application and concurred with the arguments put forward by the public speakers with regards to the impact on the area, loss of amenities and off street parking. Councillor Osborn urged the committee to take into account the objections raised by Trowbridge Town Council as included in the agenda.

Councillor Jeff Osborn, Unitary Member for Trowbridge Grove, spoke in objection to the application reinforcing the objections from the public speakers, Trowbridge Town Council and Councillor Helen Osborn.

Officers introduced the report which sought approval. During the ensuing debate the committee felt that the plans and photographs shown as part of the officers’ presentation could not quite convey the scale and impact of the development.

It was therefore

Resolved:

To defer the application until a site visit had been organised to provide the committee with the information required to ascertain said application.

Demolition of existing garages and construction of 2 no- 1 bedroom apartments plus 2 parking spaces and 5 off site parking spaces - Garages At Chalfield Crescent Melksham Wiltshire

Councillor Roy While declared a prejudicial interest as a Board Member of Selwood Housing Society Ltd and left the room before the start of this item.

Councillor Jonathon Seed presented his apologies for the remainder of the meeting as he had to leave at this point.

Public Participation:

-       Mr Lee Rumens spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Dave Disney spoke in objection to the application

-       Mr Mark Rumens, on behalf of local residents, spoke in objection to the application

Councillor Ernie Clark declared a prejudicial interest as a Board Member of Selwood Housing Society Ltd.  Councillor Ernie Clark expressed his concerns with regards to the siting of the application despite the significant need for affordable housing in the west of Wiltshire then left the meeting.

Officers introduced the report which sought approval. During the ensuing debate it was explained that the site had extant planning permission (ref: 08/00217/OUT) for the erection of 2x two–bedroom flats, with approved details of access and siting. Notwithstanding the extant planning permission the committee felt strongly that the community would be greatly and detrimentally affected by the loss of the green space.

It was therefore

Resolved:

That planning permission be REFUSED

For the following reason:

The proposal will result in the loss of open space to a car parking area without any replacement provision. This would have an adverse impact on the amenity of local residents and would conflict with policy LP2 of the West Wiltshire Leisure and Recreation DPD 2009. 

Councillor Andrew Davis asked for his vote against the motion to be recorded.

Councillor Mark Griffiths asked for his vote in favour of the motion to be recorded.