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COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
of a Meeting of the PLANNING COMMITTEE held at the Community Room on Tuesday, 19th August 2008 commencing at 7.30 pm PRESENT: Cllr H.J. Woodbridge (Chairman),
Cllr M. Barnes (Vice Chairman) Cllrs
M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, D. Fry, G. Harris, F. Hewer, M-L.
Kellaway, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton, John Stretton and M.
Wellman. Also
present: Sonia
Kapur (Maidenhead Advertiser), James Nadal (Marlow Free Press) and nine
members of public. _________________________________________________________________________ OPEN FORUM: Mr Peter Hamilton spoke of his various concerns regarding Pln Appns 08/01778 and 08/01779 at Cookham Dean Post Office. He spoke of the parking problems in this area; access to his properties; un-neighbourly aspect of the plans; height and increase in size of development; the design not in keeping with a Conservation Area; setting a precedent for other development; reduction in retail space and other factors. Mr Hamilton was concerned over the loss of the pavement in the plans and various rights of way issues. Mr Cranford then spoke to query the bulk increase in the footprint of at least 30%. A new Cookham Dean resident, Liz Glaze, spoke to say that she would support the retention of some form of Post Office and shop. She said that parking was an issue throughout the Cookham’s. Mrs Jackie Power said that the post office store was not a thriving business and she had not run it down on purpose. Mr Springate felt that the parking problem was due to the School and it was important for the heart of the village to retain the shop and Post Office. The Council noted all the views from the audience. 1. APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs Innes and Piercey. Cllr Brar declared a personal interest in Pln Appn 08/01778 and Cllr Harris declared a personal interest in Pln Appn 08/01916. Cllr John Stretton declared an interest as a member of the Maidenhead Development Panel and reserved the right to change his mind at a later stage. 2. PLANS CONSIDERED & DISCUSSED: There was some discussion as to whether the two applications should be looked at together or whether to look at the demolition first. After much debate it was AGREED to look at the applications as they were listed on the agenda. Cllr Wellman noted that many of the objections were related to building regulations and were not actual planning reasons to refuse. He said that permission may be granted but the building regulations would not make it possible. Cllr Ricardo said that the viability of the business was not a planning issue. He felt that the application should be refused on lack of parking and over-development of the site in a Green Belt and Conservation Area. He also said that the property could be seen from Grubwood Lane and was highly visible. Cllr Fry mentioned GB2, para 3 concerning the material intensification of activity on the site if the plans were approved. Cllr Brar mentioned that the property was not on mains drainage contrary to the application. Cllr 678 John Stretton listed several policies that this application could be refused under: Policy P4 – this development would require two parking spaces per apartment; Policy GB8, Policy DG1 and H11.
3.
CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The
Clerk had received an invoice from Action for Market Towns which was
forwarded from The Cookham Plan Steering Group. The Parish Council were
being asked to renew the membership of this organisation. The Parish
Council had no explanation from the Steering Group that this bill would be
issued but the Clerk had managed to find out the benefits of membership.
It was AGREED that the membership contained few benefits for the Council,
especially as we were already members of the Community Councils for
Berkshire (CCB).
The site meeting for the new
Outdoor Fitness Centre would be held on Friday 29th August on
the Alfred Major. Cllr Harris volunteered to attend the Awards Ceremony
for the Britain in Bloom competition on Wednesday 3rd September
2008. Cllr Kellaway, Barnes and Hewer wished to attend the Training Day
arranged by BALC on 11th September 2008. The meeting closed at 8.45pm. |
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