Planning 18 May 2004

In Attendance: Twenty-one members of the public, Kris Mullins (Maidenhead Advertiser)

OPEN FORUM – Mrs Hazell of High Road spoke of her concerns for Appn No: 04/41860. She felt that the plans to demolish the internal stairs and replace it with an outside staircase would lead to excess noise, loss of privacy for neighbours and loss of security with easy access to the rear of the houses. Mr Daniells of High Road said that people using this staircase and walkway would look directly into their bedrooms. Also, as this would be the only way of accessing the upper floor, there would be noise at nights as customers leave.

Mr Steve Coggins of the Airways Housing Group then spoke in support of Appn No: 04/41830. He said that rural exceptions could be made for building on Green Belt if a proven need for affordable housing was desired by the Council and met Planning Policy Guidance 2 in the Green Belt. He emphasised that the houses would be for local people either living in Cookham or with strong family ties to the village. Ownership would be shared under lease with Airways acting as a registered social landlord to be held in perpetuity. Legal agreements would be drawn up to limit the sale of the houses on the private housing market.

Mrs Simmonds of 54 Whyteladyes Lane spoke of his worries about the dangerous corner where cars regularly speed in excess of the 30mph limit. He said that his neighbours had suffered several cars ending up in their front gardens and sometimes the bend is used for parking by existing homeowners. More houses on this site would make this situation worse. Mr Bairstow of 39 Whyteladyes Lane also made the point that the road was busy enough as a bus route and with lorries unable to get under the Cannondown Railway Bridge. Five homeowners living in The Shaw also said that they had not received any notification about this application from RBWM.

Architect, Mr Badnell said that the access road had been designed in consultation with the RBWM Highways department and met their standards requirements. Mr Copas then spoke to say that the cost of housing in Cookham is excessive and he had lost three members of staff for this reason. He was only prepared to offer this site for building if it could be covenanted for local people. He believed these houses would be 100% affordable and held in perpetuity for the use of Cookham people. The Councillors then asked detailed questions about how the shared ownership would work. It was reiterated that the yellow planning notice was on display although may have been taken down by vandals. Mr Copas also said that he had written to all homeowners about his intentions.

The Chairman thanked everyone and assured them that their comments would be taken in to account during the Planning Meeting.

1. APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs: M. Barnes, M. Brar, P. Brockwell, A. Hay, D. Ricardo and J. Stretton. Cllr G. Harris declared a prejudicial interest in Appn No: 04/41830. Cllr Harris left the room for this part of the meeting.

04/41830	Construction of 4 2-bed semi-detached houses and 4 1-bed flats with new access road onto Whyteladyes Lane plus ancillary parking and landscaping. PUMPING STATION, Whyteladyes Lane, Cookham Rise. Airways Housing Society.	OBJECTION
	Cllr Wellman said that although building was acceptable under Policy H4, he was concerned about the location off Whyteladyes Lane. With seven minor roads already existing, he was concerned that the extra traffic generated by this development and the access on a dangerous bend would compromise safety for all road users. Cllr Prichard was confused about how the development would be guaranteed for use by Cookham people. Cllr Sainclair-Abbott said that a Covenant could easily be changed in the future and nobody could guarantee perpetuity. Cllr Wellman proposed OBJECTION because the application is contrary to Policy DG1, Section 9 – The traffic generated by the proposed development should not have an unacceptable effect on the local road network and the environment of the locality. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Prichard. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 5, AGAINST = 0, ABSTENTIONS = 3. Cookham Parish Council also requested that this application be looked at by the Panel of Borough Councillors.
04/41860	Erection of metal staircase and walkway to serve upper floors plus new timber fence and timber screen to walkway. COOKHAM TAVERN, Lower Road, Cookham Rise. Mr Mortuza Ali.	OBJECTION
	Cookham Parish Council shared the concerns of the residents regarding lack of privacy created by demolishing the internal stairs and erecting a metal staircase and walkway outside the property. The Council unanimously voted to OBJECT to this application on Policy H14, loss of privacy. It was requested that this application be decided by the Borough Planning Committee.
04/41877	Construction of a double length detached garage to side and rear conservatory. 13 SOUTHWOOD GARDENS, Cookham Rise. Mrs P. Latchford. See Comment	NO OBJECTION
	Cookham Parish Council have NO OBJECTION to this application but the garage must be for private use only.
04/41871	Construction of a part 2 storey, part single storey side extension. Following demolition of existing garage. ROSE COTTAGE, Stubbles Lane, Cookham Dean. Mr and Mrs Ripley.	OBJECTION
	Cookham Parish Council OBJECT to this application, contrary to Policy GB4, over-development in the Green Belt and loss of privacy for the neighbours. The Council would request that this application goes before the Borough Planning Committee.

PLANNING DECISIONS

03/41677	Construction of a dropped kerb. 18 HAMFIELD COTTAGES, Lower Road, Cookham Rise.	REFUSED
04/41572	Conversion of existing garage to habitable room. IDLEWOOD, Maidenhead Road, Cookham.	PERMITTED
03/41639	Part two-storey, part single storey side extension, rear conservatory, conversion of loft with dormers to front and formation of new access. HILLGROVE COTTAGE, Alleyns Lane, Cookham Dean.	REFUSED
04/41719	Alterations to door and windows to front elevation of main school building. COOKHAM RISE PRIMARY SCHOOL, High Road, Cookham Rise.	PERMITTED
04/41653	Erection of pair of semi-detached, three-bedroomed properties with replacement garages at the rear, following demolition of existing property and garages. BRAMLEY, High Road, Cookham Rise.	APPLICATION WITHDRAWN
04/41874	Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed single storey outbuilding in the rear garden. 37 LESTERS ROAD, Cookham Rise.	GRANTED

The Chairman mentioned that he was due to attend the Maidenhead Rural Parishes Forum meeting on Thursday 20^th May. Cllr G. Harris also volunteered to attend.