To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors ACR Chappell, KS Guthrie, JW Hope & JE Pemberton.

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

In accordance with paragraph 4.1.23 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor GH Goodwin attended the meeting as a substitute member for Councillor KS Guthrie and JH Smith for JW Hope.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

8. DMS/110101/F - Land Rear of Greytree Lodge, Second Avenue, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7HT.

Councillor G Lucas, Personal Interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meetings held on 23 March 2011 and 6 April 2011.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meetings held on 23 March and 6 April be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman thanked Members and officers for their contribution to the Committee and hard work during the preceding years.  He also thanked those who had participated in public speaking. There had been considerable changes to the planning system brought about by the new Constitution and these had been dealt with admirably.  He wished good luck to those Members who were participating in the forthcoming elections.

To be noted.

The Committee noted the report.

The Acting Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation about the application for a two storey extension at the property.  He advised that following the publication of the agenda, Pembridge Parish Council had written in to say that it had no objections to the application.  He suggested that in the interests of the amenities of nearby dwellings, an additional condition should be attached to any planning permission granted to restrict the hours of work during the construction of the extension.

Having considered all the facts regarding the application, the Committee decided that it should be approved, together with the additional condition proposed by the Acting Principal Planning Officer.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1.         A01 - Time limit for commencement (full permission)

2.         B01 - Development in accordance with the approved plans

3.         C02 - Matching external materials (extension)

4.         The rooflights to be installed in to the roofing elevations as indicated on     plan number 854.03 will be ‘Conservation rooflights' which will be flush             with the roof line.

            Reason:  In order to protect the character of the surrounding             Conservation Area and to comply with Policy HBA6 of the Herefordshire    Unitary Development Plan.

5.         CAI - Parking

6.         I16 – hours of work during construction

            Reason:  to protect the amenity of nearby dwellings

INFORMATIVES:

1.         HN28 - Highways Design Guide and Specification

A report was presented by the Senior Planning Officer about an application for a bungalow with vehicular access on land at the rear of Greytree Lodge Ross-on-Wye. 

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Ellis, a neighbouring resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Smith, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor G Lucas, a Local Ward Member, addressed the Committee.  He expressed the view that the application was no different to the previous ones which had been refused in the past and said that he was opposed to it on the grounds of the additional noise that would be created to the detriment of local residents, and the proposed vehicular access from a narrow road.  Councillor Lucas thereupon withdrew from the meeting.

Members discussed the application and had some reservations about it on the grounds of:

• previous refusals for similar applications;

• potential disturbance to local residents;

• overdevelopment of back garden land on a restricted plot;

• design of the proposed property;

• potential overlooking of adjoining properties;

• the impact of vehicular access from a narrow avenue and near to a junction;

The Development Manager drew attention to the fact that although an appeal lodged against a previous refusal had been dismissed, the Inspector had concluded that a bungalow on the site would not have an adverse impact on the area which was characterised by a mix of dwelling types.  He did however determine that traffic noise together with the slamming of car doors, raised voices and other associated noise could have an adverse impact on the amenity of neighbours.  In the case of the new application, the officers were satisfied that the steps proposed by the applicants to provide a 6’ wooden on part of the boundary and a tarmaced drive, would help to reduce potential noise disturbance. The officers were of the view that additional noise would not be significant when compared to that already generated by the adjoining A40.  He also drew attention to the view of the Inspector that the proposal would not have a significant impact on highway safety.

Notwithstanding the views of the officers, the Committee decided that the application should be refused because of the concerns that it had about the impact of the proposals on the amenity of local residents.

RESOLVED

That the application be refused for the following reasons:

(i)                 the restricted nature of the plot;

(ii)               Planning policies DR1 and H13 regarding design;

(iii)             the constrained access & egress; and

(iv)             noise disturbance to local residents

Date of next site inspection -  14 June 2011

Date of next meeting -            15 June 2011

The Planning Committee noted the date of the next meeting.