Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 9th March 2020
At Linton Village Hall at 19:30
Present: Cllr C Crumpton (Chairman); Cllr J Gough; Cllr A Newton; Cllr G Owen; Cllr L Watkins.
In attendance:4 members of public; Parish Clerk Elizabeth Malcolm.
1. Apologies for absence Cllr B Clark; Cllr A Reeves.
2. Declarations of interest: Cllr Watkins declared an interest in item 7.a.i and signed the declarations book
3. Co-option of Councillors: None
4. Minutes of the Parish Council it was RESOLVED to agree and sign the minutes of the meeting of 12th February 2020 as a true and accurate record, together with the financial reports.
5. Clerk’s Report – All matters in agenda
6. Public Submissions
a. Ward Councillor – Ward Cllr Wilding provided an update on:
• Coronovirus – to remind that information is available from Central and Local Government websites
• Floods – he urged anyone affected by flooding in recent storms to go the HCC website for information on available grants.
• MPH regulations – he advised that Countywide regulations for lower standard speed limits are being discussed
• Carbon Management Plan – the draft has been published on HCC website for public consultation and will be published in April.
b. Public –
• A Parishioner had asked if the PC would coordinate action for elderly who may be affected by Coronovirus. It was agreed to publish information on the PC website and take the advice of Central Government, NHS and HCC and act accordingly.
• Parishioner reported that houses in The Lanes may have flooded.
• It was reported that grips, drains & culverts on the main B4221 near Gorsely Goffs School are blocked and need clearing. It was further commented that sewerage from the school is liable to seep onto the playing fields.
• A Parishioner raised the very poor state of repair in Fordings Lane and a report from the Locality Steward was shown to the meeting. Following discussion it was agreed to continue to support action to seek repairs via HCC/BBL.
• Discussion of comparison of roads budgets with other counties and the Clerk was asked to investigate.
7. Planning
a. New applications
Cllr Watkins left the room
i. 200271 – Land at The Ridge, Linton – erection of a 3-bedroom cottage. Construction of vehicular access and associated works. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED by majority (1 in favour, 2 against, 1 abstain) to object with the following comments:
Core Policy RA2 requires that housing be ‘located within or adjacent to the main built up area’. This location is at the very edge of this rural village at the furthest distance from it’s centre where village facilities of hall, pub and church are located. It is not in the village settlement area.
Set on top of the important landscape feature Linton Ridge, visible in all directions, housing here does not “make a positive contribution to the surrounding environment” (core policy RA2 3) nor does it “conserve and enhance the natural historic and scenic beauty of important landscapes” (LD1).
Cllr Watkins returned to the room.
ii. 194041 Re-consultation, Malvern View, The Line, Linton. Following discussion, it was RESOVED by majority (2 against, 3 abstain) to Object with the following comments:
The proposed glass fronted gable end extension to the front elevation is thought to be imposing and disproportionate to the setting of the building. It will be visible to passing traffic and pedestrians who will view from below as the house is set on a steep hill and this will further emphasise the scale of the proposed extension.
iii. 200333 Mill Villa, Linton Road, Gorsley – proposed erection of detached annexe including demolition of existing garage. Change of use of land from agricultural to residential. Following discussion it was RESOLVED by majority (4 against, 1 abstain) to Object with the following comments:
The Council believe that it is not an annex, but a separate detached dwelling. The concerns expressed from an earlier application for a 4-bedroom house (180873) to be located in this position are therefore substantially the same.
– The proposed access to this development is through the existing drive and garden for Mill Villa – it is therefore detrimental to the amenity of the existing house.
– Royal Cottage would also be harmed from loss of privacy and potential overshadowing from the new dwelling.
– the application requires the change of land use from agricultural to residential, which is not in keeping with the Core Policy RA2 2 – to make full use of brownfield sites.
– set at the edge of the village settlement, the proposed extra dwelling leads to a density of development which is inappropriate and not in keeping with the style and layout of the linear development on this location.
iv. 193498 Re-consultation: Land ajd. Gorsley Bungalows, Gorsley Common Rd, proposed erection of 9 dwellings. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED unanimously to Object to the application with the following comments:
The issues expressed in comments submitted to the Authority on 15 November 2019 remain extant together with those re-submitted against the earlier application 192240 at the same time.
To re-iterate Core Policy LD1 requires that developments “conserve and enhance the natural, historic and scenic beauty ….” This application is for an estate style development in a section of the village which has been greatly overdeveloped and which changes the nature of the village from “intimate, densely settled landscape characterised by strings of wayside cottages and associated smallholdings which nestle within a complex matrix of pastoral fields”, to urban development. It does not protect or enhance the setting.
Policy LD2 requires that proposals should “conserve, restore and enhance the biodiversity”. The location of this application is an old orchard site. The proposals require removal of hedgerows which taken along with development just north of this area where similar destruction of vital green corridors has been undertaken does not enhance biodiversity.
Highway safety is of very great concern to the Parish Council who do not believe that Policy MT1 is met. Gorsley Common Road is a narrow lane, and the increase in traffic arising from existing development has led to dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians. There is no footpath on the lane. The junction on B4221 is busy, confused and frequently leads to drivers being dangerously stranded in the main road unable to turn into the lane. This application will contribute only to a worsening of the conditions whilst no contribution has been made available to improve vital highway safety.
Approvals for development in Linton Parish far exceed the 14% proportionate growth levels under RA2. Already well in excess of 20% the village of Gorsley in Herefordshire has a burden of development which is not sustainable.
8. Locality Steward & Highways matters
a. Weekly reports – were noted
b. Verges for annual cut only – it was agreed to ask for a number of nominated stretches of lane, that would not be adversely affected by foliage falling into them during summer. Cllr Watkins and Councillors to consider.
c. Other issues – Items discussed with Locality Steward and reported were noted. The Clerk was asked to add the rough patch of ground at west side of Colthars Lane beside stream (near Woodend Lane junction) to list for tidy up by Roads Lengthsman.
Item 12 was taken at this point.
Ward Councillor Wilding left following the discussion of item 12.
9. Road safety working group. Cllr Owen reported on a meeting he and members of the group had had with Balfour Beatty at their Rotherwas office. It had been agreed that a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) raised in 2016/17 for junction B4221 with Gorsley Common Road would be left open and incorporate the speed reduction plan in the same area. It was agreed to support the Group in making an application for grant funding from the Police & Crime Commissioner Safer Roads Fund.
10. Lengthsman
a. Grass Maintenance – No grass maintenance work undertaken in the month.
b. Roads Maintenance – No work undertaken in February.
11. Footpaths –
a. Cllr Newton reported a good job on new steps by Enviroability. Cllr Gough stated that a number of issues raised over past 2 years remained unresolved.
b. A request to share funding of a pedestrian gate on LTR33 at Parish boundary was approved at cost of £75. A proposal for a further pedestrian gate further along the same route in the Linton Parish area was not approved.
12. Climate Emergency Working Group – Cllr Newton reported that further meetings had been held and it was planned to hold up to 4 information sessions. It was RESOLVED to allow up to £200 for costs for these sessions. Ward Cllr Wilding advised that help may be available from Herefordshire Council an Ellie Chowns the new Cabinet Member for Environment, Economy & Skills.
13. Allotments – the Clerk reported that John Smith and daughter Abi had agreed to take plot 4, half of 5 and plot 7. It was agreed to provide plot 4 free of charge for one year in recognition of Abi’s charity work providing produce to the Hospice. Plot 12 has been re-let to a new Parishioner, and plot 19 has become vacant and a new leasee is sought.
Perimeter maintenance contract was discussed and it was agreed to confirm a further one-year contract with Mr Hyatt for £1,050.
14. Neighbourhood Development Plan – Cllr Watkins reported on the Steering Group meeting on 27th February 2020 which reviewed comments received of Regulation 14 draft document. A summary of responses is being drawn up and will be published and put forward to the PC at the next meeting.
15. Financial Matters
a. Current Receipts and Payments together with Budget progress report – the Clerk commented that adjustment to the final budget spend would reflect £150 less in Footpaths but £125 increase on training.
b. It was RESOLVED to pay HALC, Councillor Training fees, £150.00; DJN Planning Ltd, NDP Consultant’s work, £658.45; AGP Garden Services, Lengthsman – clear storm damage, £340.00; Elizabeth Malcolm, Clerk salary & expenses (£18.90), £341.57
16. Councillor’s submissions – The Clerk sought suggestions for speakers at APM.
17. Next Meeting – will take place on Monday 6th April 2020 in Gorlsey Village Hall and the Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Monday 27th April in Linton Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 21:45