|
Dorndon House
The Department of Environment Inspector turned down Thirlstone Homes’ appeal against refusal of planning permission for 12 flats at the Dorndon House site. They had already secured approval for a revised application for 10 flats, but decided to appeal for the original 12.
I would like to congratulate those people who gave so much assistance by speaking at the committee meetings and to those who attended the hearing. The presence of local residents always helps to show the Ministry’s Inspector the strength of feeling. It was a strong team with Howard Larkin from the Parish Council, John Lemon from the Village Society, and, as District Member, I also spoke.
It was an impressive performance due to all the information residents had put forward. We had all agreed to focus on the sustainable objections, as red herrings serve only to detract from the main thrust of a statement in support of refusal. This is a point well worth remembering in future.
Electoral boundary reforms
The Government has instructed local councils to prepare a document which will re-organise some election boundaries. This has been instigated in order to give each elected councillor as near as possible the same number of electors to represent. Currently, some ward councillors have 6,000 residents, while others only 1,500.
Officers of WDC are consulting with town and parish councils before drafting a report. St Nicholas Parish council has commented that Hurst is a community with a Village Church, School, a Parish Council, Village Halls and a Village Society, and therefore does not wish to alter their present wards.
Councillors will discuss the report in May and everyone will have the opportunity to comment. Agreement must be reached, and in the event that there is no agreement, representations can be made to an independent body who will decide the merits of each case! Once again we must work out together what is the best for Hurst and those who live in the village - not those who serve at Westminster!
St. Nicholas School has received a grant to allow part of the courtyard to be enclosed. This is not a new classroom, but will provide more space in the school for staff and pupils. It also means that rising 5 year olds in the village will be able to join the school as their parents have wished.
|
 |
Beeches Nurseries (Terrapotta)
The application for a new extended building for conversion to up to five workshops was granted in spite of objections from the people living closest to the site on Wokingham Road. The Highways Officer could not find any reason to recommend a refusal.
Land between Tape Lane and Lodge Road
The latest application for development on this field for an agricultural building with shop is still invalid. Information concerning the height of the poly-tunnels and the proposed use of the shop has not yet been provided. The council awaits the developer’s comments.
Bonhomie Court – an application from Millgate Homes for 24 apartments – six with three bedrooms, and 18 with two bedrooms. The officers require additional information e.g. a scaled drawing showing the comparison between the present height and footprint compared with the proposed new building.
There have been several letters of objection and one letter of support. The Parish Council is objecting strongly to the plans. The objectors’ concerns are:
- the increase in traffic movements in an area which is already experiencing traffic problems;
- too many apartments, the size and the massing of the new building in a very rural area; and
- the lack of school places at St Nicholas Primary School. Our school cannot be extended due to the site limitations, lack of play space, which limits the numbers of children to the present pupil roll.
I am very concerned about the increase in traffic accessing former redundant farm buildings, which are now used for industrial purposes. These are attracting more deliveries and more workers. Perhaps we could find a solution to the problem of the large vehicles using inappropriate lanes, and encourage the use of the A321. Ideas please!
Squires Bridge development on Davis Street - this was originally granted on appeal more than five years ago after a refusal by the Council. Subsequently the site was sold by the original owners to the present developer, who put in a new application for larger houses in slightly different positions. However the planners were adamant that the footprint of the houses should be no larger than those allowed at appeal, and this is the case. At the time of the appeal there was no application for services, amenities and infrastructure (SAI contributions) therefore none could be claimed on this application.
|
