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Minutes Of The Woodford-Cum-Membris Parish Council Meeting Held On Tuesday
09 February 2010 In The Memorial Hall Woodford Halse Starting At 19.00 Hrs.
C15/10 Present
P. Bainbridge, Ms. S. Barrett, Mrs. K. Coles, Mrs. R. Davison, Mrs. H. Glanville,
Mrs. H. Gowney-Hedges, Ms. J. Irani and Mrs. B. Rogers [Chairman].
Eight members of the public including PCSO M. Atkinson and D. Griffin [District Councillor].
G P Smith [Parish Clerk].
C16/10 Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from: K. Cochrane, C. Farr, H. Quilter-Pinner and Dr. B. Timmins.
Council also received apologies from Mrs. S. G. Ogden OBE [County Councillor].
C17/10 Members’ Declarations Of Interest
Mrs. Davison declared her interest [as NCC West Area Principal Librarian] in item C23/10 below.
C18/10 Minutes Of The Last Meeting
Council approved the minutes of its meeting of 12 January 2010 and there were no matters arising.
C19/10 Land North of Byfield Road, between Grants Hill Way and Great Central Way Industrial Estate
Council considered Planning Application DA/2009/0993: outline permission for the construction of two buildings for use under Use Class B1 [Office] to include details of access, layout and scale.
Council had given public notice of this item via the village website and parish newsletter [delivered to all homes] “What’s on in Woodford”.
The Chairman was pleased to welcome Mr. H. Parsons [company secretary] and
Mr. O. Whittall [shareholder] of Hereford Storage Limited, the applicant. Mr Parsons thanked Council for inviting him to this meeting and said:
§ Phases I and II of the [industrial] development are now complete and have generated some interest from prospective occupants.
§ The Phase III proposal is for serviced offices and accommodation for meetings & conferences in this “out of town” location. It would provide convenient access and car parking often a problem in urban environments. It is hoped to attract customers from other accommodation including those currently running their businesses from home.
§ The applicant appreciates this is a prominent site within the parish but the owners of this family business are themselves rural people and have experience with such developments in similar, countryside locations.
§ A sustainable drainage scheme is being developed with the Environment Agency. The purpose of the balancing pond is to manage the release of surface water into the existing drainage system, and will not become a feature filled permanently with a consistent water level. Discussions have also taken place with Woodford United Football Club who would like some water from the industrial site diverted to help maintain pitches on the Byfield Road sportsfield.
§ All issues relating to road traffic are being considered in conjunction with the County Highways Authority. It might be noted that the number of planned parking spaces does not necessarily mean a similar number of vehicles simultaneously using the highway. Also a distinction can be seen between the volume of traffic and the behaviours/capabilities of drivers.
Mr. C. Pulford [resident] said that on the information currently available he doubted there is sufficient demand from within the parish for this type of development and anticipated a significant increase in traffic along Byfield Road with people attending from nearby towns. He was most concerned at the traffic implications and urged denial of planning permission until local need for the proposed facility is confirmed.
Council supported the application, in principle:
§ Noting that the visual aspect including the height of the buildings is not excessive.
§ It is not convinced of the demand for the proposed accommodation here and remains very concerned that additional vehicle movements [indicated by the 126 parking spaces on the plan] combined with the existing school, commercial & residential traffic and that from the constructed but as yet unoccupied industrial units at Phase II of this development will seriously challenge the capabilities & safety of Byfield Road [from A361, through residential area, past sportsfield and to school].
§ Further assurance is essential re the proposals for site surface water drainage. Will the balancing pond and underground systems be adequate in preventing flooding of Byfield Road?
§ The right-of-way currently traversing the site should be safeguarded and Council notes that the plans provide for a separate application in this respect.
C20/10 Blue Folder
Members noted the items of general information in the Blue Folder and raised no issues.
C21/10 Public Session
No matters were raised.
C22/10 Village Centre – Farndon & Hinton Rooms [BoPeeps Nursery]
§ Council resolved that, to maintain fire safety standards, Chubb Fire Limited be engaged to install three replacement emergency lights and one additional emergency light for £538.10 + VAT.
§ On a recommendation from Mrs. Coles, Council authorized the replacement of obsolete strip lights and cooker rewiring by S & P Brooks Ltd’s qualified electrician, for approx £150.00 +VAT.
C23/10 Village Centre – Library
Council considered an application by Northamptonshire County Council [made under the current lease between these councils] to erect corporate signage on the exterior of the building, concluding that:
§ The Library and the associated Dryden Hall, of local stone construction, are situated between St. Mary’s Church and a private dwelling which are both Listed Buildings. The proposed signage is unsuitable in respects of colour [which Council does of course appreciate reflects NCC corporate identity] and size in this context.
§ Doubt exists over the practical benefit of the section above the large window in the façade. An alternative might be a lower level public house type sign at right angles to the building so visible to drivers.
§ It strongly supports the presence and development of the Library in Woodford Halse and would be pleased to consider fresh signage proposals, in keeping with the location.
C24/10 Parish Plan Questionnaire
Mrs. Glanville advised that a draft report would be circulated to all members and invited comments. She also gave notice of a public meeting to consider the results in the Memorial Hall on the evening of Thursday, 04 March 2010.
C25/10 Receipts And Payments
Council noted receipts & authorized payments.
C26/10 Youth Services
Item deferred to a future meeting when further information is to hand.
C27/10 Memorial Centre
Mrs. Coles asked that Council consider the installation of movement activated lighting at the rear of the building for the safety and convenience of visitors & hirers. She will obtain further particulars and quotations for Council’s attention.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 20.19 hrs.
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