Bidborough Parish Council

Contact the Parish Clerk, Evelyn Divall, telephone: 01732 457541
e- mail: clerk@bidborough-pc.gov.uk

Minutes of the meeting of Bidborough Parish Council held

on 27 February 2006 at 8 pm in the Village Hall

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1. PRESENT: Cllrs P Eames (Chairman), C Rea, D Moore, Rev. S Hill, Mrs A Parsons, Mrs D Reynolds

2. APOLOGIES : Cllr D Wheeler

3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THE 30 January 2006 having been circulated, were approved and signed by the Chairman.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

5. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING:

05/00926:   Judd Wood Farm, Hayesden Lane

Retrospective Change of Use: From farming/rough woodland to paintball games centre

Parish Council: Clerk to write to TWBC confirming the PC's support for the objections submitted by parishioners.         TWBC: REFUSED

Court Hearing set for May to consider case at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court. TWBC Officer confirmed all avenues of action still being considered.

05/01146:   Swaylands School, Penshurst Road

Resubmission of part of previous application for alterations, extension and conversion to residential use of Swaylands main building into 28 units with erection of additional garage block, demolition of outbuildings and restoration of landscaping.

Parish Council: PC supports the application and the early commencement of refurbishment of the site. TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/01294:   Land Adjacent Fosters Oast, Hayesden Lane.

Change of use of redundant agricultural buildings to use class B2 (General Industrial) use: Repair and refurbishment of horse drawn carriages.

Parish Council: The PC have concerns with regard to possible noise problems and the number of vehicular movements and the impact on surrounding properties. The PC asks that if the application is approved conditions are included that limit activities to those now applied for.           TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/02568:   OS Plot 4200, Penshurst Road

Construction of a farm workers cottage and farm building (revised proposal - TW/04/03067)

Parish Council: The PC still has concerns regarding development outside the village envelope but will be guided by the TWBC and the relevant experts dealing with the application.    TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/03103:   55 Bidborough Ridge

Two storey rear extension, pitched roof to utility and workshop at side, internal alterations

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

05/03231/2:   Four Winds Windmill and Land, Penshurst Road, Bidborough

LBC - Addition during construction of 4 No. conservation rooflights to the approved extension to the windmill.

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

06/00052:   2 St. Lawrence Avenue

Two storey extension, garage with bedroom/ensuite

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00054:   Portree, Rectory Drive

Brick boundary wall

Parish Council: The Parish Council would object to this application, having visited site and inspected the plans it was felt that the height and design of the proposed wall would have a detrimental affect on the site and its impact, by virtue of the style and height would dominate the area.         

TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00107:   Four Winds Farm, Penshurst Road

Treatment plant and filtration trenches

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

Cllr C Rea registered an interest.

06/00148:   2 Rectory Drive

Detached Garage

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00178:   11 St Lawrence Avenue

Two storey side and rear extension

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00133:   Judd Wood Farm, Hayesden Lane

Part retrospective - Agricultural access

Parish Council: The PC do not accept the reasons provided by the applicant for this access. The agricultural aspect of the work on this site is minimal, however, activities relating to the illegally sited paintball business generate enormous amounts of traffic and it is obvious that the access would be beneficial for this purpose. We note that the recent refusal for the retrospective application for this business states 'The development fails to provide a safely located vehicular access with adequate visibility, which, with the likely level of traffic generated, results in a form of development which is significantly detrimental to highway safety.' It should also be noted that some years ago a neighbouring agricultural development at Home Farm was subjected to strict controls with regard to access points/roads and it might be worth investigating the resultant planned routes that were required at that time. The PC requires refusal of this application.               TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00235:   55 Bidborough Ridge

Replace existing timber garage with brick/tile garage

Parish Council: The Parish Council are of the opinion that a brick built garage would be a visual improvement on the site, however, the proposed height of the roof gives cause for concern.

TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00360:   The Lodge, Old Farmhouse, Penshurst Road

Lawful Development Certificate (Existing) - Use of land for parking of cars

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00374:   21 Bidborough Ridge

Proposed detached double garage to front of dwelling

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

6 FINANCE:

a. Speed Indicator Device : Confirmation received from PC Peter Vaughan that sites approved in Bidborough for use of equipment, training schedule awaited.

b. Childrens' Trail Equipment : Documentation with TWBC awaiting signature prior to confirmation of grant being awarded. Clerk to issue Letter of Intent to contractors upon approval of grant by TWBC. Details of proposed equipment to be displayed at the Historical Display of Photographs on 11 March 2006.

(Confirmation received that grant approved from TWBC in accordance with plans submitted covering Monsterplay equipment.)

7. REPORTS:

a. VILLAGE CARE/RECREATION GROUND/GROUNDS MAINTENANCE:

i. Bidborough in Bloom: Clerk to check with Cllr Wheeler regarding watering requirements of the hanging baskets in view of the possible water shortages advised.

ii. Lengthsman: The quality of the work carried out in St. Lawrence Avenue was praised, a request for assistance with tree cutting and tidying was approved, Simon Pierson to be contacted. Cllr Moore to discuss with lengthsman.

iii. Grass Verge: Cllr Rea reported that the grass verge area in Darnley Drive used by Pipeways to store equipment had been left in a poor state, clerk to report.

iv. Village Hall Car Park Pothole Repairs : These had failed, clerk to report.

b. NEWSLETTER: Cllr Eames asked for copy to be provided by 12 March 2006.

c. COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Cllr Mrs Reynolds advised that no official response had been received to the premises licence application although no problems were anticipated with this. No planning permission would be required for the entrance alterations, detailed drawings were being drawn up for consideration.

d. BIRCH WOOD,

i. Scramble Bikes: Public Rights of Way Officer investigating installation of kissing gate or similar obstruction to prevent use by scramble bikes.

ii. Monument: Cllr Eames advised that the railings had been removed, the concrete base was now broken with short pieces of railing left in situe.

e. ALLOTMENTS: Cllr Eames confirmed all were in use.

f. SPORTS ASSOCIATION: Cllr Eames advised that the planned play equipment had been discussed at the meeting, members being supportive of the project. Cllr Mrs Parsons confirmed the netball unit would need to be moved prior to installation of the planned equipment.

g. PRIMARY SCHOOL: Cllr Mrs Parsons had stepped down as local authority representative due to the re-structuring of the governing body. Rev. Hills remained on the board and would liase with the school on behalf of the parish council.

h. CEMETERY: Problems with the footpath, now considered dangerous, to be reported by the clerk.

i. BROOKHURST FIELD: Problems with the footpath at the bottom of the field to be reported by clerk.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

i. Village Sign: Cllr Mrs Parsons confirmed Kim Langford had agreed to refurbish the sign, Cllr Wheeler would take it down in order to facilitate the work.

ii. Annual Meeting : The possibility of obtaining the services of the mobile re-cycling information unit to be considered.