Minutes Planning Committee - Monday 1 February 2010
Committee Members Present:
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Chair)
Councillor A Leech (Vice Chair)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor M Morse
Councillor D Weekes (Town Mayor)
Councillor A Raymond (Chair, Parks)
Councillor C Hodgson (Chair, P & R)
Other Members Present:
Councillor Ms T Edwards
Councillor Mrs C Marsh
Councillor Mrs D Smith
Councillor P Vachon
In Attendance:
D Bent (Town Clerk)
Twelve members of public
488. Apologies for Absence - There were no apologies for absence.
489. Deferment of Business - (for comment by the public) - Upcott Hill/Lodge Hill 30 mph speed restriction - The public present were residents of this location who attended to express concerns about speeding on this road. Mrs Kennett referenced access opposite the sharp bend where traffic cuts the corner as it increases speed with occasional crashes and commented that the route of the road had moved creating difficult egress from that drive. Mr Garratt commented this was narrow for two large vehicles to pass and had used his drive to pass, he expressed disappointment he had not been allowed to erect a mirror for access and egress from his property. Mr Ensor supported the request for traffic calming and commented that speeding occurred both up and down the hill and required control. Mr Crouch commented the hill was dangerous for pedestrians and requested the introduction of safety measures. Mr Bickley reported that one car and three bikes had driven into his wall and he had personally had near misses on leaving his house due to cars speeding down Upcott Hill. He suggested the relocation of the 30 mph sign at the top of the hill or the introduction of a reducing speed sign.
Mr Bickley also referred to CCTV, he was informed this was the province of the Property Committee, but Members allowed the question. He explained that in 2006 the Chamber of Trade agreed to pursue CCTV for the town centre and subsequently handed this project over to the Town Council to deliver and he questioned the current position. Councillor Leech acknowledged this had been taken in part two of the Property Committee, but reported the Council was looking for a community-based system operating in a small committee along the same principles as Bude with the police leading; he commented a meeting was awaited with the police to progress it. Mr Bickley questioned whether funding was available and who was invited to be part of the community group. Councillor Leech advised of involved parties, but that funding was a part two matter and the community group would endorse funding for the same.
490. Members’ Questions - There were no questions from Members.
491. Minutes - The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 18 January 2010 were approved and signed on the proposition of Councillor M Ireland, seconded by Councillor A Leech.
492. Jobcentre Plus - The Clerk advised Mrs Whitten of the job centre had car problems which had delayed her arrival. The Chair advised that the meeting would adjourn to accommodate Mrs Whitten to discuss the job centre operation in Okehampton (post meeting memo - Mrs Whitten’s car breakdown prevented her visiting Okehampton for the meeting).
493. Matters Arising -
493.1 Lodge Hill, Okehampton 30 mph Speed Restriction - Councillor Mrs K Bickley declared an interest. The Clerk presented letters from Mrs I Lee and Mrs C Nathan of Lodge Hill requesting the installation of speed restrictions at this location. A letter from the County Highways Engineer commented that the average speeds at this location were in the order of 35 mph. The Engineer commented that it would be difficult for the County to support an extension of the current 30 mph limit north west of the top of Upcott Hill, further that national and local guidance/policy on setting appropriate speed limits did not support extending community speed limits outside a built-up area. He concluded the primary school, in updating its school travel plan, was likely to request a permanent interactive sign in the area of Glendale Road junction in a measure to reinforce the 30 mph limit at this area.
Members noted statistics for speeding in this area and the omission of data from a temporary interactive 30 mph sign and average speeds. Councillor Mrs Bickley acknowledged that the residents of Upcott Hill wanted a permanent interactive sign for the safety of children and pedestrians and looked for some type of traffic calming measure to address this problem. Members noted no statistics on injuries/crashes at the location offered by County Highways and requested information on the relocation of 30 mph zones in other Devon towns. The meeting accepted other communities had acted through the County to reduce speeding (eg Torrington) with driver awareness, interactive signs, rumble strips, illuminated signs and lights, through negotiation and supported by the police. On the proposition of Councillor Mrs Bickley, seconded by Councillor Weekes, it was resolved that a letter be forwarded to the County Council acknowledging the consideration for a 30 mph limit at the bottom of the hill in the area of Glendale Road junction for the school, but with a request that consideration be given to reducing speeding traffic down the hill and traffic calming measures be considered through the use of rumble strips, street lighting, speed awareness technology including interactive 30 mph signs in an effort to control traffic. The Chairman invited the public to write letters of support to the Area Engineer at Barnstaple.
493.2 WDBC Local Development Framework - Core Strategy - A letter from the Planning Policy Manager advised of time scale on the LDF with a report submitted to the Future Planning and Housing Committee on 9 March, subject to public consultation thereafter, submission to the Secretary of State in May 2010 followed by an examination in public later in the year; Members noted.
494. Plans - The Committee examined plans as per attached Annex A and made comments thereon.
495. Devon and Cornwall Constabulary - A brief newsletter from Inspector Hammond advised of activities in the town including the appointment of a new youth intervention officer for West Devon and a priority to rejuvenate the Partners and Communities Together process for the town, a meeting in February was proposed. The content was noted with a request that the Inspector attend a meeting to expand on PACT; a request that this letter be included on the Council’s website was noted.
496. Members’ Reports -
Ockment Centre - Councillor Leech advised that the Ockment Centre was currently investigating the installation of a water turbine for energy at that location alongside Okehampton College works projects.
Senior Council - Councillor Morse commented that an open meeting had been arranged for 11 March in Exeter entitled, ‘Everyone’s Tomorrow’.
497. Street Naming - The Clerk presented a letter from the Borough Council requesting endorsement of the name, Sharpe Hill, for the development at High Street as the area had been historically known as Sharpe Hill; Members endorsed.
The Clerk referred to a request from Persimmon Homes who sought three street names for the new development off Crediton Road. It was agreed that Councillors Ireland and Vachon research old field names and offer the same to Persimmon Homes.
Meeting closed 7.55 pm.
Recommendations - 1st February 2010
OKEHAMPTON
00036/2010 258306,95699
Tree application
Works to trees for: 1) the felling of 1 ash adjoining the garage;
2) in the woodland, reduction of 1 beech by 40%, the reduction of 1 oak to a 5 m monolith, the removal of damaged limbs from 3 oaks, the reduction of 1 sycamore to a 5 m pollard, the reduction of 1 ash to a 10 m pollard, the reduction of 1 sycamore by 30% and the reduction of over extended limbs.
Oak House, Kingfisher Drive, Okehampton EX20 1ER
Mr Petherick
Supported
00058/2010 2588020,951570
Full
Replacement of roof (currently plastic dome) with a metal framed roof with aluminium roof light
The Arcade, Okehampton EX20 1EX
The Arcade Trust
Supported
00059/2010 258847,95844
Listed building
Demolition of existing conservatory and construction of replacement building
Oaklands House, Oaklands Drive, Okehampton EX20 1BT
Mr M Wooldridge
Supported
00060/2010 258847,95844
Full
Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of replacement building
Oaklands House, Oaklands Drive, Okehampton EX20 1BT
Mr M Wooldridge
Supported