Castle Hedingham Parish Council and Burial Board
Report of the meeting of the Parish Council of Castle
Hedingham held on Wednesday, 11th July 2007 issued by the Clerk
Kissing Gates
– Mr Philp will supply the clerk with the relevant information
regarding landowners and style locations to allow the appropriate paper
work to be completed for kissing gates to be installed in Scotch
Pasture and other relevant styles in the Rushley Green area.
Table Tomb, St Nicholas Churchyard –
It was agreed that Mr Cooke would obtain up-to-date quotations for the
work approved to the table tomb in St Nicholas Churchyard.
Highways Matters
- 4.5 Tonne Weight Limit - It was noted that the 4.5 tonne sign has been removed.
- Matters
being pursued by the County Councillor - The county councillor agreed
to chase the following matters: potholes in Nunnery Street; remarking
of the road at the Queen Street traffic calming installation and the
Keep Clear sign painted on the wrong side of the road in Church
Lane. He also agreed to discuss problems with a faulty manhole
cover on Sudbury Hill with Essex County Council.
- Crouch Green
-The bollards at Crouch Green are still awaiting power and Essex County
Council are putting pressure on the electricity company to complete
this work as soon as possible.
- Weight Restriction -The recorded details of lorries breaking the village’s weight limit have been passed to Trading Standards.
- Overhanging
Trees, Sudbury Hill and Bayley Street – These have been reported to
Highways. It was noted that Mr Southgate had contacted Essex
County Council regarding a similar problem in Crown Street and action
had been taken very quickly.
- Safety on the Sudbury/Halstead
Road – The Parish Council discussed the safety of this road where there
had been a number of accidents including one recently when three young
people were killed. The county councillor will discuss this
matter again with Highways.
- Kirby Hall Road – It was noted that
Essex County Council Highways had made an excellent job of clearing the
ditch in Kirby Hall Road but some damage had occurred to the road
surface during these works. The County Councillor agreed to take this
matter up the Essex County Council.
- King Street – Later in the
meeting a letter from Mrs Medcraft requesting that King Street pavement
be resurfaced was read to the Council. It was agreed this request
be forwarded to Essex County Council Highways.
Planning Recommendations
- Application - 07/01238/FUL & 07/01239/LBC–
Erection of first floor extension and alterations to existing dwelling
and provision of new conservatory – 3 Crown Street, Castle Hedingham –
The Parish Council object to this application as Councillors are
concerned about the negative impact the development will have on the
adjacent property in relation to drainage, maintenance, sewage and
problems of damp. It should be noted that there have been problems with
flooding in this area and the neighbouring property has no foundations..
- Application 07/01185/FUL
– Erection of jumberalla type canopy to form external covered dining
area within existing pub yard - The Wheatsheaf, 2 Queen Street, Castle
Hedingham - No objections.
- Application 07/01289/OUT –
Conversion of existing building to 4 No. 2 bedroom apartments and
erection of 1 No. new two storey dwelling with associated car ports and
parking - The Old Police Station, 32 Queen Street, Castle
Hedingham – The Clerk read number of letters of objection received from
parishioners to this application. This matter was discussed in
detail and the following comment was agreed:
The
Parish Council does not object in principle to the sympathetic
conversion of the existing building into living accommodation.
However the Parish Council does object to the above application on the
following grounds:
- Proximity
and Impact to the environment of Listed Buildings – The addition of a
new two storey dwelling in the grounds of the Old Police Station
conflicts with Policy RLP 100. This Policy states that Braintree
Council will seek to preserve and enhance the settings of listed
buildings by appropriate control over development, design and adjoining
land. All the proposed development’s immediate neighbours are
listed properties and the new property would be detrimental to the
setting of these buildings.
- Density and height of the proposed
development and impact on the Conservation Area– The council is
concerned that with the inclusion of an additional property the overall
density of the development would have a detrimental impact on this part
of the conservation area. The new property is out of keeping with the
conservation area.
- Access - The Parish Council has extreme
concern regarding access to and from the development and feels the
problems already experienced with traffic at this junction would be
exacerbated further. Accordingly the Parish Council request that it be
allowed to be represented at a at site meeting with Essex County
Council Highways when they are considering their response to this
application.
- Parking Provision – The proposed parking for 5
vehicles does not meet the parking standard as set out in the Braintree
Local Plan Review. This development is not in an urban area and
there is no available off street parking and access to public transport
is poor at best.
The Parish Council has had many letters from local residents who object to the application on similar grounds.
Parking, Allfrey Court
- Councillors discussed problems with parking taking place in
turning bays at Allfrey Court in detail and noted it made turning in
this area very difficult. It was also noted that parking provided
for these houses is reported to be under used. It was noted that
there are no parking restrictions but emergency vehicles have had
difficult in turning in this area. It was agreed that the Clerk contact
Essex County Council regarding a possible solution to this problem.
Electricity Supply -
It was agreed that as there continue to be frequent power cuts in the
village a representative of EDF will be invited to a special open
meeting in September at the Memorial Hall. The Clerk will contact
EDF and the meeting will be arranged for a Monday evening
Meeting Dates
Wednesday
15th August 2007 and Wednesday 12th September starting at 7.45pm in
Castle Hedingham Club, Church Lane, Castle Hedingham.
