2008-09-15
15th September, 2008
MINUTES OF ESCRICK PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2008 AT ESCRICK & DEIGHTON SOCIAL CLUB
Present:
Mr Steve Smowton (chair)
Mr Brian Forster
(vice-chair)
Mr Bill Reader
Mr Mike Russell
Mrs Lillian
Coulson
Mrs Carole Wainwright
Mrs Gina Mannix
Mr Ian
Reynolds
APOLOGIES:
Mr Charles Forbes Adam
Mr John Reader
Mr
Peter Skilbeck
Mrs Liz Casling (North Yorkshire County Councillor and
Selby District Councillor)
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING WERE READ AND MR REYNOLDS PROPOSED THESE BE APPROVED AND THIS WAS SECONDED BY MR RUSSELL.
MATTERS ARISING:
DUCK SIGN
The sign has been
installed on Carr Lane by North Yorkshire Highways.
ESCRICK PLAYING FIELD
The 10k run on 31st August 2008 had a
total of 214 runners. Income generated from the entrants was £2170
together with a donation of £68 towards the water. Outgoings for prizes,
hardware, first aiders, internet set up, time clock, marshalls' food
totalled £557 and this event had raised a total of £1741.00 profit. The
Village Green Committee also had a successful day with the refreshments.
Comments and results are available on the website
The usage of the
playing field during this summer had been low due to the poor weather. The
nettles had been cut down. Mr Smowton has requested the school to attend
to the nettles along their section.
The paddock will require ongoing
attention and at the next Escrick Playing Field Association committee
meeting this will be raised. While the committee have sufficient funds
they will maintain this area. There are at present eight people on the
committee but requests for more members have had a negative response.
Mrs Coulson will make enquiries about getting funding from the Escrick
Park Gardens development.
Action LC
PROPOSAL FOR A BY-PASS AT ESCRICK
The response to the
questionnaires was very good and 360 questionnaires were completed. The
results were:
In favour of the relief road: 36 (10%)
Against the
relief road: 324 (90%)
Most parishioners felt that the considerable
increase in village size would alter the character of the village, and
that there would be an increase in traffic from the associated
development. The result means that the Parish Council will oppose this
project and will use the questionnaire as evidence of the views of the
village. Many thanks to all who took part and to the group in the Council
that put together and counted the results.
The questionnaire also asked
about improved access to the A19 for the village; the two choices we have
been presented with by the study group are for vehicle actuated signs on
the A19 or for traffic lights at the Skipwith Road junction. The results
of these questions were:
In favour of improved access: 262
(83%)
Not in favour: 55 (17%)
In favour of traffic lights: 220
(73%)
In favour of signs: 83 (27%)
These results have been sent
to the County Council group that is currently conducting the public
consultation.
VICTORIA JUBILEE FOUNTAIN
Complaints from parishioners had
been received that the new posts around this fountain obstructed the line
of sight for vehicles turning north onto the A19 from Main Street. The
chair together with Mr Forster and the clerk went on site and it was
agreed that the posts caused an obstruction. Mr Hales was given the
contract to reposition the posts at a cost of £280 + VAT. Mr Smowton
obtained verification from the Yorkshire Local Councils Association that
if this work had to be corrected, the clerk has the authority to pay for
any bills if the clerk deemed it was necessary without first having to
consult with the whole council. As this had been a cause of public safety
the work was authorised and took place within a few days of the issue
being raised. Mrs Mannix suggested an emergency meeting should be called
in future to discuss any issues between meetings. The chair advised that
this would normally be the case, but in this instance it was felt that the
work should be done without delay. Mr Russell proposed the meeting proceed
onto the next item on the agenda and stated the fountain area looked very
nice and tidy.
PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE MR BILL READER'S TREE
Mr Reader left
the Meeting.
The clerk obtained a quotation from Cameo Engraving
Company in York £122 + VAT in brass or satin stainless steel. The clerk
confirmed this quote is only for the plaque and the mounting was to be
provided by the village green committee. It was unanimously agreed to have
the plaque finished in satin stainless steel. Mr Forster proposed this
quote be accepted and this was seconded Mrs Mannix.
Action VC
Mr
Reader rejoined the Meeting
NPOWER BILLS
In December last year, Yorkshire Local Councils
Association had a meeting with two NPower representatives, Derek Westeney
and John Clark. They informed them that councils would be charged £5.50
per month (£66) per year administration costs from 1 April 2008 and that
past invoices would be reissued to provide a rebated invoice. It was
agreed unanimously that we should in future pay NPower bills with
administration charges not exceeding £66.00 per year.
HOUSING SURVEY
The Rural Housing Enabler, Carolyn
Vaughan-Downes, had asked whether the Parish Council would support the
preparations of plans for a small affordable housing scheme of ten
dwellings. This was unanimously agreed, the clerk to inform Ms
Vaughan-Downes of the outcome.
Action VC
MEMORIAL
Neal Hales has been instructed to trim the trees at
the memorial and despite many requests during the past weeks this work is
still not done. Mr Hales had reported that the weather had prevented him
from doing this work. The painting of the posts around the fountain also
has not been completed.
FOOTPATH SKIPWITH ROAD TO MAIN STREET
This footpath had been
reported as being in disrepair. Mr Bill Reader has requested the estate to
repair this area.
ACCOUNTS are in credit as follows:
A/c No 1: £2006.00
A/c
No 2: £1382.34
A/c No 3: £34.50
It was agreed to pay:
Escrick & Deighton Social Club:
£10.00
Mrs V Cumberland - broadband Aug / Sep & postage:
£36.88
Mrs V Cumberland - toner: £47.27
Dean Landscapes:
£603.70
NPOWER: £1588.41
NPOWER: £131.37
NPOWER:
£49.27
NPOWER: £62.27
NPOWER: £0.07
Dean Landscapes:
£402.60
Stone Cleaning Restoration: £1078.65
Escrick Park Estate -
rent of village green: £10.00
Mazars: £158.62
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Chair had received phone call from
chair of Deighton Parish Council who was under the impression that Glebe
Cottage was in our parish and they had not approved the plans for this
cottage and agricultural building on the premises. The chair informed him
this property came within the boundary of Deighton Parish and the City of
York.
8/10/31E/PA
Outline application for the erection of an
agricultural workers dwelling Approach Farm Riccall Road Escrick - no
objections - permission granted by SDC
8/10/221/PA
Erection of a single storey attached garage with
a two storey dormer extension to the rear following demolition of existing
detached garage Hawthorn Cottage Hollicarrs Close Escrick - no
objections
8/10/98C/PA
Erection of a first floor extension over garage
with dormer windows to the front and rear 4 Skipwith Road Escrick -
permission granted by SDC
8/10/57D/PA
Proposed erection of a conservatory and ground
floor extension to provide kitchen toilets store and cellar Rectory
Cottage 6 Main Street Escrick - rejected by SDC
8/10/40AL/PA
erection of a leisure suite in the grounds of
The Parsonage Country House Hotel Escrick -
Site located with both
York Green Belt and Escrick Conservation Area.
Adjoining St Helen's
Church - Grade II* Listed Building
Within the curtilage of Grade II
Listed Parsonage Hotel.
The proposals within both applications are
contrary to policy. The detailed boundaries of Escrick as a settlement
inset within the York Green Belt were specifically examined as part of
preparation of the Selby District Local Plan, where the York Green Belt's
outer boundaries were defined and set for the first time by the adoption
of the Selby District Local Plan in February 2005. PPG2 advises that
detailed Green Belt boundaries defined in adopted Local Plans should be
altered only exceptionally (Para 2.6). The applications therefore need to
be considered as to whether they are appropriate development within the
Green Belt.
The proposed developments do not fulfil any of the
permitted uses within Green Belt (para 1.6), whilst their scale and
massing do impinge on both the openness of the Green Belt in this location
and the setting and special character of the Conservation Area and the
adjoining Listed Buildings. Furthermore, advice in PPG2 (para 2.11) has
been followed by the Council in preparation of the Local Plan in that
limited infilling is permitted in that part of Escrick 'inset' from the
Green Belt, with full protection and no new building (except in
exceptional circumstances) allowed within the Green Belt designated area
within which the application site is located. It is clear that the
construction of the proposed developments within the Green Belt is
inappropriate as it does not meet any of the tests required in para 3.4 of
PPG2.
The applicant appears to contest that the site should be treated
as a Major Developed Site in the Green Belt. Para C1 of PPG2 clearly
specifies the previous site usages that may be considered, and a country
hotel within extensive grounds is not listed. Furthermore, any such site
should be specifically identified within an adopted Local Plan - again,
Selby Council has followed this advice and has listed those appropriate
sites within the recently adopted Local Plan but this site is not so
designated. Again, the proposals are clearly contrary to Green Belt policy
at this time and will continue to be so unless the site were to be
re-designated through the proper Plan preparation process in the future
(i.e. LDF review).
Escrick Parish Council considers the Parsonage Hotel
an important part of the village as a prestige venue and local employer.
It is therefore sympathetic to its need to invest in its facilities, but
is concerned that this should be undertaken in a sensitive and appropriate
way. However, PPG2 advises that inappropriate development is that which
results in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the
original building. The Parsonage's Grade II listing includes its setting
and the Parish Council notes that, notwithstanding its concerns re Green
Belt designation, the applicant's Planning Statement advises that the
amount of floorspace on the site has incrementally increased by 170%, with
a corresponding increase in the built footprint of 290%. It should be
noted that all of these new developments obtained planning consent (as did
the permission for the adjoining Doctor's Surgery) prior to the adoption
of the Selby District Local Plan in 2005. Therefore, in accordance with
Government advice and good planning practice, increased weight should now
be placed on the adopted Local Plan and its statutory Green Belt
designation, as well as the designations and policies appropriate to the
Conservation Area and adjoining Listed Buildings.
Even if the
(substantial) policy objections were put to one side, Escrick Parish
Council considers that the following planning matters have not been
satisfactorily addressed in the applications:
Both proposals are gross
over development and detrimentally affect the setting of the original
Parsonage / Queen Margaret's Lodge.
Whilst views have been considered
from the A19, no assessment is made of views from the Green Belt / open
countryside or from the Doctor's Surgery and lane which is a well used
local facility. Both the proposed Conservatory to Rectory Cottage and the
Leisure Club are extensive buildings which would substantially change the
amenity and openness of this area.
Neither has any proper highways
assessment been undertaken of the proper parking requirements of the
extensive Parsonage conference / hotel facilities, let alone of the
leisure club.
It is surprising that a leisure facility of the scale
and mass proposed is intended to service only existing guests of the hotel
- no appraisal has been submitted to substantiate the scale required and
to 'prove' its viability without external membership. And how would this
be controlled / enforced?
Neither has a Traffic Impact Assessment been
submitted to assess the extent of parking required, nor a Safety Audit
prepared to assess the ability of the private lane to accommodate the
additional proposed traffic - which is already used extensively to access
both the Doctor's Surgery and private residences / farms. Not only could
there potentially be conflict of usage with a new access to the leisure
club from the lane, but the current junction arrangement with the busy A19
is already considered problematic and may not be able to accommodate
additional traffic usage.
As previously stated, the Parish Council
considers the Parsonage Hotel an integral part of the village. It is not
opposed to the development of leisure facilities in principle, but
considers the proposals gross over-development and insensitive both to its
designation as Green Belt and the important setting of the adjoining
Listed Buildings. The incremental extensions are of poor quality and
inappropriate within the curtilage of a Listed Building, adjoining
another, within the Conservation Area and the Green Belt. Demolition
within such sensitive areas and replacement of buildings - of an
appropriate scale and quality - is permitted and perhaps should be
considered if further development of the Parsonage Hotel is desired.
Further consultation with the Local Planning Authority and local community
would be welcomed.
In the interim, Escrick Parish Council objects to
both of these applications and considers that they should be refused in
their current form for the reasons set out above.
CORRESPONDENCE
'Group Response' had written with a quotation
to patrol certain areas of the village. It was agreed unanimously this was
not required.
Dean Landscapes had sent their quotation for this
season together with an up to date insurance certificate. The quotes for
cutting were:
Village green - £910.00 (£60.66 per cut)
Playing Field
- £750.00 (£50.00 per cut)
Verges - £910.00 (£60.66 per cut)
It was
agreed to accept this quote.
Two emails had been received from Mr
& Mrs Bolton about the live music being played at the club at night
events. The Parish Council already supports the village green events which
are held outside with live music and therefore do not have authority to
restrict the club. The music only lasts until the permitted hour of 12
midnight. The club have been informed of this complaint.
Mrs May Price
continues to have problems with raw sewerage flowing on her garden during
heavy down pours and her letters to Yorkshire Water are having no positive
action.
Mrs Casling is pursuing the environmental department about the
flooding in the village and the Council agreed she was doing an excellent
job.
She phoned Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire County Council
Highways regarding Carr Lane outside the school entrance and Main Street
near to the bridge as she had seen the flooding last Friday 12th September
in this area.
She logged a clean up order with Yorkshire Water for both
sites and requested North Yorkshire County Council to clean the gullies
which has been done. As of yet Yorkshire Water have not carried out their
work. It seems that when there is a surge the pump is not strong enough so
the water firstly comes out through the manhole outside school and then
backs up to the Main Street gullies. This pops out the rodding eye and
blows the bungs. North Yorkshire County Council needs to replace these
every time this happens. Mark Lumby from North Yorkshire County Council
Highways reported that there was a similar problem in Riccall and it took
four years for Yorkshire Water to change the pump for a stronger one. What
it needs is every instance logging with Mark Lumby and Yorkshire Water. So
residences in these areas need to phone with their post code and request a
clean up. She suggested it might also be worthwhile getting the school
involved.
The clerk was requested to write to the local MP, the
Minister of the Environment and to the Education Minister.
Action:
VC
Next Community Safety Joint Action Group meeting is on Wednesday 22 October at 7.30pm in Hemingbrough Methodist Chapel.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Mr Forster had been asked by a parishioner if the parish council were going to mark Dr Smythson's retirement and it was unanimously agreed that it was the responsibility of the surgery.
Mrs Wainwright reported there were overhanging branches at
Oakhurst in Carr Lane
Action: VC / BR
Mrs Lilian Coulson would like the footpath from Skipwith Road to
Main Street to be repaired. Mr Bill Reader will request the Estate office
to deal with this.
Action: BR
Mr Bill Reader requested a quotation for cleaning all the street
lights and replacing the bulbs.
Action: VC
Mr Bill Reader asked if the schedule of parish council meeting dates would be increased. It was agreed that this year's schedule was sufficient, but next year we will consider a seven and an eight meeting calendar.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING Monday 27th October 2008