Planning application UTT/20/1249/OP

Proposed Development of Three Detached Residential Properties
Churchfield Great Sampford. Applicants Lindsell / Lavender ​

The Parish Council voted in the following way - No objection 5, objected 1, abstain 2. Due to the heated and sometimes unpleasant nature of the debate I will not be releasing the way that individual councillors voted, I do not see that it is relevant.

I think that the following points need to be made that influenced Councillors decisions:
We feel as a PC that some small developments in the village are vital for its long term future, particularly if the village wishes to continue to be able to support the remaining services which it has. For instance, the Mothers and Toddlers Group has ceased to exist, the Youth Club is not thriving as it was - the cricket club is barely able to raise a team, the tennis club is struggling for members and the list continues.
We understand that people do not want a development any where near them, but we felt that this was a good plan which had been well thought out and would complement the village.
There is a certain weariness amongst Councillors at the total lack of interest or concern regarding other planning applications in the village, particularly the ongoing development at “Meadow View” on the Thaxted Road. I believe that just one member of the village wrote in objection to the ongoing development of the site, but no-one else sees to worry.
We also took into account that the all the letters opposing the scheme - bar one - were from Willets Field and Homebridge. We respect, as I have said before the concerns of these two streets but they do not make up the entire community - the majority of whom have made no comment.
I have no knowledge of the JCCC records and I have had two people tell me that there was crash there, one is convinced that the pilot is still there and the other is sure that he is not. That is for others to decide and rule on.
This planning application has a long way to go yet and I have to say that increasingly UDC takes no notice of the PC’s view at all.
The PC does not “grant” planning to schemes, it only gives a view on behalf of the whole community.
William Burton.
​Chairman.