MINUTES OF EMERGENCY MEETING DISCUSSING PROPOSED PLAN OF PARSONAGE LANE, GREAT SAMPFORD

MINUTES OF EMERGENCY MEETING DISCUSSING PROPOSED PLAN OF PARSONAGE LANE, GREAT SAMPFORD
HELD ON 17TH AUGUST 2021 AT 7.30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL


ATTENDEES: THERE WERE APPROX 52 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF PARISH COUNCIL:
JAMIE WOODS
WILLIAM BURTON
WILLIAM PARKER
SIMON BOYCE
GORDON DEUCE
KATH THOMPSON
COLIN BEANEY
CLLR SMITH
LISA HULL


THE MEETING COMMENCED WITH THANKS GIVEN TO ALL THOSE ATTENDING.  
THERE WERE NO DECLERATION OF INTERESTS GIVEN.
THANKS WERE ALSO GIVEN TO CLLR SMITH WHO WILL GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE LOCAL PLAN, AND ALSO TO 2 LADIES FROM THE POST OFFICE IN FINCHINGFIELD WHO CAN GIVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A COMMUNITY SHOP.
J.WOODS STRESSED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO COMMENT ON THE PLAN ON UDC WEBSITE AND OUTLINE THEIR VIEWS.  WE AS A PARISH COUNCIL ARE ASKED TO COMMENT ON AN APPLICATION, WE DON’T APPROVE OR REJECT PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
J.WOODS ALSO OUTLINED THE WORK FOR A DEVELOPER IN THAT THE OUTLINE PLAN IS EXACTLY THAT AND WHAT WE SEE NOW MAY NOT BE WHAT WE END UP WITH.  THEY NEED TO CONSIDER FLOODING RISK AND ROAD ACCESS WHICH ARE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT CAN BE SOLVED BY SPENDING MORE MONEY.  THEY ALSO LOOK AT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WHICH CANNOT BE SOLVED.  IN 2019 THE UDC STATED THEY WERE IN A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
CLLR SMITH STATED THAT THE LOCAL PLAN WAS LOOKING AT THE FUTURE PLAN/VISION FOR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL.  IN PREVIOUS PLANS COVERING HOUSING, THE HOUSING COULDN’T COME FORWARD QUICK ENOUGH FOR THE 5 YEAR LAND SUPPLY.  THE NEW PLAN WOULD FIRSTLY INVOLVE A STAKEHOLDER FORUM I.E. LOOK AT WHAT THE LOCAL PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN DELIVERED.  SECONDLY IT WOULD CALL FOR SITES, SOURCING LAND AND THE LOCATIONS WOULD BE PUBLISHED. THIRDLY THE COUNCIL OFFICER WOULD ASSESS THE SITES AND SEND TO THE PARISH COUNCIL FOR THEIR RESPONSE, THIS WOULD THEN BE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF THE YEAR.  LASTLY IT WOULD THEN GO TO CONSULTATION IN THE SPRING LOOKING AT WHAT WILL THE LOCAL PLAN LOOK LIKE AND EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR VIEWS.


ALSO ASKED TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS WERE THE LADIES FROM THE FINCHINFIELD POST OFFICE.  THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE CONTACTED 3 MONTHS AGO BY THE DEVELOPERS TO ASK IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN RUNNING THE SHOP.  THEY TOLD THE DEVELOPERS THEY WOULDN’T BE INTERESTED.  THEY STATED THAT IF WE WOULD LIKE A SHOP THEN THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP IF NEEDED.  THE FOLLOWING ISSUES WERE HIGHLIGHTED:

1. A COMMERCIAL SHOP IN A RURAL AREA WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO BE VIABLE
2. A COMMUNITY SHOP WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO BE RUN WITH VOLUNTEERS AND ALSO FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THE RUNNING OF THE SHOP
3. AN OPTION WOULD BE TO ASK THE DEVELOPERS TO SUBSIDISE THE COSTS OF RUNNING THE SHOP FOR 5-10 YEARS
4. THE PLAN SHOWS A 200SQ FT SHOP – THIS IS A LARGE AREA FOR A SMALL VILLAGE
5. THEY WOULDN’T OBJECT TO A POST OFFICE AND WOULD GIVE FULL SUPPORT IF THIS IS WHAT WE WISH TO HAVE AS PART OF THE PLAN.

IT WAS QUESTIONED WHETHER THE SIZE OF THE SHOP IS SUSTAINABE.  THIS DEPENDS ON WHAT WE PLAN TO FILL IT WITH, WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE COSTS AS WELL AS WELL AS THE SIZE.  IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WILL WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT A SHOP OF THAT SIZE WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE VILLAGE WHICH WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE THE TRAFFIC.
IT WAS NOTED THAT THE RUNNING COSTS OF THE VILLAGE HALL IS £4500 PER YEAR.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS

1. IF THIS DEVELOPMENT GOES AHEAD IT WILL OPEN UP THE FLOOD GATES ALL AROUND THE VILLAGE.  IN TERMS OF ACCESS, THIS IS ON A BLIND CORNER WITH A LOT OF SURFACE WATER.  WITH 27 HOUSES DEVELOPED THIS WILL BE AN INCREASE OF 18% IN HOUSING STOCK.  THIS IS ON GRADE B LAND.  IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE REGION OF £300,000 TO BE VIABLE.  THERE IS NO BUS SERVICE.
2. THE ACCESS CONCERN IS A COMMON THREAD.  IN 2001 THERE WAS A PLANNING APPLICATION AND THERE WAS CONCERN OVER 4 NEW DWELLINGS.  THERE IS A RESTRUCTIVE WIDTH WITH NO PASSING PLACES.
3. IN TERMS OF ACCESS, THERE ARE OFTEN DELIVERIES WHICH CAUSES CHAOS BECAUSE OF RESTRICTED ACCESS.  ALSO WHEN BIKERS GO THROUGH THE VILLAGE TO FINCHINGFIELD THIS CORNER CAN BE DANGEROUS DUE TO THE BLIND SPOT.  IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AIR POLLUTION AND WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF 27 HOUSES THIS WILL ONLY GET WORSE.  IN OUR RECENT FLOODS THEY WERE 1 FOOT DEEP ON THIS ROAD AND HIGHWAYS STATED IT WOULD TAKE 2-3 YEARS TO CLEAR THE DRAINS.
4. SAFETY – THIS IS A BLIND BEND AND ACCESS IS AN ISSUE.  THE IMPACT OF 27 HOUSES USING THE ROAD WILL BE DANGEROUS.  ALSO DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE PROCESS, WE DIDN’T HEAR ABOUT THIS UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS NO CONSULTATION PROCESS AND NO LEVEL OF TRUST WITH THE DEVELOPERS.
5. HAVING LOOKED AT CITY GATE DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT IS ALL ‘SWANKY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS’.  IF THEY ARE AFFORDABLE THEN THE CHEAPEST IS £350,000.  ALSO IF THIS GOES AHEAD THEN IT OPENS UP TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.  J.WOODS COMMENTED TO SAY THAT THERE WAS A CONSULTATION WHICH WAS ON FACEBOOK IN NOVEMBER,  IT WAS DONE BADLY BUT IT WAS A CONSULTATION.
6. WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD – IF DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES – WILL UDC SUPPORT US?  ARE DITCHES GOING TO BE CLEARED, HAVE WE RECEIVED REPORTS FROM ANGLIAN WATER ETC?  WITH ANOTHER 27 HOUSES AND THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH THE DRAINS, WHERE WILL IT GO?  IF UDC CANT CLEAR SPAREPENNY LANE NOW HOW CAN THEY DO IT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT?  CLLR SMITH STATED THAT ANGLIAN WATER HAVE RESPONDED.  
7. SAFETY AND ACCESS – WHEN TURNING RIGHT COMING FROM FINCHINGFIELD THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A BLIND BEND.  THE LANE HAS LIMITED VIEW WHICH IS USED BY FAMILIES AND DOG WALKERS AND THE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC WILL IMPACT THIS.  IN TERMS OF ACCESS MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO HAVE 24 HOUR ACCESS FOR PARSONAGE LANE.  DUE TO THE URGENCY OF ME GETTING TO WORK THERE CANNOT BE ANY TEMPORARY BLOCKAGE OR OBSTRUCTION.
8. THE LANE IS USED FOR PEDESTRIANS, IT IS MY MAIN ROUTE TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND WITH THE WIDTH RESTRICTIONS THERE WILL BE NO SPACE FOR A PATH.
9. EVERY ROAD INTO GREAT SAMPFORD IS DOWNHILL, IT IS EFFECTIVELY A BASIN. ALL WATER RUNS INTO THE VILLAGE, WHERE WOULD ANOTHER DITCH GO?
10. WE EXPERIENCE FLOODING REGULARLY, THE LAST OCCURRENCE JULY THIS YEAR.  IT IS NOT JUST WATER BUT LEAVES AS WELL WHICH BLOCKS THE DRAINS.  IT WAS ASKED IF SOMEONE WILL COME OUT AND DO A SITE VISIT.  A SITE VISIT COULD BE DONE IF RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.  IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND THE COMMITTEE PLANNING MEETING WHICH IS BROADCASTED ON THE INTERNET.
11. FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT – THE BASINS APPEAR UNDER THE PLAY AREA AND HOUSES, THIS IS NOT ACCURATE.  ALSO QUESTION THE SAFETY IN THAT FAMILY CANNOT WALK UP THE LANE SAFELY DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A PRAM UP, ALSO WHY DOE WE NEED A SECOND PLAYGROUND?
12. IT WAS QUESTIONED WHERE THE CONSERVATION AREA RUNS TO AND FROM.  IT WAS ADVISED TO ‘GOOGLE’ THE CONSERVATION AREA WHICH WILL SHOW THIS.  IT WAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE LAND HAS NOW BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE DEVELOPERS ON THE LAND REGISTRY LAST MONTH.
13. TRAFFIC – CAN THE PARISH COUNCIL MAKE REPRESENTATION?  CAN THE PARISH COUNCIL COMMISSION A SURVEY ON TRAFFIC NOW?  IT WAS NOTED THAT ESSEX HIGHWAYS CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT FROM A COMPUTER.
14. MAINTENANCE OF ROAD – THIS ROAD GETS VERY ICY IN THE WINTER.  WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?
15. ICE – HAVE PICTURES OF THE ICE ON PARSONAGE LANE COMPARED WITH CORNISH HALL END JUST UP THE ROAD WHICH IS CLEAR.  PARSONAGE LANE GET VERY ICY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET UP THE LANE RESULTING IN CARES BLOCKING THE LANE.
16. ENTRANCE OF SITE – THERE IS A 9FT BANK.  THERE WILL BE TONNES OF SOIL TO BE REMOVED.  THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED/RETIRED WHO LIVE RIGHT ON THE BOUNDARY.  HOW WILL THERE BE ACCESS FOR VEHICLES WHEN DEVELOPING, THE ROAD IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH.  WE CALL ON THE PARISH COUNCIL TO MAKE AN OBJECTION.  ESSEX HIGHWAYS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE APPLICATION.  WE ASK THE PARISH COUNCIL TO CONTACT CLLR FOLEY WITH PHOTOS TO TAKE TO ESSEX HIGHWAYS.  IT WAS NOTED THAT YOU CAN TAKE VIDEOS TO PUT ON UDC PERHAPS BY PUTTING ON YOUTUBE AND PUT A LINK IN YOUR COMMENTS.
17. THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT IS LISTED AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN REFUSED BECAUSE OF THE LISTED STATUS.
18. COULD WE HAVE A VILLAGE HALL INSTEAD?  IT WAS NOTED THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL HAVE LOOKED INTO WAYS OF GETTING OUT THE LEASE.  IF THE PLANNING APPLICATION IS APPROVED THEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT FOR DISCUSSION OVER WHAT WE WANT SUCH AS A VILLAGE HALL.
19. NEW LOCAL PLAN – THIS SETS THE SCENE OF THE UDC. LOOK AT SECTION 8 BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENTS.  IN UTTLESFORD THE CHEAPEST 2 BED HOUSE IS £230,000.  YOU WOULD NEED AN INCOME OF £50,000 PLUS A 10% DEPOSIT TO BUY THE CHEAPEST HOUSE, THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.  AFFORDABLE ISNT CHEAP ITS WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.  THIS SHOULD BE HOUSES FOR PEOPLE WITH CONNECTION TO THE VILLAGE, DON’T THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN.

OTHER POINTS MENTIONED DURING THE MEETING:
A POINT TO MAKE IS DO NOT WRITE COMMENTS SUCH AS WE DON’T NEED NEW HOUSING, YOU NEED TO WRITE WHY IT IS A BAD IDEA.  ALSO TO NOTE THAT THE SCHOOL DOES HAVE PLACES AVAILABLE.
ALSO, PLEASE INCLUDE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR OBJECTION.  SUCH AS THE ROAD IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH, THEY CAN ONLY ACHIEVE THIS BY TAKING SOMEONES LAND.  THEY WONT KNOW THIS UNLESS YOU INCLUDE THIS IN YOUR OBJECTION.
AS A PARISH COUNCIL WE WILL BE PROVIDING A SUMMARY WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS IN THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK.


THE MEETING ENDED AT 9.15PM.