LANGFORD & ULTING PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF LANGFORD & ULTING PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 15TH MAY 2012 AT LANGFORD & ULTING VILLAGE HALL.

 

Present:                       Councillors: Andrew Tween, Irene Allen, Kathy Palmer and Richard Perry

In the Chair:                Councillor Andrew Tween

Clerk:                          Jenny Clemo

Also present:              Marcus Shingler (Development Control Team Leader, Maldon District

Council), Tai Tsui (Policy Planning Officer, Maldon District Council),

Cllr. Bass, Cllr. Durham and approximately 55 members of the public.

 

12/61. Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Anfilogoff who was on holiday.

 

12/62. Declarations of Interest

No interests were declared.

 

12/63. Presentation - FUL/MAL/12/00313 and CON/MAL/12/00314 - CML Microsystems Limited, Oval Park, Hatfield Road, Langford.

The purpose of the meeting was to receive views of residents and others to assist the Parish Council in formulating their response to Maldon District Council. Residents were encouraged to email or write to Maldon District Council expressing their views.

The chairman introduced Marcus Shingler and Tai Tsui, planning officers from Maldon District Council. The plans which are for a full application for the residential development of 147 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses in a mixture of styles, 44 of these being social housing (22 social and 22 mixed tenure) and a conservation application which seeks permission to remove existing structures. The applicant has offered various contributions via a S106 legal agreement. The justification for residential development on the site is that CML have not been able to market the site for employment use. It was noted that:

  • the development is outside the settlement boundary in a rural location;
  • it would be a new urban extension to the village;
  • the National Planning Policy Framework’s (NPPF), basic tenet is a presumption in favour of sustainable development;
  • the saved policies from the Maldon District Local Replacement Plan 2005 are still relevant and also the emerging new Local Development Plan.

Maldon District Council are still waiting for responses from statutory consultees including, Natural England, Anglia Water, Essex County Council Education and Highways, Mid Essex Primary Care Trust etc.  

The chairman thanked the planning officer for presenting the plans.

 

12/64. Public Question Time

Residents and others present were then invited to speak. The following comments were made:

  • the site was exceptionally included in the Maldon Local Plan as suitable for hi-tech industry and has never been designated for housing;
  • the site is within the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Conservation area and the Chelmer - Blackwater Ridges Special Landscape Area;
  • this number of houses would produce a significant increase in volume of traffic;
  • proposed crossing may slow traffic down but could cause tailbacks into Heybridge;
  • everyone will use the car as the main mode of transport, no point in funding additional bus service;
  • the average number of cars per household equates to the number of bedrooms;
  • Hatfield Peverel Parish Council is concerned about further increases in traffic originating from residential development in Maldon District particularly as nothing is being done to improve the situation;
  • high level of out-commuting to destinations via Hatfield Peverel;
  • it was queried whether the site complied with the Essex Local Transport Plan 2011 in that the main modes of transport should be walking, cycling or buses;
  • current two hourly bus provision not satisfactory for commuters (earliest bus to Hatfield Peverel – 7.38am, latest bus – 18.11pm from Hatfield Peverel);
  • the actual number of children from Langford and Ulting attendingHeybridgePrimary schoolwhich is in special measures was queried.
  • children in the two villages currently attend schools in Hatfield Peverel, Woodham Walter, Great Totham, Maldon and Little Baddow and travel mainly by car;
  • it was noted that Essex County Council already guarantee that transport will be provided for pupils from Langford travelling to Heybridge Primary School and the Plume Academy as the route is too dangerous to walk;
  • local doctor’s capability of providing for additional residents was queried;
  • similarly local school capacities, ambulance, police and fire services;
  • residential development should be near existing towns not in isolated position within a conservation area;
  • surface water run off may increase danger of flooding to properties nearer the rivers;
  • Ulting Lane rat run could become more of an issue;
  • access improvements to Ulting Lane junction;
  • Maldon District Council should assure existing residents that their views are taken into account;
  • social housing associated with increases in crime and drug dealing;
  • positioning of social housing at boundaries and close to existing properties is inconsiderate;
  • off-site contribution for social housing not accepted by Maldon District Council;
  • previous affordable housing survey in 2005 suggested that there was a need for four in Langford and four in Ulting but as there was no village envelope they could not be built;
  • development too big;
  • potential impact on adjacent listed buildings;
  • positioning of service road close to Beavis Hall and Beavis Lea is inconsiderate;
  • unsustainable location, does the site meet the sustainability test?
  • no infrastructure or amenities;
  • Langford and Ulting are not looking for planning gain;
  • this is the wrong development in the wrong place;
  • impact on Langford and Ulting as a community;
  • the development will be a new community with no facilities between Langford and Ulting;
  • a residential development in this location will not enhance the parkland setting;
  • CML’s reason for relocating to Langford’s clean, green space was to escape from the noise and smell of nearby industrial units, the current proposal contradicts this;
  • CML have suggested that they have had favourable responses from Maldon District Council;
  • £9 million towards a bypass would be more beneficial than S106 promises;
  • the Parish Council would prefer the industrial units which already have planning permission on this site;
  • Legal & General, a major CML shareholder, are pressing for development of some kind;
  • better sites for residential development in Maldon and Heybridge than this green field site;
  • is there any further opportunity for consultation with the community?
  • it was confirmed that 30 of the members of the public present had not received the consultation evening leaflet circulated by Capita Symonds;
  • why are 3 storey town houses included?
  • size of gardens out of character with those in Langford and Ulting;
  • water resources at CML – they have private boreholes;
  • sewerage system not sufficient for development of this size;
  • large number of houses for sale or to let in Langford and its vicinity;
  • site is well screened so whether it looks pleasing or not is irrelevant;
  • trees were planted to screen local properties when CML was built – current plans involve removal of some of these;
  • light pollution and visibility from Ulting Lane, Ulting Hall Lane and Woodham Walter;
  • development within chlorine exclusion zone – health and safety issues?
  • presence of heavy metals and organic carbon on site;
  • residents can attend North West planning committee meetings. There is an opportunity for a Parish Council representative and spokespersons for and against an application to speak;
  • can write to District Councillors;
  • residents having problems accessing plans on website.

 

The planning officer responded to questions where possible as follows:

  • the developer decides on number and size of units included;
  • there will inevitably be more traffic;
  • consultee responses not yet received and therefore no comment could be made on Highways, schools, doctors, conservation area, impact on listed buildings, trees
  • provision of funding for new bus service;
  • improved access to Ulting Lane – detailed scheme in collaboration with Highways;
  • Maldon District Council want views of residents to help assist decision;
  • look at impacts on character of the village, conservation area, character of the area, landscape character;
  • 30% social housing complies with Maldon District Council policy;
  • for definition of sustainability see NPPF;
  • emerging Local Development Plan predicts population growth and number of houses required over the plan period;
  • planning officer agreed to raise offer of off-site contribution with Housing;
  • planning officer offered to take residents through the plans at the Council Offices.

 

Cllr. Durham, chairman North West planning committee or Cllr. Bass can be contacted if residents have any queries. Contact details are on the website.

 

12/65. Planning Matters

Planning applications received: FUL/MAL/12/00313 and CON/MAL/12/00314 – Residential development comprising 147 dwellings, internal access roads, public open space and ancillary development, demolition of former open water storage tanks and ancillary outbuilding to CML’s headquarter building. Oval Park, Hatfield Road, Langford.

After some discussion the Parish Council agreed that the chairman and clerk would draft a letter of objection, which would be circulated to councillors for comment. Areas of concern included:

  • proportionate size of development to Langford;
  • unsustainable location;
  • traffic issues including lack of public transport;
  • lack of facilities;
  • houses in Langford not selling.

 

12/66. Meeting with Capita Symonds

It was agreed that the Parish Council did not require another meeting with Capita Symonds. It was agreed that a request for full details of what is being offered in the Section 106 and details of the government New Homes Bonus should be submitted to Capita Symonds by the clerk.

 

12/67. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 22nd May 2012 at Crouchmans Barn, Ulting after the Ulting Parish Meeting.

 

Signed:                                                            (Chairman)             Date: