A Special Parish Meeting was held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 20^th November 2007 at 8pm

 

PRESENT

 

Mrs S Saunders          Chairman

Mr D Lanning              Vice-Chairman

Mr N R Pridmore

Mrs K Humphries

Mrs E Clarke

Mrs G W Wilkinson      Clerk

Dr H E G Rees             County Councillor for Ketton ward

Mr B W Roper              County Councillor for Ketton ward

 

Around 70 – 80 members of the public were also present.

 

APOLOGIES

 

Mrs R Roberts, Councillor (in hospital)

Mr & Mrs Mortley, residents

 

The Chairman welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending at such short notice, and suggested that residents look at the proposed plans which were displayed in the hall.

 

She explained that the meeting had been called to see and discuss the plans from Mr Slater for 13 Main Street, for the conversion of the existing building into two separate dwellings and the erection of one two-storey dwelling at the rear. To achieve the improved access required by planning, the applicant had proposed to widen the footpath and reduce the width of a section of Main Street by a metre.

 

Councillor Lanning reported on his meeting with the Highways Officer who confirmed that the application we had been given would be totally unacceptable.

 

Hayley Slater on behalf of the developer said that this had been a mistake by the architect and in a revised plan, shown to the Parish Council 24 hours prior to this meeting, the reduction of road width was only about half a metre. Mr Slater then confirmed this was to meet the minimum legal requirement of the highway authority.

 

The Chairman said she would like the residents’ response to this as a point of principle on the reduction of the width of road for vehicles to be reduced for any planning application.

.

Councillor Saunders said that Main Street is the main route through the village, is often used by large vehicles, and is the bus route. The section of Main Street near No.13 is wider than at other points, and makes an essential passing area when coming from the Wakerley direction as it allows larger vehicles to pass before the dangerous narrow blind corner at the junction with Chapel Lane.

 

Councillor Saunders asked for questions and opinions from the floor, and these included the following residents who expressed views:-

 

Mr Dawson, Mr & Mrs Hennessey, Mr & Mrs Parks, Mr Haylock, Mr & Mrs Gorton, Mr Redington, Mrs Mitchell, Mr Ellis, Mr Bonner, Mr Halls, Dr Mottram, Mrs Worrall, Mr Humphries, Miss Jones, Mr Cole & Mr Philpott.

 

Comments included:

 

(a) Should not allow this to happen

(b) Main Street is not straight as plan indicates

(c) There would be more accidents, and pedestrians would be more at risk

(d) Main Street is also restricted by parked vehicles

(e) The development of the farmyard next door will make that part of Main

      Street more congested without further increases in density

(f)  The safety for all pedestrians especially children was of great concern

(g) It is a difficult sight line, especially for large vehicles, with a curve in the road

(h) More dangerous than ever coming out of Chapel Lane

(i)  Where are the builders vehicles and delivery lorries going to park?

(k) Developer should accept the road as it is and develop around the current situation

(l)  Why could a better sight line not be obtained by altering part of the building?

 

Councillor Saunders then asked for comments from residents on the development itself.

 

Residents were concerned regarding the size and height of the proposed new property, also that the valuable open view will be lost, not only to pedestrians walking along Main Street, but also to the neighbours.  It was felt that planning applications should be framed around the roads as they are, and roads should not be altered for any new proposals.

 

The chairman confirmed that everyone who wanted to speak had been given the opportunity. She thanked all who had attended and particularly that so many had shared their concerns for the safe development of Barrowden.

 

Councillor Saunders asked Mr Slater if he felt in view of the concern in the village that he had the moral authority to use any area of the public highway for his own personal profit.  She put it to him that, although he maintained that:

(a) his development proposals are consistent with the best interests of the village, and

(b) sensitive development in keeping with the design objectives of the VDS can be a beneficial asset to the local inhabitants,

 as he claimed to be a concerned resident of Barrowden with a sincere desire to do the best for the village, perhaps he would show true altruistic concern and withdraw his application

 

A petition had been prepared by the Parish Council, which residents were invited to sign, against reducing the width of the road for traffic to accommodate the proposed planning application.

 

The meeting closed with many signing the petition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For details of other minutes, please click on the appropriate date

tt back to parish council home page

Back to top