Lambourn Parish Council Meeting Report: Jan 2021
6 January 2021
In this article I have recorded some of the discussion points from the Lambourn Parish Council Meeting which was held this evening. This is not an official set of minutes. Minutes will be issued by the Lambourn Parish Council following the next meeting.
Cllr Billinge-Jones welcomed councilors and members of the public to the meeting and wished everyone a happy and safe new year.
The council reviews planning applications in a consultative capacity. The final decision lies with the Planning officers of West Berkshire Council. This evening the Lambourn parish Council considered the following planning applications:
20/02916/FULMAJ – Land East of Malt Shovel Lane, Upper Lambourn – Formation of racing stable complex, including the change of use of land.
Conclusion: LPC supports the application.
20/02922/FUL – 39 Newbury Street, Lambourn – Demolish existing bungalow and redevelopment to provide 4 No 3 bedroom dwelling houses with associated parking and amenity areas.
Discussion: It was noted that the notices advising the public that a planning application was in progress are not displayed at the site. Concerns were also raised about the additional load on the sewers. There was also noted that there is no provision for solar panels or car charging points.
Conclusion: No Objection.
20/02968/HOUSE + 20/20969/LBC2 – Hare House, Hill Drop Lane, Lambourn Woodlands – Internal and external alterations for the conversion of the former public House into a dwelling following approved change of use application, along with associated landscape works.
Discussion: Some concerns were raised about the unspecified colour of the wood finish and if the wooden cladding boards should be horizontal rather than vertical. No concerns regarding the internal layout. There was quite a detailed discussion about the state of the windows, the double glazing and the complexity of restoring old windows where the glass is listed.
Conclusion: No objection subject to the cladding being appropriate for a listed building.
Hyde Farm Cottage, Sheepdrove – Swimming Pool
Conclusion: No objection
20/02243/COND1 – 2 The Broadway, Lambourn – Application for approval of details reserved by conditions (5) Archaeology, (6) Construction method statement and (7) Electric Charging Point of planning permission 20/00425/FULD – Demolition of prefabricated 1960s garage and construction of a new two bedroom house with associated parking. APPROVED. Conditions discharged.
20/00920/FUL – 27 Child Street, Lambourn – Proposed single storey side extension to provide private apartment (rented in the short term to local residents) to be used by elderly residents once a multi storey home becomes unusable. Objection. Overdevelopment of site – this is a separate dwelling, not an extension. Tree survey required. Any additional information must be in by the 13 January 2021.
Conclusion: Concern that questions on the objection document were incorrect including the statement that the property is not in the AONB.
20/02234/LBC2 – Weathercock House, Upper Lambourn – Urgent repairs to two central load-bearing walls following the partial collapse into a historic well located below. Temp supports have been installed to prevent further collapse/damage to the unsupported walls however, there are ongoing concerns about overall structural stability until a perm repair is implemented. No Objection. APPROVED.
20/02565/HOUSE – 43 Baydon Road, Lambourn – Rear extension. No Objection. APRPOVED.
The LPC has a new website which is now up and running. The website is still under construction and will be updated with more information in the coming weeks. Minutes of previous meetings are now available on the site.
The council discussed anti-social behaviours by a small number of individuals in the market square. A Councillor stated that a family moved house because of anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the vicinity. Councillors also cited an incident of an assault on an individual. Suggestions were made to ask for more police presence. Cllr Billinge-Jones reminded Council that youth clubs had not been successful in the past and that they did not attract the right attendance. Councillor Cocker remarked on the comments from the residents’ survey where comments were made that residents would like places, activities, shopping and other activities for younger people. The general view is that a youth club had been tried and would not be successful. A suggestion was made to promote activities for young people through the Village Views magazine.
The Council agreed to start a working party to discuss the issue of anti-social behaviour further.
Cllr Cocker gave an update on the West Berks Local Plan which is out for public consultation. She pointed out changes proposed to Lambourn Woodlands protected employment area and that Lynch Lane is now in the housing allocation for 60 units. Cllr Cocker was particularly concerned about the protected employment area and urged individuals to review the document. LPC would appreciate a copy of comments made. The document and consultation portal is available on the West Berks website.
Concerns were raised about businesses operating along the B4000 violating a number of regulations. There was a suggestion to hire a drone to survey activities.
The community orchard has now been planted and the Council congratulated the community volunteers on an excellent project.
An additional £500,000 of funding is available for CiL projects in West Berks. Cllr Cocker suggested that projects be prepared in readiness when funding can be applied for.
One suggestion was to improve the High Street in a comprehensive regeneration programme. This would be a rather larger programme with careful planning. Another suggestion is to improve local transport using concepts such as such as The Ramsbury Flyer community bus.
Smaller suggestions include wild flower planting, leaflets for local walks, improved drainage at the skate park, safe crossing points on Ermin street, improved walkways in the village, more planters in the market square, an alternative to village gates and publishing the history of Lambourn. Sue and Bridget will collaborate to formalise costings for projects.
LPC provides an £11,000 a year grant towards the running of The Lambourn Centre. Cllr Winfield volunteered to represent the LPC on the committee which oversees the running of the centre to ensure that the Council’s views are represented.
The Local neighbourhood development plan is progressing well and the Landscape Character Appraisal is now available. Councillors are meeting planners at West Berks to check fit with the West Berkshire Local Plan. The requirement to dovetail Government legislation with Local Plan and the Parish plan can be a bit of a moving target.
