At an extra meeting of the Parish Council held at 1900h on Monday 26th January, 2004 held to discuss urgent planning matters that had been received since the last Council Meeting, there were present: - Mr. J. Nichols (Chairman), Mr. S. Perks, Mrs. E. Hume, Mr. S. Lewis, Mr. T. Prettyman, Mr. P. Offord, Mrs. T. Townend, Mr. J. Blowers, Mr. G. Alderton, Mr K Wood and eight Parishioners also attended.

Declaration of Interests.  There were no declarations of interests.
Minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 January 2004 were approved and signed.
The Chairman then sought approval for a procedure to allow Councillors to hear the views of interested parishioners present at the meeting. The procedure to discuss the four plans and then temporarily close the meeting to hear parishioners views before going on to decide on the issues, was approved.
Item 1. Mr and Mrs Dix, Cornfields, Market Lane: Single storey side and two storey rear extension at The Mill House, The Street. Councillors were generally happy with this and saw it as a definite improvement to an old and important property in the village. Mr Perks expressed the wish that the style of the changes and the materials used should be in keeping with the existing buildings.
Item 2. Mr and Mrs Sweetman, 6 Orchard Close. First floor rear extension. A number of neighbouring properties had been similarly extended and councillors could see no reason to object to this one.
Item 3. Mrs C Crouch, 10 Queensway. Rear extension. There were no comments on this proposal.
Item 4. Mr and Mrs D Mathews, Virginia Cottage, Market Lane. Construction of a new house and garage in the grounds of Virginia Cottage. The Chairman first read a copy of a letter from Mr and Mrs Reeve of Yew Trees, Market Lane to the Development Control Committee. They had articulated their objections to the proposed development. 
It was noted that this application was very similar to one which had been turned down some years ago, mainly on the grounds of it being back-land development. Some Councillors had re-visited the site and commented on the previously noted problem of the huge drop in levels of some16 feet at the boundary between the proposed development and the adjoining properties of The Mill House and The Willows on The Street. This would cause major construction problems and represent a serious hazard to the gardens of those adjoining properties, only six to eight feet away. The proposed property is enormous for the size of the plot and would be totally intrusive for the existing neighbours both on The Street and in particular on Market Lane. Councillors felt strongly that, irrespective of the size and position, that back-land development of this nature should not be permitted per se. There is a suggestion on the plans that a temporary residence already exists on the plot in the form of a flat roof holiday bungalow. If this is so then it is totally outside the knowledge or concurrence of the Parish Council and we suspect the Planning and Development committee. The only structures agreed at Virginia Cottage have been a detached garage and a Stable block without accommodation.
The Chairman closed the official meeting and the meeting was re-opened for the public.
There were no comments from the public present on the planning applications in items 1-3.  Mr Hinds of Laurel Cottage, Market Lane then spoke strongly against the proposed development in the rear garden of Virginia Cottage. His concerns were similar to those already discussed by Councillors but he also raised the issue of site drainage seriously affecting the properties below it on Market Lane. He was also concerned about the size of the property and its very intrusive nature, sitting as it would on very high ground. Mr Reeve re-iterated those views as did Mr Dix who now owns the Mill House. Both described the property as like a ‘look out tower’. Both also expressed concern about the new narrow driveways opening on to a busy road at a blindspot. Concern was also expressed that there was mention of holiday bungalow to be demolished on the site. The Chairman confirmed that he had no knowledge of any planning permission ever being granted for any form of residence in that garden, only for a garage and a stable block.
 The Parish Council meeting was then officially re-opened.
The Chairman then invited any further comments and a proposal for each of the planning applications in turn.
Item 1. Mr and Mrs Dix, Cornfields, Market Lane: Single storey side and two storey rear extension at The Mill House, The Street. Mr Alderton proposed and Mr Blowers seconded that this should be approved with a recommendation that style and materials were in keeping with the historic nature of the property. This was carried unanimously.
Item 2. Mr and Mrs Sweetman, 6 Orchard Close. First floor rear extension.  It was proposed by Mr Blowers and seconded by Mr Alderton that this application be approved. This was carried unanimously.
Item 3. Mrs C Crouch, 10 Queensway. Rear extension. It was proposed by Mr Perks and seconded by Mr Prettyman that this application be approved. This was carried unanimously.
Item 4. Mr and Mrs D Mathews, Virginia Cottage, Market Lane. Construction of a new house and garage in the grounds of Virginia Cottage  It was proposed by Mr Alderton and seconded by Mrs Ayers that there should be no development on this rear garden site at all. Reasons for refusal were:
	This represents unacceptable back-land development
	There are serious issues of large differences in the levels between the proposed plot and Mill House and The Willows on The Street.
	There are serious issues of drainage from this plot to the lower properties on Market Lane in an area already prone to flooding.
	It is a very large and intrusive property representing a serious invasion of privacy to the neighbours on both The Street and Market lane. 
The conversion of the current wide entrance into two narrow entrances represents an additional road safety hazard on to a busy road and at a point where visibility is already limited.
The proposal to refuse together with the list of reasons was carried unanimously.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 1955h.