Here Is No Solution Offered to the Problems Posed by at Least Four and Probably up to Eight Motor

HEMINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting held on April 11, 2019 at 7.30pm in The Hut, Hemingstone.

PRESENT Cllrs David Byrnand, David Penny and Claire Martin (in the chair) and Rod Caird (Clerk).

1/110419 Apologies and approvals of absence

Cllrs Mohammed Touman and Jason Fayers had sent their apologies and their absence was approved.

2/110419 Declarations of Interest and dispensations requested

None

4/110419 Public comments on matters on the Agenda

None. It was suggested for future consideration that a time limit be put on this section of the regular meetings.

5/110419 Consideration of planning application 19/01442:

Notification for Prior Approval for a Proposed Change of Use of Agricultural Pig Building to a Dwellinghouse (Class C3) and for Associated Operational Development Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order 2015- Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q - 4No dwellings Agricultural Building At Leedes Farm, Bulls Road, Hemingstone, Ipswich Suffolk IP6 9RF

After discussion it was agreed to comment as follows:

Hemingstone Parish Council objects to the application.

o As was the case with the previous application on the same site, this is not a barn conversion in the normally understood sense of the term; although the new structure would sit on the same footprint as the old barn, and would use some elements of the existing structure, it would be in reality a rebuild - or reinvention - resulting in the creation of four entirely new homes.

o Four new homes on that site will not be sustainable. The access road is a single-track lane and there is no solution offered to the problems posed by at least four and probably up to eight motor

vehicles having daily movements to and from the new houses.

o There is no public transport and there are no facilities accessible by foot; the houses would be entirely dependent on private cars for travel to the nearest shops in Claydon and Barham. Hemingstone has no social infrastructure of its own, being dependent on the neighbouring villages of Henley, Coddenham and Barham/Claydon for schools, shops, public houses and other facilities. The proposed site is not within any acceptable or proposed development area.

o An outline planning application for homes at the Fruit Farm on Main Road was recently refused on access and sustainability grounds, as was an agricultural outbuilding conversion proposal for a house on Mill Lane, Henley. Allowing the Leedes Farm proposal would not be consistent with those decisions.

o In the light of the previous (refused) application to convert two other former agricultural structures at Leedes Farm, which sit alongside the building currently being discussed, it can only be assumed that if this application is allowed, further applications will follow for the other buildings. This would result in a development of up to 12 new homes on a totally unsuitable and unsustainable site in the countryside.

o The fact that Mid Suffolk has now demonstrated it has a five- year land supply would argue against allowing new housing on an otherwise unsuitable site.

6/110419 Urgent matters to be brought to the attention of the Parish Council

None on this occasion