Chesham Town Council

Bill Richards Town Clerk

Tel: 01494 774842 Fax: 01494 582908 www..gov.uk Email: [email protected] 18th November 2016

Dear Councillor,

I hereby give you notice that a meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE will be held in the Council Chamber, The Town Hall, Chesham, on

MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 7.30 PM

when the business set out below is proposed to be transacted:

AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Declarations of Interest. 3. To receive and confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7th November 2016. 4. To receive and consider planning applications received from the Council since the last meeting of the Committee and any planning applications and comments delegated to the Ward Members and Chairman of the Committee and to note previous planning comments submitted. Plans are available for inspection on Chiltern District Council’s website www.chiltern.gov.uk. 5. To receive and consider decision notices received from Chiltern District Council since the last meeting of the Committee. 6. Removal of BT Public Payphones Consultation. 7. Response to Local Plan ‘Green Belt’ Preferred Options Consultation. 8. Information items.

Yours sincerely,

Bill Richards Town Clerk

Publication Date: 18th November 2016.

Chesham Town Council, Town Hall, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1DS Twinned with Friedrichsdorf Germany; Houilles France; Archena Spain CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

1) CH/2016/1945/SA 12 Lycrome Road Chesham NEWTOWN

Description: Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed operation relating to the erection of a single storey front extension.

2) CH/2016/1950/FA 18A East Street Chesham ST MARY'S

Description: Conversion of the building to create four dwelling places.

3) CH/2016/1953/FA 16 Chessmount Rise Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: Development of 10 dwellings, improved vehicle access and associated works.

4) CH/2016/1957/FA 27 Lane Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Replacement outbuilding.

5) CH/2016/2020/KA Chesham Town Council Church yard at St Marys Church Chesham ST MARY'S

Description: Crown reduction of and removal of epicormic growth from a lime tree in a Conservation Area.

6) CH/2016/1904/FA 2 King Street Chesham ST MARY'S

Description: Single storey rear garage extension, linked walkway, creation of new door opening to rear, fenestration alterations.

7) CH/2016/1905/HB 2 King Street Chesham ST MARY'S

Description: Single storey rear extension to existing garage and associated alterations to form garden room and shower room,provision of lead roof canopy between garage and rear wc lobby, and insertion of new rear door opening.

8) CH/2016/1986/FA 17 Chartridge Lane Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Two storey rear extension. CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

9) CH/2016/1989/FA Woodbury, 5 Springfield Close Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: Single storey rear extension incorporating roof terrace, single storey front extension, replacement extended garage to front to include handrails surrounding a roof garden,fenestration alterations.

10) CH/2016/0189/FA 136 Road Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Detached dwelling at rear of 136 Bellingdon Road- amended plans received.

11) CH/2016/1973/FA 61 Mount Nugent Chesham RIDGEWAY

Description: Provision of hardstanding and dropped kerb.

12) CH/2016/2007/FA 66 Poles Hill Chesham VALE

Description: Timber outbuilding.

13) CH/2016/2015/FA 9 Chalk Hill Chesham ASHERIDGE VALE

Description: Rear dormer roof structure.

14) CH/2016/2038/FA 140 Chartridge Lane Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Single storey front extension, hip to gabled roof extension, rear dormer windows to facilitate a loft conversion.

15) CH/2016/60002/BCC Thames Water Utilities Thames Water Plc Sewage Works Latimer Road Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: New motor control centre building.- COUNTY COUNCIL DETERMINED PLANNING APPLICATION. CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

16) CH/2016/60003/BCC Thames Water Utilities Thames Water Plc Sewage Works Latimer Road Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: New motor control centre building.- COUNTY COUNCIL DETERMINED PLANNING APPLICATION. CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING DECISIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

1) CH/2015/2093/FA Land To The Rear Of 22 Lowndes Avenue Lindo Close Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Erection of a detached dwelling. Comments: The Committee recommends REFUSAL of this application, as a larger dwelling on a smaller plot than other nearby properties, it constitutes overdevelopment and has the potential for being overlooking. Decision: Refuse Permission. 2) CH/2016/1464/FA Chesham Grammar School White Hill Chesham TOWNSEND

Description: Access gates and 1.8m fencing to the front with security 2.4m fencing to the boundary. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Conditional Permission 3) CH/2016/1574/FA 2 Cottages Lycrome Road Chesham NEWTOWN

Description: Two storey rear extension. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Refuse permission. 4) CH/2016/1600/FA Harmony Energy Storage Land to rear of Substation Lycrome Road Chesham NEWTOWN

Description: Battery Energy Storage Facility. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Refuse permission 5) CH/2016/1673/TP 11 Berkeley Avenue Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Crown reduction of a maple protected by a Tree Preservation Order Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application subject to the comments of the District Council's Tree officer. Decision: Conditional Permission 6) CH/2016/1302/SA 13 Rose Drive Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed operation relating to an extended vehicular access. Comments: The Committee has no comment to make in respect of this application. Decision: Cert. of law proposed dev or use issued CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING DECISIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

7) CH/2016/1590/FA Portobello Farm 165 Asheridge Road Chesham ASHERIDGE VALE

Description: Two storey rear extension. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to the application subject to compliance with current Green Belt policy. Decision: Conditional Permission 8) CH/2016/1687/FA 29 Hillcroft Road Chesham HILLTOP

Description: Two storey side extension ,two rear dormers, front rooflights to facilitate first floor accommodation ,single storey front extension. Comments: The Committee recommends REFUSAL of this application on the grounds of size and bulk particularly in respect to the flat roof at the rear. Moreover it has concerns on the balcony and French doors being potentially overlooking and the need to retain diverse housing stock. Decision: Conditional Permission 9) CH/2016/1690/FA 98 Church Street Chesham ST MARY'S

Description: Demolition of rear porch and construction of single storey pitched roof , "lean to" rear extension, alteration to first floor side window, replacement of existing uPVC windows to rear and side with timber painted windows. Comments: The Committee WELCOMES this application as a visual improvement to the area, subject to the comments of the Historic Buildings Officer. Decision: Conditional Permission 10) CH/2016/1691/HB 98 Church Street Chesham ST MARY'S

Description: Demolition of rear porch and construction of single storey pitched roof , "lean to" rear extension, alteration to first floor side window, replacement of existing uPVC windows to rear and side with timber painted windows. Comments: The Committee WELCOMES this application as a visual improvement to the area, subject to the comments of the Historic Buildings Officer. Decision: Conditional Consent 11) CH/2016/1693/FA 5 Lye Green Road Chesham HILLTOP

Description: Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of two detached properties (4 beds), new single point of access plus two car parking spaces per property. Comments: The Committee raises its concern over this application in respect to being overlooking; loss of privacy; loss of amenity and potential lack of adequate parking. Decision: Refuse Permission. CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING DECISIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

12) CH/2016/1710/FA 64 Berkeley Avenue Chesham LOWNDES

Description: First floor side extension, three rear roof lights to existing rear extension. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to the application but would wish to see glazed windows upstairs where appropriate. Decision: Conditional Permission 13) CH/2016/1698/FA 1A Rose Drive Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: Part two storey , part single storey front extension. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Conditional Permission 14) CH/2016/1727/FA 52 Lindo Close Chesham LOWNDES

Description: Single storey side garage extension with rear store. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Conditional Permission 15) CH/2016/1728/FA 7 Penn Avenue Chesham LOWNDES

Description: New roof with front and rear dormers,single storey side and rear extension. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Conditional Permission 16) CH/2016/1733/FA P4i Nashleigh Court 188 Severalls Avenue Chesham NEWTOWN

Description: Proposed external alterations to include creation of new window openings and insertion of rooflights . Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Conditional Permission 17) CH/2016/1742/FA 7 Nor Jo Ann Villas Chesham WATERSIDE

Description: Single storey side/rear extension , pitched roof over existing flat roofed side extension, replacement of detached single storey garage. Comments: The Committee raises NO OBJECTIONS to this application. Decision: Refuse Permission. CHESHAM TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING DECISIONS 28 NOVEMBER 2016

18) CH/2016/1882/FA 42 Chilton Road Chesham VALE

Description: Conversion of garage to habitable accommodation. Comments: The Committee SUPPORTS this application. Decision: Permission not needed. Report of the Officers to a meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL Committee on Monday 28th November 2016

AGENDA ITEM NO: 6 – PROPOSED REMOVAL OF BT PUBLIC PAYPHONES ACROSS CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL

Reporting Officer: Bill Richards (01494 583824), Rachel Watts (01494 582907)

Summary

1. To consider the BT proposal to remove 10 Public Payphones from Chesham, and submit comments during this public consultation by Friday 9th December to Chiltern District Council.

Background Information

2. Chiltern District Council has received notification from BT regarding the intended removal of 42 payphones across the District, 10 of which are located in Chesham. The BT 90 Day Consultation period ends on 1 January 2017, and Chiltern District Council have requested that Parish Council comments be received by 9th December. BT has placed consultation notices on the relevant payphones.

Financial Implications

3. As outlined in the report.

Strategic Objectives

4. Accords with the Council’s strategic aim 6 – ‘To represent the views and wishes of the residents of Chesham’.

Equality Act Implications

5. None applicable.

Detailed Consideration

6. BT has stated that the overall use of payphones has declined by 90% over the last decade, and the need to provide payphones for emergency use is diminishing with 98% of the UK with either 3G or 4G coverage. (BT letter attached.)

7. The attached document lists where each callbox is located and how many calls have been made from them in the last 12 months. Please note that the call box on Deansway was used 72 times in the past 12 months, with the Berkeley Avenue call box having 14 calls. 8. BT has also provided information that any landowner or Parish/Town Council can adopt the red callbox (minus the telephone equipment) for just £1.

9. Chiltern District Council are collating the responses from the parish councils and request that if there is an objection to a specific removal that the reasons are fully detailed.

Recommendation

That the Committee considers whether it wishes to comment on the removal of certain payphones in Chesham, and whether it wishes to purchase any red phone boxes for £1. Chief Planning Officer Chiltern District Council King George V House King George V Road , Bucks HP6 5AW

30th September 2016

TIME SENSITIVE - 90 Day Consultation period end date: 1st January 2017

Dear Chief Planning Officer,

Further to our previous letter, we are writing to you as part of a formal consultation process regarding our current programme of intended public payphone removals. This letter formally starts our consultation with you and the local community.

There are currently 42 public payphones in your area which have been identified and proposed for removal by BT under the 90-day consultation process and details of these payphones are shown below.

To ensure that the local community are fully informed, we have placed consultation notices on the relevant payphones, and a sample notice is enclosed. We have also included the date we posted these notices on the payphones. The consultation period will close on 1st January 2017. Unless you contact us to agree otherwise, responses received after this date will not be accepted.

This consultation process gives your local communities the opportunity to adopt a traditional red ‘heritage’ phone box and make them an asset that local people can enjoy. It’s really simple to do and it costs just £1 - http://business.bt.com/phone-services/payphone-services/adopt-a-kiosk/

Overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage. This is important because as long as there is network coverage, it’s now possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no credit or no coverage from your own mobile provider.

You may also want to consider the recent Ofcom affordability report which found that most people do not view payphones as essential for most consumers in most circumstances - http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/affordability/affordability_report.pdf

On the 14th March 2006 the Office of Communications (Ofcom) published a statement following their 2005 review of universal service in the Telecommunications market, which includes a requirement for payphone

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street EC1A 7AJ Registered in No 1800000 www.bt.com provision to meet reasonable needs. Part of that statement amended our obligations with regard to the removal of payphone service - http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/uso/uso_statement/

As stated in Ofcom’s 2005 review, it is the responsibility of the local authority to initiate its own consultation process to canvas the views of the local community. They would normally expect these consultations to involve other public organisations such as the Parish or Community councils and work within the terms of the Communications Act 2003. This means that you must be able to objectively justify your decisions.

Full guidance on the removal process can be viewed at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/uso/statement/removals.pdf and a summary is available at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/uso/statement/removing_callboxes.pdf

The guidance also details the appeals process we must follow in case of unreasonable objections.

What you need to do next

Please complete and return the attached annex with your decision on each payphone.

If the decision is that the local community wish to ‘adopt’, please provide their contact details and we’ll do the rest.

If you wish to ‘object’, you’ll need to complete the last column with your reasons, having reviewed all of the factors set out in Annex 1 of Ofcom’s guidance (see link above), and the information sent to you in our previous letter.

If the information is incomplete for any payphone in the list, then we’ll assume you have no objection to its removal and also that you do not wish to adopt it.

The best way to respond to us is by email at [email protected]. Please retain proof that the email was sent or apply a read receipt. If you would prefer to respond by post please use the following address and allow at least two days for postal delivery:

BT Payphones pp 4th Floor Monument TE 11 – 13 Great Tower Street London EC3R 5AQ

You will need to obtain proof of postage from your local post office and be aware that we are unable to receive mail that requires a signature.

If you’ve got any questions then please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected].

Yours sincerely

Rick Thompson Payphone Planning Officer

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Chiltern District Post Code Number Posting Agree/ Telephone of calls Complete Address Parish Local Member(s) Adopt/ Comments/Reasons Number in last 12 d Date Object months 01442832307 PCO CHESHAM HP5 3RR 1 27/09/2016 Cllr Garth

01442864997 ASHLEY GREEN SPO CHESHAM HP5 3PJ 1 27/09/2016 Ashley Green Cllr Garth ROAD ASHLEY GREEN CHESHAM 01494433652 PCO PLANTATION ROAD HP6 6HJ 4 27/09/2016 Amersham Cllrs Shepherd, AMERSHAM Walsh 01494676540 PCO HEARNES MEADOW SEER HP9 2YH 0 27/09/2016 Cllr Patel GREEN BEACONSFIELD 01494711115 PCO PENN STREET AMERSHAM HP7 0PS 0 27/09/2016 Penn Cllrs Burton, Hardie 01494711301 NEAR P O TURNERS PLACE HP15 6RN 5 26/09/2016 Little Cllrs M Smith, Missenden Titterington 01494711373 PCO THE COMMON HOLMER HP15 6TB 0 26/09/2016 Little Cllrs M Smith, GREEN HIGH WYCOMBE Missenden Titterington 01494725131 PCO VILLAGE ROAD COLESHILL HP7 0LR 4 27/09/2016 Coleshill Cllrs Burton, AMERSHAM Hardie

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Post Code Number Posting Agree/ Telephone of calls Complete Address Parish Local Member(s) Adopt/ Comments/Reasons Number in last 12 d Date Object months 01494725287 PCO COLESHILL LANE HP7 0NR 0 27/09/2016 Penn Cllrs Burton, WINCHMORE HILL AMERSHAM Hardie 01494727999 PCO HIGHLAND ROAD HP7 9AP 22 27/09/2016 Amersham Cllr C Jones AMERSHAM 01494758201 COMMON PCO HP23 6ND 0 26/09/2016 Cholesbury Cllr Rose CHOLESBURY 01494758211 COMMON HAWRIDGE HP5 2UQ 0 26/09/2016 Cholesbury Cllr Rose MISSION HALL HAWRIDGE COMMON HAWRIDGE CHESHAM 01494758241 PCO PCO BELLINGDON CHESHAM HP5 2XU 0 27/09/2016 Chartridge Cllr Rose

01494758252 O/S BLUE BALL PCO ASHERIDGE HP5 2UX 0 26/09/2016 Chartridge Cllr Rose CHESHAM 01494758381 PCO PCO LITTLE TWYE ROAD HP23 6PB 1 26/09/2016 Cholesbury Cllr Rose TRING 01494758464 PCO GILBERTS HILL ST. HP23 6NT 0 26/09/2016 Cholesbury Cllr Rose LEONARDS TRING

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Post Code Number Posting Agree/ Telephone of calls Complete Address Parish Local Member(s) Adopt/ Comments/Reasons Number in last 12 d Date Object months 01494762696 PCO ELIZABETH AVENUE HP6 6QB 27 27/09/2016 Cllrs Martin, AMERSHAM Phillips 01494764880 O/S LITTLE CHALFONT EXCHANGE HP7 9PN 216 27/09/2016 Little Chalfont Cllrs Martin, CHALFONT STATION ROAD Phillips AMERSHAM 01494771929 PCO LATIMER ROAD CHESHAM HP5 1QQ 0 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllrs Hudson, Stannard 01494782121 PCO BRITANNIA ROAD CHESHAM HP5 3JD 9 27/09/2016 Chesham Cllr Shaw

01494782173 PCO CHESHAM HP5 1UY 0 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllr Garth

01494782225 PCO JASONS HILL CHESHAM HP5 3QP 0 27/09/2016 Chesham Cllr Garth

01494782313 O/S HIDCOTE BRAYS LANE HYDE HP6 5RT 0 27/09/2016 Little Cllr D Varley HEATH AMERSHAM Missenden 01494782413 JCN CHARTRIDGE LANE HP5 2RW 14 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllrs Bacon, BERKELEY AVENUE CHESHAM MacBean

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Post Code Number Posting Agree/ Telephone of calls Complete Address Parish Local Member(s) Adopt/ Comments/Reasons Number in last 12 d Date Object months 01494782664 O/S READING ROOM CHARTRIDGE HP5 2SG 3 26/09/2016 Chartridge Cllrs Bacon, LANE CHESHAM MacBean 01494783525 JCN BOTLEY RD BROOMSTICK HP5 1XU 4 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllrs Wilson, LANE CHESHAM Culverhouse 01494783923 PCO DEANSWAY CHESHAM HP5 2PB 72 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllrs Bacon, MacBean 01494784313 JCN CHESSBURY MISSENDEN HP5 1JL 1 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllrs Hudson, ROAD CHESHAM Stannard 01494784424 PCO OLD SAX LANE CHARTRIDGE HP5 2TB 2 26/09/2016 Chartridge Cllr P Jones CHESHAM 01494784874 PCO CHESSMOUNT RISE HP5 1RB 1 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllrs Hudson, CHESHAM Stannard 01494785645 PCO COWPER ROAD CHESHAM HP5 2EF 0 26/09/2016 Chesham Cllr D Lacey

01494812367 PCO BEACON HILL PENN HIGH HP10 8NH 0 26/09/2016 Penn Cllrs Burton, WYCOMBE Hardie

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Post Code Number Posting Agree/ Telephone of calls Complete Address Parish Local Member(s) Adopt/ Comments/Reasons Number in last 12 d Date Object months 01494837218 PCO CROCKETTS LANE LEE HP16 9JR 7 26/09/2016 Cllr Rose COMMON 01494837220 SUB P/O FORECOURT PCO HP16 9LF 0 26/09/2016 Great Cllr P Jones BALLINGER GREAT MISSENDEN Missenden 01494837350 PCO SWAN BOTTOM THE LEE HP16 9NG 0 26/09/2016 The Lee Cllr Rose GREAT MISSENDEN 01494862193 CROSSROADS BALLINGER ROAD HP16 9QH 20 26/09/2016 Great Cllr P Jones SOUTH HEATH GREAT MISSENDEN Missenden 01494862279 GRYMS DYKE ESTATE HONOR HP16 0NJ 1 26/09/2016 Great Cllrs Gladwin, R ROAD GREAT Missenden Jones, Wallace MISSENDEN 01494862518 PCO PAYPHONE 2 HP16 0RJ 4 26/09/2016 Great Cllr P Jones GREAT MISSENDEN Missenden 01494863494 O/S THE SCHOOL WINDSOR LANE HP16 0DZ 4 26/09/2016 Great Cllr D Varley GREAT Missenden MISSENDEN 01494872090 SL9 0HG 0 27/09/2016 Chalfont St Cllrs Darby, RICKMANSWORTH LANE Peter L Smith CHALFONT ST. PETER GERRARDS CROSS

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Post Code Number Posting Agree/ Telephone of calls Complete Address Parish Local Member(s) Adopt/ Comments/Reasons Number in last 12 d Date Object months 01494872180 PCO THREE HOUSEHOLDS HP8 4LJ 2 27/09/2016 Chalfont St Cllrs Bray, CHALFONT ST. GILES Giles Jackson, Rouse 01494873263 JCN NEWBARN LANE CHALFONT HP9 2QP 0 27/09/2016 Seer Green Cllr Patel ROAD SEER GREEN BEACONSFIELD

British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England No 1800000 www.bt.com Report of the Officers to a meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL Committee on Monday 28th November 2016

AGENDA ITEM NO: 7 – RESPONSE TO CHILTERN AND SOUTH BUCKS DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN GREEN BELT CONSULTATION

Reporting Officer: Bill Richards (01494 583824)

Summary

1. To confirm the Council’s response to the Local Plan Green Belt Preferred Options consultation.

Background Information

2. At the Council Meeting of the 29th February 2016, it was proposed that the Council resolve to determine the final response to the Local Plan Issues and Options consultation stage to this Committee and/or the Local Plan Working Party.

Financial Implications

3. None pertaining to this report directly.

Strategic Objectives

4. The report alludes to all of the Council’s Strategic Objectives.

Equality Act Implications

5. Non applicable directly but the Local Plan would need to be cognisant of the impact of any developments that would affect those with protected characteristics.

Detailed Consideration

6. Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils are now assessing possible Green Belt sites to be utilised for dwellings as part of the Local Plan. One of the sites earmarked is a 900 dwellings, 57 hectare site defined by the existing build area of Chesham in the south, Nashleigh Hill to the west, Lycrome Road to the north and Lye Green Road to the east. The relevant pages from the Chiltern District Council document about this proposed site is attached for Members’ information.

7. The Local Plan Working Party was thus convened to discuss this and decide upon a recommended response for this Committee to endorse and forward as part of the consultation process. The Working Party met on the 11th November and the Minutes of the meeting are duly attached.

8. It would appear that the bulk of the responses have been encapsulated and clearly express why the Working Party believes the site is not a viable proposition. However members of the Working Party have been encouraged to submit further rationale for opposing the site to the Clerk and other members of the group between the writing of this report and this meeting and any other agreed reasons will be reported on the evening. Other Members not on the Working Party are also invited to submit reasons for objection (or indeed why the site should be supported).

Recommendation

That the Committee considers the draft responses to the Green Belt consultation and confirms a final formal response to this stage of the Local Plan consultation.

Bill Richards Town Clerk

Local Plan Working Party Meeting – 11 November 2016 Held at Chesham Town Council Offices at 14.00

Present:

Cllrs Noel Brown (NB), Mohammad Fayyaz (MF), Jane MacBean (JM) and Fred Wilson* (FW) - Chesham Town Council Bill Richards (BR) - Town Clerk Kathryn Graves (KG) - Policy and Projects Officer

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Roderick McCulloch (RM) and Bernie Whitfield (BW).

In attendance: Roger Smith (RS) and Tony Molesworth (TM) - The Chesham Society. Andy Garnett – Chiltern Chamber,

(* Agreed substitute at the Development Control Committee of the 15th February 2016 for Cllr Chaudhry.)

1. Purpose of Meeting The Vice Chairman of the Council’s Development Control Committee, NB, who was chairing the meeting, explained that Chiltern District Council was now consulting on Green Belt Preferred Options as part of the Local Plan, up to the 12th December. Integral to this for Chesham was a possible Green Belt site in the north-east of the town. He suggested it would be sensible for this group to suggest a response to be adopted by the Development Control Committee on the 28th November.

2. Proposed Position on Potential Chesham Development on Green Belt. FW opened the discussion by reminding the group that it would be counter- productive to simply object to Green Belt development on principle and each site needed to be considered in a practical way in terms of viability. If this did not happen then it would be unlikely that other neighbouring local authorities would be minded to accept ‘overspill’ housing from Chiltern and South Bucks as the case against Green Belt sites in the two Districts had not been tested. He suggested that coherent arguments for why the proposed 900 dwellings, 57 hectare site (defined by the existing build area of Chesham in the south, Nashleigh Hill to the west, Lycrome Road to the north and Lye Green Road to the east) should be opposed, needed to be formulated.

While TM still questioned why this, and other proposed sites in the two Districts, was being considered at this stage when Green Belt development was only to be undertaken in, as yet unproven, ‘exceptional circumstances’; it was agreed that the issues of viability and sustainability should be listed and provide the bulk of the consultation response.

In light of this, the following reasons for rejection were proposed:  400% increase in traffic delays at the White Hill roundabout in the Air Quality Management Area  200% increase in traffic delays at the Blucher Street roundabout

1  Potential flooding – Brushwood Road and The Spinney nearby have flooding issues  The capacity of Chesham Sewage Treatments Works is already exceeded during intense rainfall or high groundwater events  Local abstraction for the public water supply is already near the licensed limits, with water having to be pumped into the area to meet demand. Investigations are underway as it is believed that the current level of abstraction from the local aquifer is having a detrimental impact on the River Chess.

The site was also argued against on the basis that:

 It would result in the absorption of the historic hamlet of Lye Green into Chesham, which includes 3 listed buildings, a historic farm and a pub of historic interest which is also a community facility  The kinds of housing that Chesham needs (small starter units and smaller homes for the elderly where people are typically less mobile) are not appropriate for the site on the edge of town.

JM suggested that a response ought to emphasise that no gypsy or traveller site should be provided based on the rationale that the travelling community had no resonance or history in residing in the town.

NB added that the retention of trees and the need for green corridors/webs needed to be re-enforced.

RS opined that it might be appropriate for the group to comment on the proposed density of 35 dwellings per hectare in its response.

A brief discussion then took place again on the desirability of a town Neighbourhood Plan but it was noted that the Council’s position at the moment was to see how the draft recommendations of the Local Plan might affect the town before deciding on commissioning a potentially very expensive document requiring public approval via a referendum.

It was agreed further comments on the proposed response be circulated by email to all with a view to BR collating and presenting to the Development Control Committee on the 28th November.

3. Parish and Town Council Local Infrastructure Priority List BR explained that County Council had recently appointed an officer to look at local infrastructure projects in parishes and was seeking assistance from town and parish councils to provide these, so Section 106 monies could be allocated accordingly.

The group was unsure as to whether the County Council were considering large projects (since the template it provided gave example costs of £5-10k per

2 project).Working on the assumption, the County Council were not looking at multi- million projects, the following were suggested:

 Improvement of town roundabouts  Improve poor air quality zones  Scheme to ameliorate bottlenecks in Red Lion St  Upgrade of pavements

4. Date of Next Meeting To be confirmed after the Development Control Committee on the 28th November.

Bill Richards Town Clerk

3