MEMBERS’ UPDATE Planning Committee – 21 July 2010

______Site Address: Hillside Primary School, Rushey Way, Lower

An additional pedestrian access gate to the east side of the Hillside site was requested by Councilors. The Headteacher and Governors are of the view that this will significantly increase their security risk, pointing out that, despite the school’s CCTV installation, there have been 9 attempted break-ins at the school during the last 12 months of which 3 were successful. All of these intruders gained access via the pedestrian gates off Halls Lane and Steeple Walk. The School is therefore most reluctant to introduce another point of potential weakness in the perimeter fence. A report from Thames Valley Policy highlighting the security risk arising from the perimeter gates:

It has been brought to my attention that there is a possibility of a gate being put in near the orchard. 1. This would give another access point that would need to be secured during and after the school day. 2. At present all entrances to the school have a good field of view, the orchard gate would not. There is also the possibility of people externally of the school talking or even coaxing pupils to engage in an unsupervised manner. 3. This would make it easier for access by parents when bringing the pupils to school but for the sake of 100m is that worth potential complications to site security. 4. At night it would also give potential thieves another entry and escape route again not clearly visible from the general public.

These are just a few of the concerns I have in my role.

Les Eke

Safer Schools Partnership and Youth Engagement Officer Woodley Police Post Headley Road Woodley RG5 4JZ

For these reasons Children’s Services do not support this suggestion either.

In addition to the above, an additional pedestrian gate at the South-east corner of the school site, as suggested, would lead directly into a heavily planted area and then onto the playing field, resulting in the need for a new pedestrian path, approximately 100m in length, to reach the school buildings.

It should however be noted that the concerns expressed regarding the pedestrian route to the school from Chalfont Way may be largely overcome if parents, children and visitors are directed to the Halls Lane gate (north side of the school site), by following the pedestrian/cycle route around the East and North boundaries of the school as this is wider, better lit and less enclosed by trees and shrubs than the pedestrian path leading to Steeple Walk gate. The Halls Lane gate has the added advantage of leading directly into the school’s playground.

A detailed plan of the proposed site including all proposed changes is included at Appendix 1.

The travel plan needs to ensure the drop off area is staffed and car drivers are encouraged to move on quickly. This could include putting notices on cars that are left too long.

The Highways team have considered plans of possible drop off options which will be available for display at committee if required.

Site Address: The Coombes Primary School, School Road Application No: , Pages 23 - 35.

Condition 2 should read ‘The portable building hereby approved shall be removed and the land restored in accordance with a scheme to have first been agreed with the Local Planning Authority in writing

Condition 5 should read ‘The building hereby approved shall not be occupied until a programme and design for a drop off area has been submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing. The programme shall include details of how the existing layby will be signed and managed as a temporary drop of zone until such time as the works are carried out and completed. In any event the agreed scheme shall be implemented within 2 months of occupation of the development. The drop off area shall be clearly marked out on site and shall only be used for short term drop off and not used for parking, unless otherwise agreed by the LPA.’

Comments have not been received from Sport however the school has confirmed that the area to be used for parking does not form part of the playing pitches and as such there would be no unacceptable loss of open space as explained in the committee report.

The Landscape Officer has received further information regarding trenching for utilities and is satisfied that the proposal would not harm trees or landscape features and no conditions have been recommended.

Members have requested that the proposed parking area be surfaced with grasscrete and that this be ensured by way of condition. As such condition 7 is recommended as follows

‘The parking area shown on drawing number 1157/04-TCR-R1 received 30 June 2010 shall be constructed from grasscrete unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.’

In response to a question from Cllr Cowan regarding the provision of a footpath from The Legion, comments have been provided by Rebecca Walkley, Countryside Officer.

‘This issue was raised with the Countryside Service in 2004 by Cllr. Cowan as he wanted us to investigate the possibility of extending the path to meet with Link Way or School Road. Currently, the path ends at the back of the houses on Link Way.

We approached the land owners in 2005 to ask to make the link to School. However, the land owners could not agree to this and the only way forward then as now is to make a Creation Order under s.26 of the Highways Act. If either or both of the landowners objected to such an order, the order would have to be referred to the Secretary of State, who may decide the matter by written representations, a hearing or a public inquiry. Cllr. Cowan was sent this information in 2005.

The Council would therefore have to be prepared to meet the costs of making the order (advertising mainly- around £1500), defending it possibly at an inquiry (up to £3,000), compensation for any loss in value of land (unknown amount - guesstimate of around £5,000 per Km strip), and the works which would be necessary (surfacing and fencing). We would need to get a professional land agent to give us the land value information.’

Cllr Cowan has requested information regarding where the S106 money has been spent in relation to application F/2000/1994 for 300 houses at Baird Road. Given the length of time since this development, the information is not readily available and as such is not available for the committee tonight, however it will be provided in due course. Given that it is not directly related to the Coombes application it should not impede Members decision making.

Site Address: Asda Stores Ltd., District Centre, Chalfont Way, Earley Application No: , Pages 36 - 52 On page 46 para 19 – Sentence stating “In addition they consider that the proposed warehouse extension could lead to a reduction in the number of private car journeys to the supermarket” should be deleted as this refers to the warehouse extension application.

______Pre-emptive Site Visits

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MEMBERS UPDATE - APPEAL MONITORING INFORMATION

Public Inquiries with confirmed start dates on or after 21st July 2010

There are no Inquiries with confirmed start dates after 21st July 2010.

Informal Hearings with confirmed start dates on or after 30th June 2010

PARISH: Application Number : F/2009/1964 Appeal Officer : EMILY TEMPLE Appeal Hearing Date : 04/08/2010 Appellant : Ms Amy Jones Site Location: Land to the west of The Field House, Longwater Lane, Finchampstead. Proposal : Proposed use of land for the stationing of one long stay pitch for one gypsy family (1mobile home and 1 touring caravan). Retention of access and entrance gates. Retrospective. ______

Appeal Results for the period 01.07.2010 – 21.07.2010

Appeal Type Allowed Part Dismissed Total allowed and Part Dismissed

Public Inquiry 0 0 0 0

Informal Hearings 0 0 1 1

Written 3 0 4 7 Representations

All 3 0 5 8 (37.5%) (62.5%)

Public Inquiry’s – Appeal Results for the period 01.07.2010 – 31.07.2010

There were no Public Inquiry’s determined during this period.

Informal Hearings – Appeal Results for the period 01.07.2010 – 21.07.2010

PARISH: Application Number : F/2009/1924 Officer : NICK CLARK Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 09/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Robert Killoran

Site Location; Oldfield Poultry Farm , Henley Road , Wargrave. Proposal : Retention of home as an agricultural workers dwelling. ______

Written Representations – Appeal Results for the period 01.07.2010 – 21.07.2010

PARISH: FINCHAMPSTEAD Application Number : F/2010/0159 Officer : MICHAEL LEE Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 02/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr D Atkinson Site Location; Birchlands Wick Hill Lane Finchampstead Proposal : Proposed erection of two storey side extension with front and rear dormer extensions to include juliet balcony to dwelling. ______

PARISH: FINCHAMPSTEAD Application Number : F/2010/0305 Officer : CHRISTOPHER HOWARD Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 06/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr V Bushuyev Site Location; Two Hoots Hollybush Ride Finchampstead Proposal : Proposed raising of existing roof to create additional habitable accommodation, plus associated extensions with dormer extensions to dwelling. ______

PARISH: FINCHAMPSTEAD Application Number : F/2009/2447 Officer : CHRISTOPHER HOWARD Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 13/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr David Keen Site Location; 83 Kiln Ride Finchampstead Proposal : Proposed erection of garden shed and summer house. ______

PARISH: TWYFORD Application Number : F/2010/0084 Officer : ASHLEY SMITH Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 05/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr R Heap Site Location; 113 Broad Hinton Twyford Proposal : Proposed erection of two storey side extension to dwelling. ______

PARISH: TWYFORD Application Number : VAR/2010/0172

Officer : NICK CLARK Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 08/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr & Mrs Vyronos Site Location; 10 Wagtail Close Twyford Proposal : Application to vary condition 2 of planning consent 02612, to allow conversion of existing garage to additional accommodation. ______

PARISH: WARGRAVE Application Number : F/2010/0419 Officer : HANNAH WILSON Appeal Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED Appeal Decision Date : 13/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Ms Anne Fairs Site Location; 4 Whites Cottage Upper Culham Road Upper Culham Proposal : Application for demolition of part of existing garage and staircase and conversion of remaining garage to habitable accommodation plus first floor rear extension with canopy over front entrance at ground floor level. ______

PARISH: Application Number : F/2010/0221 Officer : DAVID WETHERILL Appeal Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED Appeal Decision Date : 05/07/2010 Applicant (and agent, if any): Mr Patel Site Location; 1 North Way Wokingham Proposal : Proposed erection of two storey front and rear extensions to dwelling plus single storey front extension to form entrance porch. ______