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Planning Statement
Retention of the use of land as a tennis court for the private enjoyment of the occupiers of Cornerways [in the
area hatched yellow] and for the keeping of up to 4 horses [in the area hatched brown] on the submitted plan
no’s 291/13/11a&b. The retention of the existing stable building and the erection of a new stable building and
cart lodge with use ancillary to the keeping of horses and maintenance of the land plan no 291/13/11c.
Re-submission of Plan App No: 130764
Cornerways, East Road, East Mersea, Colchester CO5 8UW
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Introduction
1.1
This the second planning application for this proposal, the first being withdrawn. The previous
application was withdrawn due to misunderstanding of its nature, purpose and impacts.
1.2
Therefore, the purpose of this planning statement is to better describe the proposal and clarify in
more detail the use and users involved and address the objections raised to the first application by neighbours
and the East Mersea Parish Council.
1.3
The stables and cartlodge are for the existing users. There will be no additional traffic, plant and
machinery. Lighting is only for rare use in an emergency when attendance of a vet is required for a sick horse
in the hours of darkness. Essentially there is no change except for two additional structures associated with
existing horses and the maintenance of the land
1.4
There has been a general misunderstanding of the scale and intentions behind proposal. It is not for
commercial riding stables but to provide two structures for the stabling and care of four retired horses and an
enclosure for the storage of existing machinery and plant for the maintenance of the land. There are no
additional vehicles or movements or parking needs, just one private car 2x/day. The second owner walks to
the site.
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Background to existing: Summary
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The pasture is registered with DEFRA and there have been stables and grazingon this land for over
10years +
The stables are let on nominal rent to friends.
Presently the two owners keep their horses on site. One is from East Mersea the other from West
Mersea, letters App 1.
These horses are ‘retired’ and therefore there is no equestrian activity just grazing
There is a mains water supply in to the field but no electricity.
The portable generator will rarely be used as it is only needed for emergency in case a vet is required
to attend during hours of darkness, otherwise electricity/lighting is not required
Due to age and physical condition all are retired
Due to the poor winter last year it is desirable to be able to provide shelter for these horses all the
year round.
The 2 larger horses need the larger new stables
Both owners local to Mersea Island [of which one is very local to the site].
No increase in vehicles as same two owners
Horses are visited daily but only one vehicle is used as one is visited on foot
The capacity of the pasture with proper management rotation of the grassland is six horses
This is not a commercial operation nor could it expand in to a commercial livery and riding school as
implied by the objectors.
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Proposed structures
The two proposed structures [stables and cart lodge] are manufactured to be moveable. They are light weight
and constructed on a ‘skid’ base which allows them to ‘slide’ across the ground. They have no foundations.
They are of a design that is frequently seen in the countryside and because of their ability to be moved around
are not as such permanent structures. However, it is the Applicant’s intention to place and keep them in the
location indicated in the planning application.
Because of the nature of their purpose [manoeuvrability] they are not suitable to have a heavy construction
able to support the weight of a pantile roof which would only be applicable to a permanent structure with
foundations.
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Traffic
There is no additional traffic as there is no increase in the number of owners. It’s the same two owners having
two horses each instead of one. They will make the same type and number of trips to the site as they do now,
one on foot. As the horses are ‘retired’ there will be no large vehicles or horse boxes visiting the site to
transport the horses elsewhere.
Therefore, the arrangements for access and parking are as they are now. There is no change.
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Objections raised on the following Grounds: Applicant’s Comments
1. Visual amenity
There will be a low level of visual intrusion. The visually enclosing dominant features of hedge and
tree lines will continue to dominate and define the spaces; the new and existing structures are set to one side
against background of an existing field boundary of existing hedge and trees. The foreground remains open
and visually perceived as grazing land. Overall the larger scale spaces will dominate these small scale buildings
2. Highway and Traffic Generation
There will be no increase in traffic, no change in vehicle type and No’s and movements. One owner
arrives by private car two times a day, the other walks.
3. Noise and disturbance
The mobile generator is only for use in emergency to provde external lighting for a vet to attend the
horses in an emergency. All the vehicles/plant are on site now and therefore there will be no additional noise
and disturbance.
4. Effect on conservation area
The two additional small scale traditional timber structures will have marginal impact in thelarge scale
open landscape providing the context for this proposal. The site lies outside all the conservation sites
identified by the LDF allocation maps by the Development Plan, see Plan .
5. Density of building.
Additional floor area is very marginal in scale to their context in this large scale space and landscape
6. Road access.
The access remains the same as present. It is an existing situation not affected/changed by this
proposal. There will be one private car 2x/day, with 2nd owner walking to site.
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7. Local planning policies
a. Village Development Plan
- The site will retain its rural character. The proposal has low visual significance, is small scale, and set
to one against a hedge and tree field boundary
- this is not a provision of an additional leisure facility. It is the continued private grazing/stabling of 4
retired horses, more akin to a sanctuary.
- there will be no additional vehicles, the proposal doesn’t change the existing situation. This proposal
will not harm the safety of roads in East Mersea.
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This proposal is not situated in or near to any of the conservation sites identified in the Development
Plan, see Plan.
b. Local Development Framework,
There is no infilling an important gap. The structures have low visual significance in the scale of the
space they are sited in and are set to one side against an existing hedge and tree line.
The proposal is for the addition of two structures for continued maintenance of land and stabling of
two additional horses
This is not an employment or commercial use and only represents a marginal change to existing
situation. It is the grazing and stabling of ‘retired’ horses, kept and looked after by owners
There is no change of use or an intensification of use on the field. The 4 horses are grazing there now
Other Comments: Applicant’s Comments
Machinery and plant is there now and fully used to maintain the land. The cart lodge structure will
provide some weather protection and enclosure
The existing hedge and tennis curtail will restrict views from East Road of the proposed structures.
The Applicant accepts there are points when they can be seen, but you have to look for them and
when seen, will they appear out of place?
Minimal structural enclosure in keeping with traditional timber structures for this purpose. Pantile
roof would require more substantial and robust structure that would increase more its visual impact
Additional planting on southern boundary is proposed to reestablish the original field boundary.
There will be no change circumstances adjacent to a public footpath.
There will be no external lighting except in emergency to enable a vet to attend sick horses
The existing manure heap will be retained and the situation managed as now providing a source for
local residents and farmer.
There will be no additional leisure activity, just the grazing of four retired horses and their stabling
The provision of the cart lodge will enable machinery to be kept tidily in one place
These proposed structures have no foundation to damage tree routes and are sited away from
canopies of trees
The rural pantile roof theme would require permanent substantial structures and would appear more
intrusive.
No new accesses have been formed or are needed
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Letters from the Owners [see Appendix 1]
1.
2.
3.
Mrs Zandra Latham 62 Empress Avenue West Mersea C05 8BL
Mr G Gurton The Golf House East Mersea Road East Mersea Colchester C058UW
David Oliver Cornerways East Road East Mersea Colchester C05 8UW
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Appendix 1: Letters [Originals attached]
Zandra Latham
62 Empress Avenue
West Mersea
C05 8BL
Dear Sir,
13/08/2013
Re: Mr David Oliver's Field East Mersea Road
I am the owner of the two horses that graze on Mr Oliver's field. My two horses are Gypsy Vanners and their
ages are 15 and 16 years old and stand approx. 15'2hh and 15'3hh high, so they are large in the horse world.
They are both retired and one of them has COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and this is a lung
disease in horse that closely resembles asthma in human beings, and the other one has a back injury so
cannot be ridden. They do not work as their conditions does not allow this, so are my pets, whom I love
dearly and will keep them until the time comes that they no longer have a quality of lifestyle.
I do not own a horse box or trailer as I have no need for one; I have no intentions of getting one either.
I visit my horses twice a day by car, a Citroen C3 where I drive up the public road to the field and park where
others park. I do not cause any obstruction or disturbance to the people in the vicinity.
The stables would be used for the horses, if one is ill and needs to be kept stabled and during bad weather
conditions during the winter months, would be desirable. If the vet is needed he would benefit from having
stable to care for the horse, which is quite common in the winter months for the COPD horse. We would be
unable to stable one without the other as they are pair bonded and this would cause too much stress on the
horses, therefore making the condition worse.
The tack room would be used to store their feed bins, rugs for the winter and the equipment needed for
grooming, fencing and general care of them.
If you require any further information please contact me on the above address.
Yours sincerely,
Zandra Latham (Mrs)
Mr G Gurton
The Golf House
East Mersea Road
East Mersea
Colchester
C05 8UW
12 September 2013
To Whom it May Concern
Re: Mr David Oliver's field, East Mersea Road
I currently keep two horses on the above mentioned land. Heidi is an 18 year old mare retired from riding
and Samantha is a 28 year old New Forest also retired from riding.
I visit the horses daily to attend to their needs. My visit is on foot in view of the proximity to my own
property and no vehicles are required.
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Graham Gurton
David Oliver
Cornerways
East Road
East Mersea
Colchester
C05 8UW10
10 August 2013
Re: Planning Application - land at East Mersea Road, East Mersea
Proposed Cart Lodge (Barn)
Required for tractors and equipment to enable maintenance to be carried out on the land.
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2 x small Kubota tractors, 1 of which is kept as parts for the maintenance of the other
1 x international tractor 1970s as a restoration project
1 x Kubota 45hp tractor for mowing, ditching etc
1 x Flail mower 1 x 6ft topper 1 x 8ft set of harrows
1 x ditching attachment
1 x dumper used for hedging and manure collection
Various other small items of equipment
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Required for storage of hay
Hay for horses
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Proposed [new] Stables and Tack Room
For the use by the two large horses kept by Mrs Latham.
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Stables
The proposed buildings are sectional buildings and therefore will have no permanent footings.
Neither the existing or proposed buildings are intended for commercial use and there will be no increase in the
number of horses kept on the site.
David F Oliver