BEAMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL
PLANNING ADVISORY AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Planning Advisory and Highways Committee meeting held on 1st September 2014 in the Public
Hall, Beaminster at 7.00pm.
Mr Holden enquired whether the Town Council would be commenting on the proposal to develop the land at
Hollymoor Lane originally included in the District Council’s Draft Local Plan but subsequently deleted; also
other sites identified in the SHLAA. In response Cllr Mrs Page reassured Mr Holden that, the sites identified
within SHLAA were not included in the Draft Local Plan, and therefore, if it was adopted in its present form
they would not be developed during the life of the Plan. With regard to Hollymoor site the Town Council were
unable to comment until a planning application had been submitted.
Cllr Berry confirmed the Town Council would be reiterating their concerns with regard to development on the
Hollymoor Lane site.
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PRESENT: Cllr P Elliott (Chairman), Cllr Mrs R Beeny, Cllr G Berry, Cllr P Body, Cllr Mrs A Cameron,
Cllr R Cheeseman, Cllr Mrs J Page, Cllr Mrs S Samuel and Cllr C Turner. Also the Town Clerk Mrs C
Bright and one member of the public.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs V Baldwin and West Dorset District Councillor
Mrs C Payne.
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MINUTES OF THE PLANNING MEETING HELD ON 4TH AUGUST 2014
The minutes of the Planning Advisory and Highways Committee meeting held on 4th August 2014
having previously been circulated were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were received.
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PLANNING MATTERS
(a) APPLICATIONS
The following planning applications were considered:
(i) WD/D/14/001894 (FULL)
17 HOGSHILL STREET
Proposed internal alterations and replace
upvc window at first floor level with timber
window
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
(ii) WD/CA/14/00262
18 CHURCH STREET
Raise crown of 1No. Holly to 5m
NO OJECTIONS
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(iii) WD/CA/14/00259
BROOK COTTAGE, 7 BRIDPORT ROAD
1No.Silver Birch and 1No. Fig – fell
NO OBJECTIONS
(b) APPROVALS
Members NOTED six planning approvals received since the last meeting.
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PLANNING CORRESPONDENCE
(a) WDDC: Consultation on further proposed changes to the new Local Plan for West Dorset,
Weymouth and Portland
In March 2014 examination of the draft joint Local Plan had been suspended for a period of six
months to enable the District Council to undertake further work on both housing land requirements
and housing supply and having completed this work the District Council were inviting comments on
the changes. It was AGREED that a co-ordinated response for Beaminster would be beneficial and
a meeting with the Beaminster Future Housing Group would be arranged to discuss and compile a
response to the consultation.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT LIAISON OFFICER
Cllr Mrs Samuel advised the next WATAG meeting was scheduled for the end of September, the current
issue being pursued was the co-ordination between bus and train services to Maiden Newton.
Under this heading Cllr Berry advised that following the introduction of a double decker bus, the service
in and around Gerrards Green had been disrupted in some areas because of parked vehicles on this
route. This problem was being investigated by the County Council and could involve the introduction of
double yellow lines.
603
PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY OFFICER
Members had previously been circulated with, and NOTED, the detail of a meeting held with Rights of
Way Officers to discuss a possible Service Level Agreement between the County and Town Council to
enhance the maintenance of identified Rights of Way within the Parish. No additional paths, to those
contained within the report, were identified for inclusion in the agreement however it was NOTED that
the Pease Hill section of Footpath 69 was being maintained by the Town Council. The Town Clerk was
asked to seek clarification as to whether the Agreement would include maintenance to stiles, gates etc.
Some concern was expressed with regard to the proposals for enhancements at Buckham Down Picnic
Area because information panels and seats had been subjected to vandalism in the past.
In response to a question regarding recently erected signs at Beaminster School Cllr Berry advised that
‘no public right of way’ signs had been erected to define the boundary of the School’s private
property in order to protect their right to prevent access should the need arise.
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HIGHWAY ISSUES
(a) Dorset County Council Highways: Temporary Road Traffic Regulation Order
Members NOTED the Order for temporary restricted use of Whitesheet Hill between 17 th October –
21st October 2014 between the hours of 9.00 – 16.00 to allow for essential road maintenance works.
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Under this heading some concerns were expressed, that in the main the one way system for
Buckham Fair worked well however there had been a lack of directional signage that resulted in
problems in East Street. Motorists using satellite navigation were following verbal directions rather
than directional signage therefore more signs were needed at regular intervals. It was AGREED to
raise this issue with the organisers.
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MEETING
There being no further business, the meeting which started at 7.00pm closed at 8.00pm
CHAIRMAN
6th October 2014
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