Planning & Environment Issues Report



1. ex-CRC site, Young Street Michelle Guppy, Planning Officer, was

   unable to say which of the two planning permissions the developers

   will proceed with. The planners do not have to be informed. But it

   matters to nearby residents whether they get 19 houses or 70

   houses/flats on that site! Presumably Building Control will

   eventually have to be informed.



2. 179 Sturton Street Still no decision on 6 flats. Michelle Guppy

   says that this application will be decided by Senior Planning

   Officers using delegated powers.



3. Void under Elizabeth Way Bridge - "Jubilee Project"  Residents took

   this to a Development Control Forum to present their case against a

   new application from Dawe Charitable Trust. This was held on 22nd

   December. But if this new application is refused then DCT can

   revert to the former "Wintercomfort" planning permission for a

   hostel for homeless people on this site.



DCT still talking about employing the homeless people who are to

be housed here in a pottery workshop based at Cambridge Regional

College. But our understanding is that CRC propose to sell the

Brunswick site for housing and move all their operations to their

Kings Hedges site.



4. Cafe Afrika, Sturton Street Application to renew Public

   Entertainments licence and vary (from 2 events per week to 4 events

   per week) will be considered by Licensing Committee on 20th

   January. Residents of Young Street are aware of this application

   but will not be objecting as the venue has been trouble-free since

   Khal Sene succeeded in regaining his lost entertainments licence by

   appeal to the Magistrates Court.



"News" reported that Khal Sene had forgotten to renew his licence to

sell alcohol so has been struggling with reduced income. Still putting

on events over the holiday period with customers allowed to bring in

their own alcohol!



5. Tree Maintenance Programme City Council's triennial tree

   maintenance programme is back in Petersfield Ward. Work to be

   carried out on Council-owned trees on highway and communal housing

   lands. Due to start on 10th January and to be completed by 4th

   March. Have received details of work to be carried out.



Where trees are to be felled will look into reasons. But a first

glance shows that, for example, for one tree that is to be removed and

replaced the reason given is "Dead". Can't really argue with that!!



6. APU's new bar - licence application.  Application for 4 late nights

   (til 2.00am) for APU's new bar with capacity for 800! Norfolk

   Terrace and Blossom Street Residents' Association are objecting to

   this because of potential for late-night noise and disturbance in

   nearby residential streets.