Planning & Environment Report, 12/10/05



1. PACT's Planning & Environment Sub-committee met on Mon 3rd

   Oct. Next meeting TBA for late Jan/early Feb 2006.



2. Crown Court - Tour and Planting. Excellent tour - 13 of us were

   shown around this interesting and environmentally-friendly

   building. Matter of planting also raised. Alison Bonner, Deputy

   Manager, will pass on our comments to owners of the building.



   County Court opposite Zion Baptist Church in East Road, nearing

   completion. Those who had seen it liked it. But artist's impression

   in plans had shown tree planting in front and we had wondered at

   the time how these would be fitted in. Now that the building is up

   there does not appear to be room for trees.



3. Licensing Hearing - Kingston Arms. A very different experience and

   outcome from Backstreet Bistro. Application for extended hours was

   refused. Much stronger Councillor team with Kevin (Chair) ,

   Philippa Slatter and Jenny Bailey who allowed residents to speak

   even if they had not submitted objections in time (because they had

   not known about the application). Notification of neighbours is a

   very thorny issue. Residents from Gwydir St had not heard about the

   application in time. The City Council lawyer claims

   that notification is not permitted under the new Licensing

   Act. Uttlesford District Council were reported, in CEN, to be

   challenging this position.



4. Car parking at York St surgery. Car park behind the surgery is now

   under construction. Jezz Davies, Practice Manager, says that there

   will be room for only 9 cars and not the 13 intended. Also,

   practice wants to take up a space behind the pharmacy. Glenys has

   dug out the original plans and will discuss with Jezz.



5. CB2 plans - Ref 05/0879. Plans for 2 first floor sash windows and

   cornice (with planting) on north-facing gable end - hitherto

   blank. Looks nice.



6. Occupation Road plans - Ref 05/0941. Chartfront (same developer as

   for Newmarket Rd/Harvest Way) has applied for outline permission

   for high density residential development on site of Call

   Printers. No further details available. Notification of neighbours

   in New St and Abbey St checked.



7. Alexandra Arms plans - Ref 05/0976.  Single storey rear

   extension to enlarge kitchen. Hours of serving food not

   known. Could be noisy, and smelly, for neighbours. Notification of

   neighbours in Beaconsfield House, Milford St and Gwydir St

   checked. Sturton St residents not thought likely to be affected.



8. 179 Sturton St. Still no news of appeal. Are developers waiting for

   the existing house to deteriorate/fall down?



9. Open Space improvements.



   St Matthew's Piece. New railings have proved effective and

   popular. Resurfacing of paths the subject of concern to Tree team

   re tree roots. Attempts are being made to resolve this.



   Ainsworth St play area. Improvements are underway but progress is

   slow and, in the meantime, the play area is fenced off and

   unavailable for use. Glenys keeps chasing.



   Flower St Rec. Some confusion between John Roebuck (now retired)

   and Chris Robertson as to whether S106 money had been

   allocated. Chris proposes to start again and is talking to Sharon

   Brown. Residents to be consulted about improvements wanted.



10. Environmental improvements.



    Kitty's Corner. No information available on spending of 15K that

    has been allocated.



    Resurfacing of Rope Walk. We felt that City Council was not

    justified in approaching British Land (owners of the Beehive

    site) to fund this. Not a safety issue. Glenys had inspected the

    surface and, apart form 3 potholes where pedestrians might trip

    and which needed attention, considered the surface perfectly

    adequate for parking cars.



    Rope Walk lighting needs to be pursued before costs escalate and

    outstrip the available funding. Seems that British Land did not

    like the idea of fixing the lights to the backs of their

    warehouses. Think again about free-standing lighting?



    Elizabeth Way underpass. Stepped and sloped areas leading to the

    underpass have been painted but have already been spoilt

    with graffiti. Why do people do this?



11. S106 database. Now so bulky that Glenys had been sent abridged

    version which lacked the all-important information about

    allocations and spending of these funds. Will make

    further enquiries re selected sums collected in Petersfield.



12. Planning at Area Committees. Ben has fwded results of survey of

    views of Councillors re having planning decisions made at Area

    Committee meetings. Appears useful exercise.