June 2019 DRAFT Notes EOM
FULBECK PARISH COUNCIL
Notes of Extraordinary General Meeting held on the 13th June 2019 at 8.15 p.m.
Present: Cllrs Caunt (Chairperson), Hodcroft, Hughes, Morison and Sampson.
There were 58 members of the public present including DC Milnes.
1. Apologies for absence – Cllrs Fane and Greenhalgh
2. Chairperson’s Remarks: The Chairperson thanked everyone for attending and outlined the procedure for the meeting. There would be a 30 minute Open Forum to discuss the Planning Application No. S19/0834 for the change of use of land for the siting of caravans for residential purposes for 4 gypsy pitches and associated hardstanding, access and utility blocks on Lane Off Bulby Lane, Bulby Lane. After that time the Parish Council would discuss the matter and pass a resolution.
3. Open Forum
A question as to what policy South Kesteven District Council was adopting for dealing with the planning application was answered by DC Milnes who outlined the current strategy.
The main areas of concern were as follows:-
- Road safety issues as accessibility is poor as it is down a single track with a blind bend and it is unlit.
- Fulbeck is categorised as a ‘less sustainable’ village and has restrictions on any building of any residential properties. It is necessary to go out of the village for any amenities, thus increasing carbon emissions substantially.
- The development will over dominate the current settled community, trebling the population and vehicle movements.
- There would be an increased burden on the Doctor’s surgery which is situated in Caythorpe.
- When the archaeology was undertaken the wrong field was marked on the map.
- The geophysics was not taken into account.
- The ecology survey was carried out in February 2019 and states that no nesting birds or protected animal species could be found. This is a totally unsuitable time as almost all the animals/birds would be either dormant or hibernating or had not yet arrived from Spring Migration. Protected Flora would not have emerged.
- Potential problem with soakaways as the field in question has a high water table.
- The application relies on trees for screening but as these are deciduous the site will not only be open for the applicants but for the residents at North End.
- The field is a traditional ridge and furrow field and as such is important to the heritage of the area.
- The dykes in the south east corner and southern side of the field have not been cleaned out. The large pond does not have fish in it so amphibians will be resident and the other five ponds have been ignored.
- With regard to the sewage system there was concern that it could be placed on top of existing pipes which would mean that this went into the watercourse.
- In answer to a query as to why touring caravans were needed in addition to the static caravans it was noted that the applicants would use them during the summer months to go working.
That concluded the Open Forum and the Parish Councillors gave their views before passing a resolution.
In addition to the points raised above the following was highlighted:-
- Cllr Morison expressed concern as to whether a fire engine could get access to Bulby Lane in case of a fire in one of the caravans.
- It was also considered that as there is already an existing traveller’s site in Fubeck an additional one seems excessive considering that there are no local amenities. Also long-term residents are not permitted to build.
After further discussion it was proposed by Cllr Morison and seconded by Cllr Sampson that this application be opposed.
There was unanimous agreement.
There being no further business the meeting closed.