Monday 30 Aug 22

Held at 7.30pm in Helperby Village Hall

Present: Cllr Nigel Denison (Chairman), Cllr Peter Mitchell, Cllr Mark Darwin, Cllr Pam Jackson-Vickers, Roger Clements (Clerk) and several parishioners.

1. Apologies for Absence
   1. Apologies were received from Cllrs Brown, Boyle and Carter.
2. Declarations of Interest not already declared under the Council’s Code of Conduct or members Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
   1. No declarations were made.
3. Public Participation – several St Peter’s Close residents described the relevance to them of the Planning Application at 4.1 below and the following comments specific to the application were made:
   1. The plot was thought to be too small for 2 x 4-bed family homes resulting in an overly dense use of the land.
   2. The plot stands higher than those to its south resulting in potential water run-off to those properties.
   3. Concerns were expressed over the impact upon the Conservation Area, especially as the proposal contained little information on the planned choice of materials – would the new dwellings fit sympathetically with the existing properties.
   4. The sewage arrangements were thought likely to increase pressure on a village system believed to be already at capacity.
   5. The District Council’s Local Plan showed no requirement for further development north of the current dwellings in St Peter’s Close.
   6. Residents of St Peter’s Close reported safety issues associated with speeding traffic into and out of the nearby hazardous double bend on the Boroughbridge Road – the situation was likely to worsen when a 28-dwelling development over the road was completed and the 2 new dwellings proposed would also bring additional traffic. Some believed that the additional dwellings would naturally bring families with additional children who would route through the Close, to and from the primary school, further exacerbating issues for traffic.
   7. It was thought that there had been an anthrax pit near the proposed building plot; was this being investigated?
4. To consider the following Planning matters
   1. Planning Application 22/01858/FUL, proposed construction of two detached dwellings at St Peter’s Close, Brafferton – each Cllr stated their view on the proposal. The Chairman summarised the discussion and it was agreed that the council would oppose the development and make the following points:
      1. The Council noted that the site of a 28-dwelling development with planning approval was located over the road from this proposal. It was concerned that the nearby hazardous double bend would be the site for increased traffic incidents with the increase of traffic from both sites.
      2. It was believed that the Planning Authority had identified no requirement for the village to be extended further north than the existing edge of the St Peter’s Close housing stock
      3. The site chosen for this development appeared to be more suited to a single 4-bed family home.
      4. Although located outside the Conservation Area (CA), the site impacted on the CA and without details of the intended materials it was difficult to judge whether the designs chosen would be sympathetic to existing properties nearby and would enhance or degrade the CA.
      5. The site stands higher than properties to the south; it is feared that surface water run-off may run onto these properties.
      6. It is believed that the village foul drainage system is close to or at capacity.
      7. Has precautionary testing been carried out for contaminated ground as local knowledge identifies an anthrax pit nearby?