Agenda and minutes

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Apologies were received from Councillor Holden.

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The minutes of the Committee held on 18 December 2018 were agreed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

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Steve King, Planning Applications Team Leader,introduced the report which seeks planning permission for a change of use of a site adjacent to the junction of Lower Hollow Copse and Copthorne Road to a private gypsy and traveller caravan site to form two Sites. Site A proposed the laying out of 10 permanent pitches for the gypsy and traveller community; erection of a site manager's office and amenity blocks and laying out of internal roads, parking, and associated drainage works and landscaping. Site B proposed the laying out of 3 permanent pitches for the gypsy and traveller community; associated access roads, drainage works and landscaping; single vehicular access to Copthorne Road to serve both sites and provision of footpath within the highway verge along Copthorne Road. The Planning History of the site was noted as having a single storey dwelling refused in 2005 and an application for 16 permanent pitches for the gypsy and traveller community distributed over two sites which was withdrawn in 2017. He drew Members attention to the Agenda Update Sheet which outlined further letters of objection, amendments to minor typographical errors and an amendment to the wording of Condition 8.

The Planning Applications Team Leader highlighted the main issues and drew Members attention to the relevant sections of the report where those issues were addressed.

Chris Phillips, Worth Parish Council, spoke against the application.

Mike Livesey, Mary Rice and Paul Bugden, local residents and representative of the Copthorne Village Association, spoke against the application.

Joy MacCoughlan and Nigel Mann, planning consultant & acoustic agent of the applicants, spoke in favour of the application.

The Chairman read out a letter from Councillor Dorey, Ward Member for Copthorne and Worth, who was unable to attend the meeting. The letter from Councillor Dorey drew attention to previous applications that were refused on the site and the dangerous level of traffic travelling down the A264 which has since increased because of the newly built Gatwick car park. Councillor Dorey’s letter stated that the design of the footpath that would serve the site is questionable at best and any access to the doctor’s surgery or local amenities would require crossing the road that has fast-moving vehicles travelling down it, posing a risk to the safety of pedestrians. The provision of a two-metre high acoustic fencing would be contrary to government guidance on the design of gypsy and traveller sites and would isolate residents from the rest of the community. Councillor Dorey’s letter also raised concerns of the size of the caravan plots as they do not appropriately reflect the size of the families within the gypsy and traveller communities. Councillor Dorey’s letter noted that proposal is also not in-keeping with the street scene and format of other properties on the road.

A Member enquired whether there are any statutory standards that this application can be compared to. He also sought clarification on the proposed sewer works system.

The Planning Applications Team Leader confirmed that the Technical Housing Standards space standards applies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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