Agenda and minutes

The Chairman advised that Cllr Walker and Cllr Coe-Gunnell White have decided to stand down and he welcomed Cllr Dabell and Cllr Marsh to the committee. The Chairman commenced the roll call to confirm the Members present.  Tom Clark, Head of Regulatory Services provided a virtual meeting explanation.   

Apologies were received from Councillor Peacock.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 15 October 2020 were agreed as a correct record and signed electronically by the Chairman.

None.

The Chairman confirmed that all the Committee Members had received the agenda update sheet. 

Andy Watt, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report seeking outline planning permission for a single chapel crematorium with a single abated cremator and natural burial site with associated access, car parking, landscaping and drainage.  He noted that the agenda update sheet listed the updated consultation response from WSCC Minerals and Waste Planning Authority and the agent’s response to a representation and to the council’s consultant.

The Senior Planning Officer highlighted the location of the site which is opposite the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and adjacent to an Ancient Woodland.  He noted that the proposed layout plan used the existing access with a one-way traffic management arrangement and associated parking. The application included a footpath extension which would connect with the public footpath at the south west corner of the site.

The Senior Planning Officer noted that some viewpoints would experience significant harm in landscape terms which were set out in the report. The Committee were advised that there would be an adverse impact to the character and beauty of the countryside and the setting of the AONB; and that the benefits of the application do not outweigh the significant harm to the landscape in the context of District Plan policy DP12 in particular.

The Chairman outlined the procedure for the public speaker.

Ms Jackson, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Gibson, speaking as Ward Member advised that he supported the officer’s recommendation. He noted that over 60% of the letters received that supported the application had come from people outside the district, and many of those had a crematorium closer to them.  He had not been advised that any of his electorate had difficulty accessing the services of a crematorium or that the Surrey & Sussex crematorium  could not meet demand. He expressed concern that the matter of air quality had not been  satisfactorily addressed.  The prevailing wind direction would move particulate matter towards Turners Hill and suggested the need for an environment impact assessment.

Members discussed the impact on the landscape, the proposed access, parking provision and air quality for Turners Hill village.  Several Members stated they would support the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application. 

The Chairman reminded Members that no objection had been received from the Highway Authority. He noted an objection regarding the landscaping that would be adjacent to Butchers Wood. He asked the Senior Planning Officer to highlight the comments made by the Planning Inspector.

The Senior Planning Officer advised that the Environment Agency had been consulted and their comments were listed on pages 75 – 77.   They had made comments on water drainage into ground from the site and advised conditions could be added in relation to water pollution.  He noted that the Planning Inspector had commented on the earlier dismissed appeal for houses on this site, DM/16/1887 “that landscaping designs should not be used to hide an otherwise unacceptable largescale development”.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

None.