Minutes

Addlethorpe Parish Council Meeting

Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Addlethorpe Parish Council held on 1 November 2021 at the small hall, St. Peters Hall, Ingoldmells at 1930 Hours to discuss Planning Application S/002/01844/21 for 490 caravans on Mill Road Addlethorpe.

Councillors present: Chairman N. Towers (NT), Vice Chair Cllr. T. Smith (TS), Cllr Robert Short (RS), Cllr. G. Escott (GE), Cllr. C.Cleary (CC), Cllr. E. Halliday (EH) and 

Absent: Cllr. M. Holyer (MH)

Also present: 21 members of the public.

Public session

1.    Chairman’s Welcome
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the new clerk, Kerry Stafford. 

2.    Apologies for absence 
No apology received for Cllr MH. The Chairman explained Colin Davie was unable to make the meeting and so had sent his apologies and had given some pointers should the Parish Council, acting on behalf of the Addlethorpe residents, want to oppose the planning application at Mill Road.  He suggested concentrating on the following:
1.    Scale – as the scale is off the Richter scale
2.    Over intensification with the amount of caravans proposed for the site
3.    Lack of footpaths leading to the village which will mean a car is always needed
4.    It will totally change the character of the village

3.    Public forum
The Councillors all introduced themselves and the floor was open to the public. Cllr EH explained the Parish Council was there to represent the views of the parishioners on this matter. The public were asked for a show of hands for anyone in support of the proposed development. It was confirmed that all members of the public present were opposed to the planning application.
•    A member of the public objected against the application stating that the applicant did not even live in Lincolnshire. This was confirmed by Cllr GE who further stated that the application was entirely on agricultural land and there was a possibility the applicant may want to develop further still in the future.
•    A member of the public asked whether the application was linked to the Bowmans application. It was confirmed that this was a separate application.
•    A member of the public asked what ELDC’s plans were for Addlethorpe for the future. Cllr GE pointed out that ELDC had said there were to be no static caravan sites to the west of the A52 but since then had already approved two caravan sites.  This was despite 85% of residents stating as part of the parish plan they were opposed to more caravans.
•    A member of the public raised the point ELDC had said that Addlethorpe was unsuitable for any future housing.  Cllr CC pointed out there was nothing from ELDC to say they wanted more caravans.  Cllr CC referred to the ELDC Local Plan Core Strategy 2018.  He took the public through the document picking out relevant points and giving suggested responses to those points where the planning application was considered to breach the plan. (Copy of points and response attached).  Cllr CC was applauded for his detailed response and it was agreed it could be sent out to members of the public who emailed the Parish Council asking for it to help them put forward their objections.  A link to the Plan would also be included on the Parish council website.
•    A member of the public stated it was a waste of time going to ELDC and it needed to go national to the newspapers etc.  It was already impossible trying to see a GP.
•    A member of the public asked whether the additional noise was a basis for objection.  Cllr CC confirmed this was the case.
•    A member of the public referred to the 4 areas mentioned by the Chairman from Cllr Colin Davie but stated that the environmental issues should be key.  Cllr CC referred to the 10 points within the strategic Plan which include environmental issues.
•    A member of the public stated that Addlethorpe does not fit the criteria for a medium sized village as stated in the plan which adversely affects what is permitted.
•    A member of the public stated that once developments are allowed the dykes start disappearing and along with them the wildlife.  This view was supported by many members of the public who value the local wildlife.
•    Members of the public raised concerns there was not much time to respond and they had faced technical issues with using the website.  Another member of the public asked how to get a meeting. Cllr CC stated an extension to the deadline would be requested and he urged members of the public who objected to put forward their objections to make the opposition to the application known to the planning office.  He explained it was unlikely to get a meeting but it may then go to a full planning committee instead of being delegated to one officer.
•    A member of public stated that there was not even a public footpath included for people to access the village.  Cllr CC said the application states that the grass verges would be sufficient.
•    Cllr TS asked if he was correct in thinking County Cllr Colin Davie had said the Council could write to the Secretary of state with a vote of no confidence in ELDC.  Cllrs CC and GE thought this was the case if they believed a planning application had already gone through illegally.
•    A member of the public asked whether it was worth going to other neighbouring councils to see if there would be support to put a complaint forward to the Secretary of State.  Cllr NT said that Ingoldmells Council may be willing to support and could talk to them.
•    A member of the public discussed raising a petition of names against the planning application.
•    A member of the public raised the issue of sewerage and the amount of waste water that would need disposing of.  Cllr CC confirmed the Environment Agency would object to a separate system but the application was unclear on where it would dispose of its waste so no objections had therefore been put forward by Anglian Water.
•    A member of the public questioned how they would get 15 foot wide caravans down the narrow lanes.  Cllr NT confirmed that Highways will put their observations in regarding this.
•    A member of the public thanked the parish council for supporting the villagers in opposing the application.
The Chairman thanked the public for attending and closed the public session at 2026 hours.

4.    To discuss Planning Application S/002/01844/21 for 490 caravans on Mill Road Addlethorpe
The Council went into full session and further discussions took place as to the best ways forward before agreeing the following courses of action:
1.    The clerk to contact the planning office and ask to extend the deadline from 9 November based on the amount of objectors, the detailed and lengthy application and response needed and the technical difficulties faced by members of the public.
2.    If the extension was to be refused the response drawn up already by Cllr CC would be used and added to later on.
3.    Cllr CC to amend and update his draft response to take into account any extra points raised by the public and to include the conflict with ELDC policy to go carbon neutral.
4.    Council to clarify with County Cllr Colin Davie the grounds for complaining to the Secretary of State about having no faith in the system.
5.    Council to see who is carrying out the review of the strategic plan due next year and ask for the protection area to be extended and the classification of Addlethorpe as a medium village to be amended to small.
6.    Other councils in the area to be contacted to see if they are interested in becoming involved with putting forward a complaint to the Secretary of State.

The meeting was closed at 2105 hrs.