Dear villagers,
Here is my latest newsletter for the week commencing 3rd. December, on schedule. The next one will be published during the week beginning 28th. January 2008.
Apart from the usual content, I have decided to roll the Planning Primer 3 into a discussion about the recent planning application for a development at the Clinic site in School Road.
The Square
The Parish Council have set up a group to lead the project to refurbish The Square, under Colin Thompson’s chairmanship. I understand there have been some superb suggestions submitted and in order to drive this forward to implementation, Colin is setting up a new village organisation called The Square Group. Anyone in the village can become a member. To find out more send an email to squaregroup@grayshott.com or write to The Square Group, 1-2 The Square, Grayshott, Hindhead, GU26 6LQ. You can also find out more about the new group on this website at http://www.grayshott.com/squaregroup. This is an excellent project to decide the future of one of the most important parts of the village.
Hot Fuzz
No, not a story about PCSO Jim Leggat, but the title of the latest film to be put on by Movies in Grayshott at the Village Hall. It was excellent.
“Grayshott, the Community that Cares” was probably on the minds of everyone who watched this story of Sandford, a country “Village of the Year” suffering a terrible, but amusing, crime wave. Most of the gunfights took place in the square, so there may be some more suggestions for The Square Group to consider. The lady who ran the horticultural society was mixed up in it and the ringleaders were the local village “mafia” of influential villagers……in the movie, that is.
We’re really lucky to have these first class films shown in such a pleasant environment so please give it your support. The future programme is always on Grayshott.com.
Grayshott Heathland Trust
After a long gap I’m pleased to say that this organisation has been resuscitated and is now making progress towards the transformation of this site into an important village amenity.
The area in question is along the Headley Roadon the other side of the road from Ludshott Common and, roughly speaking, lies between Firway and Fairlands. It’s difficult to describe its exact location and curtilage in words but if you want to know I’m sure you can see a plan at the Parish Council office and if not I can assist.
The site has suffered terribly over the years and has substantial pollution from chemicals and building materials. It is also cursed with Knotweed and Ragwort. The trust has arranged for EHDC to clear the site of all of these problems before taking on the management of the area.
The general arrangements are that the land will be owned by EHDC but leased to the trust for 999 years at a peppercorn rent. The trust will manage the site once it is clear and have a grant from EHDC to cover the first few years. After that the trust will have to find ways to finance the management costs.
The general intention is to maintain it as an attractive open space of heathland for the benefit of quiet public recreation, although some appropriate events may be held there to finance the future costs of upkeep.
The trustees come from both Headley and Grayshott. The Grayshott trustees are me, Cllrs. Colin Thompson and Ian Robinson from Grayshott Parish Council and Mr. Phil Bates from the Grayshott Society.
Grayshott Clinic and Planning Primer 3.
I’ve decided to link these two together to help me to explain the kind of situations when a planning application can be refused reasonably. First of all, the case itself. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, the Primary Care Trust, (PCT), submitted an application to build four residential dwellings on the site of the former clinic. At my request, this was referred to the EHDC planning committee known as Area North Planning. The application was refused on the grounds of over development with a recommendation that the applicant resubmits with an application for three dwellings.
First of all, in order to have the application heard by the committee I have to offer the council’s officers a good planning reason why this should happen. I can’t do it on a whim. My reason in this case was, in fact, the ultimate reason for refusal, i.e. overdevelopment of the site.
The question then arises; when can overdevelopment be used reasonably to refuse the application? As you may recall from previous newsletters, the Government’s PPS3 guideline requires a minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare inside the Settlement Policy Boundary, ranging up to 70 in our semi rural location. This application was for a density of exactly 70, at the top end of what would be considered acceptable for a village such as ours. The council’s officially endorsed policy GS3 makes provision for the prevention of overdevelopment, so the debate turned on how to balance these two planning statements.
I know from my research into planning appeals that the Inspectorate will not entertain density of less than 30 so there is little point in refusing on the grounds of overdevelopment if the application is between 30 and 70. However they do recognise the impact on the immediate surroundings and on those occasions will give weight to our GS3.
So, the issue was; what was the building density in the immediate area? Although the site immediately adjoining the Clinic has been built to over 50, most of the properties in the area are about 35 to 40. I then calculated the density on the Clinic site if only three dwelling were built and this came out at 37.5. My contention to the committee, then, was that three dwellings conformed to both PPS3 and also to GS3 and that, should the PCT appeal, (and I think they will), this assertion will be fully supported by the Inspectorate. There is also plenty of appeal case history to show that the Inspectorate would support this balanced approach.
As a result, EHDC has refused the application with a constructive suggestion of three dwellings and I am confident that if the PCT go to appeal for four, they will lose. Of course, I can’t wait to find out how this unfolds to see if my assessment is accurate! Whichever way it goes, the line of argument I have described was overwhelmingly supported by the committee and so you can see that this type of presentation, based on planning law and policy and reasoned compromise, can be very effective.
Phillips House
This has gone very quiet and you may be wondering why. The buildings are owned by Hampshire Voluntary Housing Society, (HVHS) who have experienced a substantial shake up of the top management including the departure of the Chief Executive and Housing Director. Inevitably this has created a hiatus which will not be resolved until there is a new, settled management team in place. At present the Chief Executive is an interim appointment pending the identification of a full time successor.
I have had several meetings recently on this subject and I’m satisfied that the results of the special consultation programme, that I set up following this year’s Annual Parish Assembly, will be fully incorporated into the project when it is recommenced with new management. Everyone involved from EHDC and HVHS knows that this is a key requirement.
Events in Grayshott
I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Grayshott Concerts production of the Armed Man on 3rd. November, the Pyrotechnics in Grayshott on 4th. November, the Remembrance Day parade and service on 11th. November and the Christmas Fair on a very wet 18th. November. All of these events were very well attended and put on to the usual very high Grayshott standards. Thank you to everyone engaged in those excellent events.
I was sorry to miss an important meeting with the Cricket Club due to a family illness but I hope to catch up with them soon; they have some very exciting plans. By the way, they are looking for an additional pitch to play on due to the huge success of the club, not least the thriving new women’s section. So, if anyone could help out please contact them, details are on this website of course, or you can get in touch with me.
Grayshott Youth Group
A group of volunteers has breathed new life into this organisation and they came along to EHDC’s Community Forum for villages in the North East of the district to apply for a £2,000 grant, which was successful I’m pleased to say. The money will help to pay for a second youth worker to assist with the running of the club until the group can start generating its own funds.
And finally...
…the government has come up with a new Code of Conduct for all councillors. Essentially the restrictions in the previous one remain. That means that if I or any Parish or County councillor is a member of a local organisation and that organisation applies to our authority for financial support, planning or licensing consent, or makes representations about planning or licensing matters, then as councillors we have a prejudicial interest and are excluded from the decision making.
The change is that now we can, nevertheless, exercise the rights available to any member of the public. So, if it would have been permitted for a member of the public to speak at such a council meeting then we can, too, but we are still excluded from the decision.
My reaction is not to be a member of any village organisation likely to submit a planning or licensing application or representation, because there is rarely public speaking in these committees. As a result I have not joined The Grayshott Society or The Square Group because the latter may make planning applications and the former may make planning representations. However I have joined organisations that are likely to request grant funding because public debate almost always takes place at those meetings and so I would be able to, at least, express my views as a member of the public, on those occasions.
As usual, if you want to comment on what I have said, or you wish to agree or disagree, just contact me by 'phone on 01428-609858 or email fcowper@aol.com
I hope you have a very happy Christmas and a successful 2008!
Best wishes,
Cllr. Ferris Cowper
EHDC Councillor for the ward of Grayshott and Leader of the Council
