MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held in the School, Back Lane, on Thursday 17 September 2015 commencing at 7pm at Newburgh School.

PRESENT Cllr J Citarella, Chairman.
Cllrs R Porter, C Moore, J O’Keefe, R Richardson and the Parish Clerk, S Jones
Four members of the public attended.

104/15
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllr Turner, Cllr Atty, County Cllr Westley and Borough Cllr Pope

105/15
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared.

106/15
ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION
The meeting was adjourned for public discussion.
All members of the public attended the meeting with regard to the planning application for the replacement dwelling at Bethany on Course Lane.  Issues/concerns raised included proposed gates and hedge not in keeping with the other houses in the row, potential lack of light for the neighbouring property, lack of privacy for neighbouring properties due to the proposed balcony, closeness of the new building to the neighbouring property and health and safety issues relating to the demolition of Bethany.
The meeting was reconvened.
           
As all the attending members of the public were interested in the replacement dwelling at Bethany application, the Chair made the decision to bring this item forward on the agenda.  The Chair also explained that the extraordinary meeting was being held as the deadline for comments for the applications were before the next planned Parish Council meeting on 23 September.  Although the original deadline for comments for the replacement dwelling at Bethany application was 11 September, an extension had been requested by the Parish Council due to holidays and availability of the school hall, where the meeting had to be held.  It was confirmed that West Lancashire Borough Council Planning department had given the Parish Council a week’s extension until 18 September in order to submit any comments.
The meeting was reconvened.

107/15
PLANNING
a) Application Update
a) 2015/0798/FUL – Replacement dwelling following demolition of existing dwelling at Bethany, Course Lane.
Cllr Richardson gave a brief review on behalf of the Planning Working Group confirming that a previous application for extending Bethany had been submitted in January 2015 but was subsequently withdrawn.  It was also confirmed that investigations had revealed that an owner of a site can demolish a property without having to seek permission unless it is a listed building.  The main details of the planning application were considered and following discussion it was agreed to submit the following comment:

Newburgh Parish Council’s main concern is still the potential intrusion into neighbours’ privacy from the glazed area and balcony at the rear and the potential loss of light to the neighbouring property. The Parish Council also has concerns over the appearance of the development in relation to its neighbours.

b) 2015/0707/FUL – Alterations to brick up existing garage door and a new door opening to gable at the Old Vicarage on Back Lane – no comment.

c) 2015/0778/LBC & 2015/0877/COU – Listed Building Consent and Change of Use applications for conversion of existing agricultural building into two 2 storey dwellings at the Barn at Lowes Farm, Lowes Lane.
Although the Planning Working Group felt that there were minimal village implications as a result of this planning application, some Parish Councillors felt that the buildings represented urbanisation of the Green Belt.  Following discussion and a vote, the majority decision was that the Parish Council should make no comment due to the anticipated minimal impact the application would have on the village.

The meeting finished at 7.30pm.

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