PRESENT:  Councillors Mike Baldock, Bobbin, Cameron Beart, Tina Booth (Substitute for Councillor Roger Clark), Richard Darby, Mike Dendor, James Hall, Mike Henderson, James Hunt, Nigel Kay, Bryan Mulhern (Chairman), Prescott and Ghlin Whelan.

OFFICERS PRESENT: Kellie Mackenzie and Ross McCardle.

APOLOGIES: Councillors Andy Booth, Roger Clark, Ken Ingleton and Peter Marchington.

The Chairman welcomed local residents to the meeting.

The Planning Officer introduced the application which proposed erection of a bungalow on land to the side of the existing bungalow and adjacent to No. 12 Western Avenue, Halfway.  The new plot would measure 8 metres in width and 23 metres in length and the proposed one bedroom bungalow would be 5.6 metres in width, 10.5 metres in length and 4.2 metres in height to the ridge.  The front building line of the proposal would follow that of Nos, 10 and 12 with parking to the front of the site.  A garden in the region of 6.3 metres depth would be provided to the rear, and the existing garage serving No. 10 would be demolished.

The Planning Officer reported that 10 letters of objection had been received raising points already covered in the Committee report.  The Planning Officer reported that KCC Highways and Transportation raised no objection.  He noted that the parking provision accorded with KCC Parking Standards.

The Planning Officer reported that the site was located within the built confines of Halfway and formed part of the wider West Sheppey Triangle settlement area under Policy ST3 of the emerging Local Plan.  The Planning Officer considered that the application would not significantly harm residential amenities of No. 12 Western Avenue and that it did not conflict with the Development Plan.

A Ward Member thanked the Committee for agreeing to the site meeting.  He raised concern about parking problems currently experienced in Western Avenue and Hilda Road.  He stated that Western Avenue was already used as an ‘overspill’ when funerals took pace at the nearby cemetery. 

In response to a query from the Ward Member about the number of objections received, the Planning Officer agreed to update Members at the Planning Committee meeting.

Local residents raised points which included:

·        Residents were tolerant of the parking situation when funerals were being held at the nearby cemetery, but parking was a huge issue in Western Avenue;

·        Six properties had already been granted permission in the vicinity in the last 10 years;

·        The loss of more off-street parking would add to the problems of parking in Western Avenue;

·        Parking was so bad residents could not park outside their own house;

·        The parking was even worse at the weekend;

·        The provision of a dropped kerb would reduce parking spaces;

·        The proposed dwelling would block-out light to the living room of No. 12 Western Avenue;

·        The living room of No. 12 would also be subject to odours coming from the kitchen of the proposed dwelling;

·        Would have an adverse impact on the quality of life of the residents of No. 12;

·        Would have an adverse impact on the local drainage system;

·        Was not in-keeping with the local area, and there were no other one-bedroom properties in the road;

·        The road was already dangerous for children to negotiate; and

·        Refuse lorries found it difficult to access the road because of the parking problems.

In response to a query from a Member, the Planning Officer advised that the dropped kerb would be approximately four kerbstones in width.

Members then viewed the application site from No. 12 Western Avenue and Hilda Road with the Planning Officer.