Meeting documents

Planning Working Group
Sunday, 31 October 2010

planning working group

MINUTES of the Meeting held at School Farm, Graveney Road, Goodnestone, nr Faversham on Sunday 31st October 2010 from 10:30 am to 11:05 am.

Present: Councillor Barnicott (Chairman), Councillors Bobbin, Andy Booth, Mike Henderson, Bryan Mulhern, Ben Stokes, Roger Truelove, Ghlin Whelan, Alan Willicombe and Jean Willicombe.

Officers Present: Kellie Mackenzie and Graham Thomas.

Also In Attendance: Mr Haynes (Applicant), Mr Stewart (Graveney with Goodnestone Parish Council) and Mr Renny, Ms Wilkinson, Mr Pelz, Mr Graham and Dr Thomas.

Apologies: Councillors Derek Conway, Chris Foulds, Harrison, Lesley Ingham, Prescott and Pat Sandle.

458  

declarations of interest

No interests were declared.

 
459  

sw/09/0099 (2.9) - school farm, graveney road, goodnestone

The Area Planning Officer outlined the retrospective application which sought permission to change the use of a small agricultural field to allow it to be used for a dog training school at weekends. He showed Members a plan of the site and stated that to the south of the site was School Farm Oast, a mixed residential dwelling with a business use (the Archaeological Field School), to the south, School Farm House and to the western boundary, a building used for teaching and processing for the Archaeological Field School.

The Area Planning Officer explained that the site had been operating for 18 months without permission. He stated that Environmental Services Officers had visited the site on several occasions during this period and considered restricting the use to weekends only would help to reduce noise. They also considered a two year temporary permission should be imposed in order to assess whether the proposed conditions were adequate.

The Area Planning Officer stated that Graveney and Goodnestone Parish Council raised no objection subject to the representations of SBC's Environmental Section and Kent Highway Services. He advised that Natural England had no comments to make on the application.

The Area Planning Officer stated that representations in support of the proposal included: classes extremely well managed and professional; dog barking was rare and some of the objectors were not local. He stated that some of the objections to the proposals were: lack of parking; noise and disturbance; only 45 metres from School Farm Oast; frequent blowing of whistles and it was contrary to policy.

The Area Planning Officer reported in terms of policy the site was outside of the built-up area boundary of Faversham.

With regard to noise concerns, the Area Planning Officer drew attention to Planning Policy Guidance (PPG24) on Planning and Noise. PPG24 suggested three ways of mitigating noise: engineering, layout and administrative measures, such as limited operating hours. The Area Planning Officer considered that limiting the operating hours, as proposed, was the best option to control the impact of noise at the site.

The Area Planning Officer stated that it had been suggested that the school be moved to the adjacent field. He considered however that this would make it more visually intrusive.

Mr Haynes, the Applicant, stated Meadow Dogs Limited was a registered organisation and as such had to comply with visibility, parking and health and safety requirements. He explained that he had considered all the concerns of local residents and had sought to compromise where possible.

Mr Stewart, representing Graveney with Goodnestone Parish Council stated that they considered the two year time period suggested was too long. They considered monitoring of the site could be carried out in a shorter time period.

Dr Martin Thomas, Archaeological Field School, requested a boundary fence be erected between the application site and School Farm Oast.

Mr Renny, Ewell Barn raised no objection to the proposal. He stated that as neighbours to the application site they were not effected by noise from barking or traffic.

Mrs Wilkinson, School Farm Oast, spoke against the proposal. She stated her main objection to the application was excessive noise, caused by dogs barking, whistles being blown and shouting. She stated that parking and dog mess were not a problem.

Mr Pelz, father of Mrs Wilkinson, explained that he regularly visited his daughter and stated that noise from the training school was unacceptable particularly in the summer months when doors and windows were open.

In response to a query from a Member, the Area Planning Officer advised that a two metre fence could be erected under permitted development rights.

Mrs Wilkinson advised that the Archaeological Field School classes were held roughly fortnightly between March and November.

In response to queries, Mr Haynes confirmed that each class was an hour long with a maximum of 17 dogs. There were five classes held per day with fifteen to twenty minute intervals.

Members then toured the site with Officers.

 
All Minutes are draft until agreed at the next meeting of the Committee/Panel

View the Agenda for this meeting

 

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