Yatton Keynell Parish Council
MINUTES OF A FULL MEETING OF YATTON KEYNELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE BARN – THE BELL INN YATTON KEYNELL
Monday 5th JULY 2021
Present: Cllr A Parker (Chair), Cllr C Grainger, Cllr M Green, Cllr. F. Plowman , Cllr M Pope, Cllr D Towl, Ian Plowman (Clerk) Unitary Councillor N Botterill & 6 Members of the Public.
1.PUBLIC GALLERY
Five members of the public all of whom are residents in Broomfield addressed the meeting expressing their concerns with regards to planning application PL/2021/06100 – Proposed Solar Farm – Leigh Delamere. Representative from Eden Renewables also present to answer questions.
See Planning 6.3 below.
2.REGISTER OF INTERESTS
None required
3.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr S Richards & Cllr M Woodcock.
4.MINUTES OF THE LAST PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting –17th May 2021 – approved to be signed by – Cllr A. Parker.
5.REGISTER OF ACTION
Clarks Leaze play area – Councillors concluded that the play area is little used and that the space would be best restored to an open space, whilst keeping the basketball hoop, with seating and some plantings. Cllr Parker to prepare a paper for discussion at the August meeting.
Village pond – Cllr Towl reported on recent work with Yr 5 pupils, project is progressing with planting and testing of water quality.
6.PLANNING
PL/2021/03877 – 12 Church Farm – Single Storey extension – Objection
Due to the deadline for submission of comments the following opinion was circulated and submitted prior to the meeting:
The Parish Council does not have an objection to an extension being built. However, we believe that this proposal is unacceptable and should be revised and a more acceptable solution would incorporate greater separation between the wall of No 14 and any extension at No 12. The gap needs to be sufficient to maintain accessibility to the roofs of both properties and in particular to that of No 14.
As neither the applicant nor their representative attended the meeting to discuss the application, Councillors agreed to let the objection stand.
PL/2021/04876 – 10 Church Farm – Single Storey extension – No Objection
PL/2021/06100 – Land to the south of M4 – Proposed Solar Farm
Councillors note that the proposed site lies principally within the parish council area of Grittleton, with the remaining land in Kington St Michael, however the site’s western boundary lies on the boundary of those two parishes & Yatton Keynell and therefore affects the residents of Broomfield & Broomfield Farm which is situated in Yatton Keynell.
The residents of Broomfield stated their concerns to Councillors, which can be summarised as visual impact, impact on wildlife – particularly deer not being able to roam, size of the proposed site, potential background noise, archaeological remains other than those identified to date and the maintenance of the trees & hedgerows.
Councillors & residents questioned the Eden Renewables representative the following facts were established:
The grid connection will be in Cocklebury Road Chippenham and would be subject to a separate planning application.
Whilst a transport statement has been submitted, negotiations still continue with Moto, the motorway services operator, to gain site access from the westbound services. All present unanimously agreed that the alternative proposed route via Stanton & Leigh Delamere was unacceptable as was any alternative via Yatton Keynell.
Eden Renewables would sell the site once construction was complete.
The enforcement of any planning conditions regarding ongoing maintenance of hedgerows & trees to shield the site would be very difficult to enforce.
The planting of deciduous trees & hedges to shield the site would be ineffective for up to six months of the year.
The various Bio diversity claims made by the applicant are irrelevant in terms of planning and cannot be guaranteed.
Existing larger wildlife would be displaced by the fencing, with the potential to cause harm to the gardens of neighbouring properties.
Councillors agreed not to take a formal vote at this meeting but to draft a response and consider the Parish Council’s position on 2nd August by which time Grittleton & Kington St Michael PC’s will have met.
7.CLERK & FINANCE
Two payments made since the last meeting which had been approved by email were authorized:
Community First Insurance – £466.05 – Insurance renewal – Chq 101206 JCB-S Garden-Maintain Ltd – £495.24 – Village Maintenance May – Chq No. 101207
The following payments were approved at the meeting, including donation to Wiltshire Citizens Advice of £100, following a request by letter. Previous donations of this amount had been made in June 2016 & 2017 to the organization.
Glason UK Ltd – £135.54 – Dog Waste Bin – Cheque No 101208
JCB-S Garden Maintain Ltd. – £2,101.25 – Village maintenance – Cheque No. 101209
I J Plowman – £300.64 – (Clerk Salary June plus Garden Waste Bin Burial Ground & Postage) – Cheque No 101210
Wiltshire Citizen’s Advice – £100 Donation – Cheque No. 101211
Community Governance Review, Biddestone PC will submit an application to redraw the parish boundary to use the A420 as a boundary, consultation will take place later in the year.
Cotswold National Landscape Parish Group 5 Board Member election two candidates have stood, the parish council have one vote. Councillors voted unanimously in favour of B McCarron of Sevington – Grittleton Parish Council.
8.HIGHWAYS & FOOTPATHS
Footpath behind the village hall, U Cllr Botterill reported that he had met with YKRA & residents of Combe View. Councillors agreed that once the YKRA had completed the current works, the layout of the land adjoining footpath would be reviewed.
Cllr Towl raised an issue, reported to him by a local resident, about speeding traffic in Grove Lane, it was noted that the lane is within the village limit of 30 mph and that there was already a “Slow Children Playing” sign located by the Chapel Car Park.
9.COUNCILLORS QUESTIONS AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
No specific issues raised.
Meeting Closed 21:00
Next meeting: Monday 2nd August – The Barn at The Bell Inn