Dear Resident
This issue of my Newsletter, which also appears on my website www.clive-carver.org.uk contains the latest on the Flintshire Unitary Development Plan (UDP) together with other issues including:- Allotments, Land at Overlea Drive, Christmas and New Year Refuse & Recycling Collections.
I will be holding my next quarterly Surgery on Friday 27th January 2012 between 2:00 and 3:00 pm, at the offices of Hawarden Community Council, 113 The Highway, Hawarden (Opposite Hawarden High School, at the entrance to the Playing Field). There will also be a quarterly Surgery on Friday 27th April 2012 the week before the Council Elections on Thursday 3rd May 2012.
Following two vacancies occurring for Hawarden Ward for Hawarden Community Council last year, my wife, Cheryl was co-opted as a Community Councillor for Hawarden. Cheryl can be contacted by phone or councillor.cheryl.carver@hawardencommunitycouncil.gov.uk
In May this year, I was appointed Chair of Hawarden Community Council for the municipal year ending at the May 2012 Elections. I was indeed honoured to lay the Community Council’s wreath at the Hawarden War Memorial on Sunday 13th November.
Finally, may I take this opportunity on behalf of Cheryl and I to wish you the compliments of the season and a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
Clive
Flintshire Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
Following the period for legal challenge in the Courts, with no challenges being notified to the Council, the Flintshire Unitary Development Plan becomes the policy on which recommendations and decisions on planning applications will be based with effect from the January 2012 planning committee meeting.
Allotments
There now appears to be some light and the end of the tunnel. Hawarden Community Council looked into a number of sites both within and outside the local community. Flintshire County Council have offered an allotment site off Upper Aston Hall Lane and a draft lease has been received. Subject to necessary ecological report findings the next stage will be to submit a planning application. It is too early yet to talk of dates. It is the intention of Hawarden Community Council that the allotments will be a model site and a credit to the community.
Land at Overlea Drive
Following a Planning Site Visit on Monday 31st October, at the planning committee meeting on Wednesday, Redrow’s application to build 45 houses on ‘Land at Overlea Drive’ was REFUSED overwhelmingly, with only one Committee Member in favour of the development.
Both Len Rowlands of 63 Overlea Drive and my wife, Community Councillor Cheryl Carver, spoke for their allotted three minutes against the application, as did I for my allotted five minutes as the local County Councillor.
The reasons for refusal are taken from the Decision Notice dated 28th November 2011 and are as follows:-
1. The proposals are considered to result in a form of development which would, by virtue of the form, elevation and inadequate separation distances between the proposed dwellings and the existing dwellings on Penlan Drive and Overlea Crescent, would result in an overbearing impact to the detriment of the levels of residential amenity currently enjoyed by the occupants of those dwellings. Accordingly, the proposals are considered to be contrary to the provisions of Policy B5 of the Clwyd County Structure Plan, First Alteration; Policy HSG5 of the Structure Plan: Second Alteration - Flintshire Edition; Policies G1 and H1 of the Alyn and Deeside Local Plan and Policies GEN1 and D1 emerging Flintshire Unitary Development Plan and advise as contained within Planning Policy Wales 2011.
2. The proposals do not make provision of space or facilities to allow for play and recreation for children within the confines of the site. Accordingly, the Council are of the opinion that the submitted details are insufficient to allow reasoned consideration of the proposals against the requirements of Policy CF1 of the Alyn and Deeside Local Plan and Policy SR5 of the emerging Flintshire Unitary Development Plan and advise as contained within Planning Policy Wales 2011.
3. The Council considers that the proposals fail to both provide a level of affordable housing commensurate with the requirements of the policies outlined below, and fail to ensure that such provision indicated is distributed upon the site in such a manner as to not segregate the future occupiers of these dwellings from the immediate and wider community. As such the proposals are considered to be contrary to the requirements of Policy B16 of the Clwyd County Structure Plan, First Alteration; Policy HSG13 of the Structure Plan: Second Alteration - Flintshire Edition; Policies G1 and H15 of the Alyn and Deeside Local Plan; and Policies GEN1, HSG9 and HSG10 of the emerging Flintshire Unitary Development Plan and advise [sic] as contained within Planning Policy Wales 2011.
The next stage is entirely in the hands of Redrow. They as Applicants have 6 months from the date of the Decision Notice to start the Appeal process if they wish. Once an appeal is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate typically there would be a Planning Inquiry around 25 weeks later with the Inspector’s Decision issued around 5 weeks later. Redrow’s other option is to submit another Planning Application with whatever changes that they believe necessary to accommodate the Committee’s reasons for refusal in November and thus for the Planning Committee to grant Approval.
If you wish to receive an email notification of developments, please let me have your email address.
Finally, the ‘legal bit’. As both I and my wife Cheryl, who is also a Hawarden Community Councillor, live in Overlea Drive, it was necessary for both of us to request a “Dispensation” this from Flintshire’s Standards Committee. In my case this is to enable me to speak, vote and make representations upon planning applications relating to the land above in relation to the proceedings of both Flintshire County Council and Hawarden Community Council. In Cllr. Cheryl Carver’s case to enable her to speak, vote and make representations upon planning applications relating to the land above in relation to the proceedings of Hawarden Community Council which include representing Hawarden Community Council and speaking at the Planning and Development Control Committee meeting in due course. It is also necessary for us to confirm these Dispensations at meetings or when making representations. Since it is not yet known what the next stage will be, we both requested Flintshire’s Standards Committee to renew our “Dispensations” relating to this site and these were granted at their meeting of 14th November 2011.
Christmas and New Year Refuse & Recycling Collections
As usual, collections over the Christmas and New Year period will be amended in order to accommodate the Bank Holidays and the seasonal change in Garden Waste (Brown Bin) Recycling. Therefore December and January collections will be as follows:-
Wednesday 7th December Black Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Wednesday 14th December Black Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Wednesday 21st December Black Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Wednesday 28th December’s Collection will take place on Thursday 29th December and will be Black Bin and Food Waste only (ie NO Blue Box/Bag collection)
Wednesday 4th January Black Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Wednesday 11th January Black Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Wednesday 18th January Black Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Wednesday 25th January Brown Bin, Food Waste, Blue Box/Bag
Collections will then alternate Black Bin / Brown Bin as normal. Please note that collections scheduled for Wednesday 11th April will take place on Thursday 12th April due to Easter.
Church Lane & Rectory Lane
I am continuing to press for the long overdue resurfacing of both Church Lane and Rectory Lane. Both of these roads lead to buildings which are important to Hawarden, both for residents and visitors.
Unsung Heroes - Recognition of Volunteers
It is Hawarden Community Council’s intention to recognise outstanding volunteers in the Community.
The Community Council has decided that it wishes to recognise those people living in the Community who give much of their time voluntarily to help others. This includes all sorts of people from those giving individual care, to those involved in the running of local organisations and charities. If you know of anyone who you think deserves recognition, please contact the Community Council Office for a nomination form.
Winter Maintenance Volunteers
Following the difficulties which the Community faced last year with severe weather conditions the Council is proposing to co-ordinate volunteers to assist in clearing snow and ice at important and sensitive locations, such as schools, doctors’ surgeries, OAP homes etc. If you are interested in assisting please contact the Council on 01244 533692 or by email to mail@hawardencommunitycouncil.gov.uk
csc/DEC 2011