Present:                                                       Councillors; G. Wilson, Chairman,

                                                                   D. Thompson, Vice-Chairman

                                                                  Gillian Benson, Clerk to the Parish Council

1145. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr. I. Brayshaw, working and Cllr. J. Wrathall, attending an 18^th Birthday party, the reasons were accepted. The members of the public were welcomed.

Cllr. D. Sharples declared a personal interest as a member of Wyre Borough Council’s planning committee and did not take part in the resolutions.

Cllr. G. Wilson declared a prejudicial interest as one of the candidates for the Lancashire Locals, item 1151.

It was resolved that the minutes of the last meeting, held on 2^nd October, 2006, having been circulated were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

The meeting was adjourned to accept the Police report.

P C Jones apologised for his absence last month but had been called away to the riots at Avenham, Preston. During the past month there have been 2 crimes, he added that detection rates are high. There was a criminal damage to a vehicle and one robbery (theft with violence). The Police have continued to seize alcohol at weekends which could have lead to a decline in crime numbers.

There were 14 anti-social behaviour reports eight were in Catterall Gates Lane where eggs and water bombs were thrown at one house, two of inappropriate use of fireworks and street drinking on Thornbank Drive. The Road Policing Targeting Team has checked the speed of vehicles on Cock Robin Lane several times recently.

It was reported that a number of fencing panels and glass in a green house had been damaged; however, these were not reported to the Police as the owner were concerned about reprisals. P C Jones asked that these residents ring him for reassurance. The damage to the Baylton Drive nameplate was reported. Also the builders on the Taylor Woodrow site are driving 4x4’s without due care on Catterall Gates Lane and the new site. P C Jones is to speak to the site manager.

There were many residents attending tonight who wished to discuss the planning application for the maggot farm on Catterall Gates Lane. It was explained that the plans need rectification as the new building should contain a sealed area for loading inside, but this will be finalised with Wyre Borough Council planning services. The maggot farm will replace the Knacker’s yard, which closed two years ago. It was noted that the housing from the Taylor Woodrow site is now encroaching towards the proposal and this should make objections stronger. This proposal would be a detriment to the residential amenity, the environmental damage, noise and smells in an area surrounded by houses.

Those present were made aware that the Knacker’s Yard could be re-enacted with work and that would be far more detrimental to the area. The residents were encouraged to ask is the building acceptable? Is it detrimental to the residential amenity? And will the building sit with the scene?

The operating hours seem unreasonable with in a residential area and there is no contingency in case of a power cut. A lot of the environmental issues would be clarified when the license to operate was applied for as the applicant must meet high specifications. The Parish Council had been surprised at the lack of public opposition from residents initially, but it is often the depth of public opinion that is needed.

The meeting was resumed.

The Councillors made comments on the following planning application;

06/01077/FUL
Proposal; Change of use of former Knacker’s yard to include erection of new building for breeding maggots (re-submission of 06/00435/FUL)
Location; Former Knackers Yard, Tan Yard Road, Catterall

The Parish Council objects to this application, stating Policy SP14, in that the proposal should be compatible with adjacent existing land uses and CORE 11. Also ENTV18, in that air quality may be exceeded and local residents will be adversely affected. Operating hours, 24/7 causing noise, generator back up, flooding and the disposal of effluent and top water. Point out the sealed area for unloading is insufficient.

Councillors debated the local Post Office services as many are under threat. It was noted that Forton Post Office is to close, yet this could be a natural erosion of smaller units, it seems that those providing other services survive.

It was raised that in the Village Survey only one third of residents used the Post Office in Catterall.

Wyre Area LAPTC asks Councillors to vote on a Parish representative to sit on the Lancashire Locals with voting right, providing the constitution is amended.

Candidates are;
Cllr. I. Gordon, Hambleton
Cllr. J. Ibison, Barnacre
Cllr. J. Jackson, Stalmine
Cllr. P. Moon, Preesall
Cllr. E. Moorat, Pilling or
Cllr G. Wilson, Catterall.

Cllr. G. Wilson left the room and the Vice-Chairman took over the voting.

Cllr. G. Wilson returned to the meeting.

Councillors were asked to comment on the draft submission available on the web at http://www.wyrebc.gov.uk/council_services/planning_policy . A hard copy was available at the meeting and as a result of consultation Wyre Borough Council is to produce a Guide for Parish Council’s on making valid comments.

The following planning permission has been granted;

06/01042/FUL
Proposal; Conversion of children’s nursery into 1 no. dwelling including single storey rear extension, rear dormer and single storey detached double garage and utility to rear.
Location; 26, Cock Robin Lane, Catterall

Councillors resolved to comment on the following applications;

06/01026/FUL
Proposal; New access to field
Location; Land off Catterall Lane, Catterall

It was noted that the field has two gated accesses onto Catterall Lane and a field access onto an unclassified road does not require planning permission. The Parish Council has no objections but wonder what is it for?

06/01159/FUL
Proposal; First floor side extension, provision of dormers, garden shed and summer house
Location; Catterall Coach House, Garstang By Pass Road, Catterall

The Parish Council have great concerns with the size of the garden shed and summer house on this site, as they don’t appear to be of a ‘domestic’ size. However, there is no objection to the house extensions, but as the planning application can not be divided the Parish Council will have to object to this application.

06/01170/FUL
Proposal; Conversion of building to form 3no. maisonettes and office space with new pitched roofs
Location; Units 1 and 2 Catterall Gates Lane, Catterall

The Parish Council has no objection in principle to this application. The development will tidy up the area and the commercial use would be beneficial to the Parish. There is still a landownership dispute on this part of Catterall Gates Lane. Can the applicant assure the planning authority that he owns the land? The parking configuration is not satisfactory and there is a potential for bad or over parking causing disputes with other users. There is no affordable housing element to this application.

06/01205/FUL
Proposal; Rear/side conservatory
Location; 21, Catterall Gates Lane, Catterall

The Parish Council has no objections to this application, but requests neighbourhood notification.

The meeting was adjourned to allow the public to speak.

The two members of the public remaining had no questions for the Councillors.

The meeting was resumed.

Cllr. D. Sharples reported that an interim planning policy document is going before the Council tonight, if accepted it should be on stream by January, 2007. It is looking at brownfield sites, although it should not affect Catterall yet. It strengthens the need for affordable housing stating that of each application 40% will need to be affordable. Therefore in an application for two houses one would need to be affordable. Cllr. D. Sharples is looking at this in relation to the Brierley’s site for 52 houses.

The meeting was adjourned

County Cllr. Wilson reported that the next meeting of the Lancashire Locals, on 6^th December, should be held in the Garstang area. Garstang High School has begun their School Travel Plan. She has written to Wyre Borough Council planning on the Maggot Farm and attended a course on substance misuse (alcohol)

The meeting was resumed.

The AGM on 31^st October saw the officers re-elected. There are to be more fundraising events through the year due to the drop in revenue as Collinson’s have moved their car parking arrangements.

The School is experiencing financial problems with the budget, which shows a deficit of £3,600. The car park has been resurfaced for safety grounds and cost £36,000. However the numbers on the role continue to rise.

Cllr. D. Sharples reported that the last meeting had been well attended with Neil Bailey giving a presentation of the Clean Neighbourhoods Act. Bill Reed, Wyre Strategic Partnership, presented the School Safety Report and introduced the setting up of Local Forums in Wyre. The new Chief Planning Officer and Local Plans Officer will be attending the next meeting in January,

The report on Road Safety at Rural Schools was accepted by the executive Committee and the issuing of the hi-viz vests to each school is almost complete. Parish Council are to be encouraged to liaise with their local schools. A reply has been received from Lancashire County Council on the report stating that they understand, but that money used would relegate other plans in the County.

Report accepted. Notices to be purchased for the Multi Use Games Area.

Report accepted.

Payments received this month;

It was resolved that the following accounts were approved for payment;

Calls to £ 28.02

Broadband £ 17.99

Date ………………………. Chairman …………………………