The Chairman asked those members of the public present if they wished to make any comments. All were residents of Downside Road and were concerned with the proposed expansion of Bristol International Airport. The concerns expressed included:

a. Multi-storey car park: residents feel that the size of the car park (five storeys) will be overbearing in relation to their properties, and in some cases will be just beyond the end of their gardens. The addition of lights on top of the building will make it intrusive and visible from a distance away. The car park will also be a source of noise at all hours, with car alarms, banging doors, and engine noise. Although a wall is to be built to act as a barrier against noise, this will not extend to the lower end of Downside Road.

b. Road access: residents believe that the road access to the airport is inadequate, and the situation for people living on Downside Road will become even worse than it is currently. It is felt that there will inevitably be an increase in all types of traffic, including fuel tankers and car transporters. Airport taxis using the road exceed the speed limit, making it dangerous for residents to get in and out of their driveways. Additional bus services may also be routed via Downside Road. Residents feel that the figure of £9m which BIA are proposing to be spent on road improvements is not nearly enough.

c. Fuel store: the location of this is considered to be too close to residents’ properties and could constitute a safety hazard.

d. Night flights: there is concern about the likely increase in night flights – residents feel that the current level is acceptable, but would like to see a strict limit on the number of flights in future.

Residents also expressed the view that airport staff were disregarding the views of residents, as very little account was taken of the concerns expressed at the public meetings held prior to the planning application.

At the end of public participation, those attending thanked the members of the committee for listening to their views, and all seven then left the meeting.

4. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 7th July were reviewed and signed as a correct record.

5. NSC South Area Planning Committee

The documentation relating to the meeting held 15th July was reviewed, and the Chairman drew attention to the lengthy discussion which had taken place regarding the Rickyard Road affordable housing application. This was approved with several conditions, full details of which are awaited. An enquiry regarding the unauthorised change of use at Silver Ridge is scheduled for 22nd September.

6. Decisions Notices issued by NSC

08/P/2530/LUE – St Katharines Farm, Downside Road: change of use from agricultural land/buildings to the maintenance and repair of agricultural tractors and machinery and the sale of associated replacement parts and new machinery: approved.

It was noted that the following applications had been withdrawn:

09/P/0858/F – Woodman’s Cottage: extension to dwelling

09/P/0611/CA and 09/P/0610/F – Brook House: demolition of Brook House and erection of 11 retirement dwellings. A letter had also been received from Blue Cedar Homes explaining that discussions with the Environment Agency were still continuing and the applications had therefore been withdrawn until these were concluded. There are likely to be some adjustments to the layout of the scheme to accommodate the requirements of the EA, and the Parish Council will be provided with updated drawings when the new application is to be submitted. Cllr Yamanaka reported that she had been to a meeting recently with Blue Cedar Homes and planning officers at NSC, when she had raised some points about the development such as the proposals for entrance gates. However, the developers seem to be adamant about the need for gates.

7. Planning Applications

09/P1133/F - 50 South Meadows, Wrington: erection of a replacement porch with shower room. It was agreed to comment that the proposed windows will be of a different material than some of the existing windows, and to recommend that if and when the existing metal windows are replaced these should match the proposed upvc windows.

09/P/1147/F - St Raphael’s, Ropers Lane, Wrington: erection of detached garage to front of property. It was agreed to object to the proposed garage as it breaks the building line and is out of keeping with the other houses in the direct vicinity. This would have an adverse impact on the street scene, and represents over-development in front of the house.

09/P/1159/F - Box Bush Farm, Lye Cross Road, Redhill: erection of agricultural building for implement storage. After discussion, it was agreed that the proposed development was acceptable and therefore to make no comment.

09/P/1020/OT2 - Bristol International Airport: outline planning application with details of some elements included and other details reserved for subsequent approval, for major development increasing passenger flight numbers at Bristol International Airport.

There was further discussion of this application. Cllr Bigg pointed out that the Regional Spatial Strategy has not yet been passed, and Parliament is now closed for the summer. The next time it is likely to be considered will be on 12th October. Cllr Bigg also suggested that it would be useful to decide on the headings which the Parish Council would want to comment on, and proposed the following:

- road infrastructure
- effects on the local community – traffic, noise, visual impact, the multi-storey car park
- fuel store
- green belt aspects – surface car parking
- drainage – possible pollution of aquifers
- light and noise pollution
- increase in night flights – possibly a restriction on the number of these in any one night
- justification for expansion – question whether the projected increase in the number of passengers is realistic

It was agreed to keep in touch with neighbouring Parish Councils and other organisations to share information.

It was also agreed that the Parish Council was minded to object to the proposed development, and to send a ‘holding’ letter to this effect to the planning officer, pending a full response.

A date was set for Monday 24th August at 7.30 pm for final discussion and production of a response. It was agreed that members would make comments on whatever aspect of the application they were considering and circulate these prior to the meeting.

8. Other Planning Issues

Cllr Gallop read out a letter from Mr D Barrett, Senior Enforcement Officer at NSC, regarding case no. 09/0393/E – unauthorised advertisement on A38 near junction of New Road, Redhill. This questioned the length of time the sign had been in place, as it may be that it qualified for a deemed consent under the Control of Advertisements Regulations. It was agreed that the sign had in fact been in place for a very short time, and that Mr Barrett should be contacted him to inform him of this.

The meeting was closed at 7.50 pm.

Mrs J. Gallop
Chair