Author Archives: Tom Thurston

BPCCRA Minutes for MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015

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MINUTES OF BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015

AT 7.30PM IN COMMITTEE ROOM, ST. ALDHELM’S PARISH CENTRE

PRESENT: Terry Stewart (TS) President

John Sprackling (JS) Chairman

Carol Parkin (CP) Secretary

John Gunton (JG) Magazine Editor

Cllr Mrs May Haines (MH) Canford Cliffs Ward Councillor

Cllr Tony Woodcock Parkstone Ward Councillor

25 Members/Wardens

1. APOLOGIES AND ACCURACY OF MINUTE

JS welcomed those present

Apologies: Apologies received from Wayne Hancock, Mike Parkin, Keith

Alcroft, Roger Allen.& Brian Lockwood

Accuracy: JS said would sign the Minutes as a true and accurate record of the

meeting held on 11 FEBRUARY 2015..

ACTION

 

2. MATTERS ARISING

Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel sites update: JS reported..

1. Quayside (former Dolphin Quays) development – No new developments
2. Former Poole Pottery & Swan Inn site – ditto
3. Quay Thistle Hotel site – ditto
4. Old Orchard House – ditto
5. Land at West Quay Road – ditto

Terry Stewart reported that Poole Quays Forum had had a meeting with Richard Carr about 27 – 31 West Quay Road (Outline proposal for the demolition of the existing premises and the erection of a part 13, part 5 storey mixed use building comprising of a cafe (A3 use) / commercial unit (B1 use) / restaurant (A3 use) and 64 residential apartments(C3 use) with associated access and underground parking.

Poole Quays Forum still maintains total opposition to these proposals. TS will circulate the details of the objection and would encourage as many people as possible to object. Chairman’s note: The Vision for Poole Group’s letter of objection is circulated with these Minutes.

Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update:

Victoria Education Centre ( Landscaping to the new entrance) – No new developments
Martello Corner, Martello Road (also known as 83 Canford Cliffs Road) –(Change of use of residential garage to dentists surgery} -.The Council

Planning Enforcement team are progressing this matter, albeit, slowly. 16 Western Avenue (Erection of Single Storey Garden Room) – The appeal is being validated – it is, currently, taking longer for the Planning Inspectorate to validate appeals.

Community Working Group (CWG): Next meeting is the Annual General Meeting on 18 March 2015. The Association is still looking for a volunteer to replace Terry Stewart. All are encouraged to attend the AGM.

TS gave a brief description of the responsibilities of the CWG – they deal with Planning management, policies, theories and new Government legislation.

Council Budget Monitoring report (2014/15) & 2015/16 Budget: JS said that the next Council Budget Monitoring Report (1 April to 31 March 2015) is unlikely to be presented to Cabinet until June 2015.

Public Rights of Way

Westminster Road end of Dalkeith Road – No new developments.
Buccleuch Road to Lakeside Road – ditto
Bessborough Road – ditto

Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden): No new developments. WH

Community Engagement: No new developments JS/TS

Navitus Bay Offshore Wind Farm: Roy Pointer apologised for his absence, due to the need to send in final representations to the Planner Inspectorate today, as the Examination closed at midnight.

RP had sent a note to JS in which he reported that there would now be a three month period for the panel to make a report to the Secretary of State (Ed Davey) and he has a further three months to make a decision. He alone makes the decision. There is still a record level of interest and opposition to the project which is unprecedented in the history of wind farms in UK.

Meanwhile, PCBA has produced some postcards for circulation with Pines and Chines encouraging people to write to the CEO of Electricite de France giving their own views on the devastation the project would cause to the local environment and tourism without saving any carbon dioxide simply because of the need for constant back up from fossil fuels. We hope all members will write in.

Postcards will be included in the next issue of the Association’s ‘Pines and Chines magazine’ which will be distributed in April. These postcards will also be available from UKIP’s local office at 185 Bournemouth Road, Parkstone.

Further information is, as always, available on the saveourdorsetseaside.co.uk web site. A further update will be given next month.

Road Safety concerns: Burton Road, Canford Cliffs Road & Accident at junction of Leicester Road, Bury Road and Wilderton Road – JG reported

that ‘the lorry’ is no longer on Burton Road.

Cllr MH said that there will soon be a Pelican Crossing on Canford Cliffs Road opposite Compton Acres.

JG reported that the Speed Monitoring Group is very active. During their hour on Canford Cliffs Road in January, twelve of the passing cars were recorded exceeding the speed limit. Since then there has been police presence on this road because of the data reported to them by the Speed Monitoring Group.

Sustaining Poole’s Seafront (Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan SPD)

Cllr MH said that as this does not come under any committees that she normally sits on, so was unable to comment on this.

JS said that he had attended last Wednesday’s Poole Beach Hut Association’s

AGM at which the two guest speakers were, Bruce Grant-Braham, the

Chairman of the Poole Tourism Partnership and Anthony Rogers, Recreation

Manager, Borough of Poole. Mr Grant-Braham referred to the Tourism Strategy

For Poole 2006-2015 which needs updating. The Council contributes 60% to

the Partnership expenditure and the balance is paid for by Members.

Mr Rogers said that the new Beach Huts at Flaghead, Branksome Chine & Branksome Dene Chine should be completed by July 2015. The Council is looking into the feasibility of more huts.

One interesting point was that when the Council first started short term lets there were 99 beach huts available – this is now down to 55. It appears that they have finally come to realise that Long Term Let is more profitable for them as they do not have the associated expenditure of Short Term Let.

The installation of CCTV along the promenade should be completed by the end of this month.

Bob Lister on Poole Beach Huts Association reported that they had suggested to the Council that they installed solar powered lighting along the promenade.

JS said that he gets the impression that Sustaining Poole’s Seafront SPD is no longer a priority. Cllr MH says that ‘it is going through the system’.

Bob Lister feels that the installation of ‘overnight pods’ may create a problem, the same as Party Houses.

Cllr. MH has written to the Council expressing BL’s fears and that this will go through the system.

‘Party houses’ – As Steve & Jen Cameron are spending a year in Spain, JS asked Colin Brade if he would be prepared to take over their role – it was agreed to discuss this after the meeting.

Colin Brade who is the Association’s representative at Parkbury, said that a flat had recently sold at the asking price despite the potential buyers wanting a discount because of the ‘party house’ problem,

Chairman’s note: I am told that the lady who bought a flat fought hard for a lower price and eventually got a £2,000 discount.

Cllr MH says that the Council is gearing up for complaints once the season begins at Easter, but that the main operator of these houses is beginning to move into Bournemouth.

Cllr TW says that the Council are going to try to change the law so that there is the capability of re-classifying these houses, so that they are a different type of residence showing that they are available for short term party use. This will take some time, but it is hoped that it will eventually alleviate the problem.

SC

Succession planning: JS said that he now served as Chairman for 12 years and feels that it is time to ‘hang up his boots’ and for the Association to look for ‘new blood’ The earliest magazine he holds is Autumn 1984 (No 21) and it seems the previous longest serving Chairman was the late Ralph Dymond

(1992 to 1997). Terry Stewart has written an article on the subject of recruitment in the Association’s Spring 2015 ‘Pines & Chines’ magazine.

JS

Pine Drive – MH said that she is continuing to ‘chase’ the relevant officers. MH Uniting the Conurbation (Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch) – JS announced that the supporters’ meeting will take place on Monday, 13th April 2015 at 7.30pm at the Wessex Room of Wessex Hotel, West Cliff Road,

Bournemouth BH2 5EU.

JS

Martin Heath expressed concern about the formation of the Dorset Leaders Growth Board (DLGB), which will cover the whole of urban and rural Dorset.

The DLGB has already taken its first steps but, so far, there appears to have been no consultation and Martin wondered just how many Poole and Bournemouth councillors know what’s going on.

Chairman’s Note: A North Dorset District Councillor writes

“The danger is that the Dorset Growth Board will now ‘bounce’ the whole of urban and rural Dorset into accepting an over-arching Combined Authority while preserving our existing creaky institutions.

JS

The question is whether the Growth Board cronies can persuade all nine existing councils to swallow their line by falsely saying “There Is No Alternative.” Regarding the question of DLEP (Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership) and the funding of local development projects, the Cities Growth Commission reported last October: ”“The Local Growth Deals announced in July 2014 were initially intended to enable single pot financing of strategic economic priorities agreed by LEPs and local authorities. By the time they had been through the Whitehall machine, they amounted to little more than central government approval of finance and delivery of specific local projects that happened to align with ministerial priorities. Such centralisation veiled as localism needs to stop.”

The ‘bottom line’ is of course that our rural and urban growth areas have hugely differing needs. And while you see the need for a single unitary authority for rural Dorset, UTC (Uniting the Conurbation) is making an unanswerable case for a single unitary authority for the conurbation!”

Refreshing the Core Strategy and review of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – The Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Area Committee meeting on 11 February 2015 was very poorly attended.

One of the Agenda items was a presentation on the review of (a) Poole’s Core Strategy and (b) the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The Core Strategy is currently being refreshed which, principally, involves deciding on how to increase house building to 700 per year – either by increasing housing density, expanding into the Green Belt – or building upwards. The consultation closes on 31 March 2015 and a final draft of the plan will be published for comment (known as the ‘Pre-Submission’) in Autumn 2015.

As JS mentioned at the last meeting, the CIL review is also underway. The Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule proposes a CIL rate per sqm of £1,300 for Sandbanks and £370 for Branksome Park & Lilliput – the current rate is £150.

‘Pines & Chines’ Spring 2015 magazine – The draft magazine is being circulated for proof reading and it is hoped that this will be available for distribution in early April 2015. JS feels that the distribution of the magazines ought to be handled as speedily as possible because of the up-coming AGM. However, asking people to collect the bundles from his house hadn’t worked as well as thought, and that this time he will contact those concerned by e mail.

JG

Withdrawal of various bus services – At a Portfolio Holder Decision meetingheld on 23 February 2015, the following changes affecting the buses in this area were agreed…

Route 50 Mondays to Saturdays (Winter)

*Following detailed negotiations, Go South Coast have said that they will continue to operate this service without the Borough of Poole funding.

Route 50 Sundays (Winter)

*Following detailed negotiations, Go South Coast have said that they will continue to operate this service without the Borough of Poole funding.

Route 20 Mondays to Saturdays and Route 52 Mondays to Saturdays

(Winter)

The consultation highlighted the high level of duplication of these services between Lilliput and Poole with services operating 3 minutes apart. Following detailed negotiations, Go South Coast have said that they will continue to

No further action operate this service without the Borough of Poole funding (£16,200) if the route of the Yellow Buses 20 service is varied to remove as much as possible of the duplication.

The Yellow Buses Route 20 currently operates between Sandecotes Road and Ashley Cross via Compton Avenue, Lilliput Road, Sandbanks Road, Elgin Road, Pottery Road, Sandbanks Road and Britannia Road (Salterns Road on outward journey).

The original proposal put to the Route & Branch group was to cut out the section of route between Compton Avenue and Pottery Road and instead run from Sandecotes Road to Pottery Road via Alton Road and Conifer Avenue.

The group asked that Yellow Buses be contacted to request the following variation to this proposal: from Sandecotes Road then via Alton Road, Broadwater Avenue, Pottery Road, Elgin Road, Sandbanks Road then as current route. This variation would benefit any passengers wishing to access

Lilliput Doctors’ Surgery and provide a new all-year round service to Whitecliff. Yellow Buses have agreed to amend the route variation to include Broadwater Avenue but will not agree to taking the service off Pottery Road. This is due to the additional mileage involved, the relatively few passengers they have identified using route 20 to access Lilliput Surgery and the number of passengers on Pottery Road travelling to/from areas not served by the Wilts & Dorset 52 route.

The benefits of this are the £16,200 saving by not supporting the GSC winter 52 contract and the more direct service (with shorter journey time) for through passengers. The disadvantage of this option is the removal of the bus from Compton Avenue. However, this section of route does not have high bus usage.

Of 953 passenger journeys surveyed on route 20, only 24 (2.5%) involved passengers boarding or alighting on Compton Avenue. These passengers would need to access route 20 at the stop on Sandecotes Road or alternatively access route 52 on Lilliput Road. Passengers currently using route 20 on Lilliput Road, the section of Sandbanks Road between Lilliput and Elgin Road, and on Elgin Road, would no longer have the 20 service but would have route 52. Passengers from these roads wishing to travel to Bournemouth and Castlepoint would need a change of bus (either at the Civic Centre onto frequent services or onto the less frequent 50 at Canford Cliffs). 63 (6.6%) passenger journeys have been identified as being affected by this.

3 NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT –

JS reported that no representations had been lodged by the Association during the past month.

Other current planning issues

142 Canford Cliffs Road (Demolition of existing dwelling, the erection of 3 detached dwellings, the development and creation of additional access, and associated landscaping) – Letter of objection lodged on behalf of Association on 17 December 2014

146 Canford Cliffs Road (Demolish existing chalet bungalow erect a 4-storey, with roof garden and basement parking (6 storeys in total) comprising 10 self contained flats) – Application refused on 30 July 2014 but is now subject to ‘Written representations’ appeal lodged on 27 August 2014. Still awaiting Inspector’s Decision letter.

2 Burton Road (Certificate of Lawfulness of existing use of building as a separate unit of residential accommodation) – Original application withdrawn but new application was registered on 12 January 2015.

16 Western Avenue (Erect Single Storey Garden Room (Partly Retrospective) – Application refused by Planning Committee on 20 January 2015.

KA

 

16 Nairn Road (Demolition of existing three storey house and replacement with new three storey house) – Letter of objection lodged by the Association on 01

December 2014 but application granted on 15 January 2015.

Norfolk Lodge Hotel, 1 Flaghead Road (Demolition of existing buildings and the construction of 18 apartments with basement car parking, landscaping, access and associated services) – Application registered on 26 September 2014. CCLS is taking professional advice with a view to formulating objections..

Compton Acres, Canford Cliffs Road (Erection of building comprising 20 Apartments with basement parking; re-arrangement for the existing Compton Acres parking area, and demolition of the existing office building set within the current car park) – This site has been acquired by Ortus Homes a subsidiary of

McCarthy & Stone.

5. ACCOUNTS TO DATE – JS reported that the total Association funds as at 28 February 2015 amounted to £34,417.25. The accounts to 31 December 2014 have been signed off by Schofields. JS thanked Schofields and Paul Fearnley.

JS

6 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

‘Hustings’ for May’s General/Local Elections – This event will take place at All Saints Church Hall, Western Road at 7.30pm on Wednesday 29 April 2015 – all prospective MPs have agreed to attend, although the Vicar of All Saints is still waiting to hear from Robert Syms.

JS said that he planned to invite the prospective Canford Cliffs Ward Councillors to our meeting on 08 April 2015. In order to ensure equal allocation of time between the participants, the prospective candidates will be allowed to speak for two minutes in order to outline their hopes/aims and we will not allow follow-up questions, although candidates will have an opportunity to meet members at the end of the meeting.

Date of next Meeting: The next meeting will be on Wednesday 08th April 2015 at Committee Room (formerly Lounge), Rear of Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre (Access via Lindsay Road)

The meeting closed at 8.30pm.

Summer 2014 Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter

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Watch Coffee Morning at the Haven Hotel Friday 12th September 10.30am – 12noon

Come to this popular annual event and meet members of Neighbourhood Watch and local Police officers. £2 entrance donation (includes Coffee, Tea & Biscuits)
The Safer Neighbourhood Team Police officers will attend to answer your questions on policing matters and give free advice on home security and personal safety.
Browse around the various stalls and stands of local groups, charities, clubs, associations & businesses. Everyone welcome
(Haven Hotel, 161 Banks Road, Poole BH13 7QL)

Watch Information Centre

Visit the Canford Cliffs Library on the first Friday of every month 10.30am–12noon.
Meet a member of Neighbourhood Watch and a local Police officer. Speak to them about any issues or concerns about local safety. Ask for advice on home security. Discuss problems informally. There is a small stock of safety & security items.

Small free short–term car park at the side of the library.

Please download the Newsletter here: Branksome-Park-Canford-Cliffs-Neighbourhood-Watch-Newsletter-2014-Summer

Canford Cliffs Conservation Area Change

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Poole Council are proposing to alter the conservation status of certain roads in the area. Their full report is available here:  http://www.boroughofpoole.com/planning-and-buildings/urban-design-and-conservation/heritage-conservation-areas-and-listed-buildings/

On 29th of July 2014 local residents held a meeting to discuss this proposal and the minutes of this meeting follow.

MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 29 JULY 2014 AT 6.00PM IN THE LOUNGE, BRANKSOME ST. ALDHELM’S PARISH CENTRE

PRESENT: Terry Stewart (TS) John Sprackling (JS)

President
Chairman Vice-Chairman Membership Secretary

Hon Secretary Magazine Editor

Canford Cliffs Ward Councillor

Senior Urban Design and Conservation Officer Planning Policy & Implementation Manager

Wayne Hancock (WH) Michael Parkin (MP) Carol Parkin (CP) John Gunton (JG)

Cllr Neil Sorton (NS)

Aliis Kodis (AK) Nigel Jacobs (NJ)

Approx 70 Members/residents

1, Introduction

JS began by thanking everyone for their attendance and introduced Aliis Kodis. Senior Urban Design and Conservation Officer and Nigel Jacobs, Senior Urban Design and Conservation Officer.

2. Presentations by Nigel Jacobs (NJ), Planning Policy & Implementation Manager & Aliis Kodis (AK) Senior Urban Design and Conservation Officer.

NJ began by thanking the Association for the invitation to give a presentation on the proposed changes to the Canford Cliffs Conservation Area and explained the general context as to why it was thought these were necessary.

AK then covered the following issues (A copy of AK’s presentation will be circulated with these Minutes)

1. What Conservation Area designation seeks to preserve and what constitutes ‘Special Interest’

2. The purpose of the Review

3. Current Policy relating to the existing conservation areas

4. The areas we surveyed

5. The two main issues to emerge from the consultation so far:

· the suggestion to de-designate the Beach Road conservation area, and

· the suggestion to remove Canford Cliffs Road from the Branksome Park conservation area

6. The suggested new approach to dealing with planning applications in Branksome Park

3. Question & Answer session

Q What are the intentions re Pinecliffe Road?

A Pinecliffe Road will stay in the Conservation Area.

Q If the speed limit in Canford Cliffs Road is 30mph how does it get to be designated as a ‘fast’ road?

A It is a wide road and people do speed down there.

A discussion followed about the fact that this road should be designated a ‘fast’ road, as the speed limit was definitely 30mph. Others referred to other roads within Branksome Park where the 30mph speed limit is not observed such as Western Ave and why Canford Cliffs Road, in particular, should be described a

a ‘fast’ road.

Q What exactly is being gained by removing Canford Cliffs Road from the Branksome Park Conservation Area (BPCA)?

A After surveying it, this particular road is not ‘characteristic’ to the rest of the BPCA.

NJ said that Planning Applications not approved by the Council are constantly being overturned by the Inspectorate on Appeal and the Council is aware that by not updating their outdated policy they are vulnerable to having costs awarded against them.

A resident asked for an example and AK cited an example of where the Council’s decision had been overturned because the Inspectorate didn’t agree with the reasons for refusal, but couldn’t remember which specific property this was.

Chairman’s note: This case may be the allowed appeal against 08/25076/009/F (Alterations to existing access and erection of entrance gates and piers) 79 Canford Cliffs Road. Both sides claimed costs, but none were awarded.

Harry Alexander raised the legal aspect and said that, if Poole Council followed the Conservation process in its due form i.e. not taking money for the application then the Planning Application could be decided by the Council without having to go forward to the Inspectorate.

NJ disagreed strongly. He said that the reasons for re-designating some of the Conservation Areas is so that the Council’s policy is ‘robust’.

Q How are the residents to know where the Branksome Park Conservation Area begins and ends, if the natural boundary of Canford Cliffs Road is not used.

A Any resident affected by any changes would be notified by the Council. Q What is simpler than having a long straight road as the boundary.
A A long straight line, though logical, only makes sense if it works.

Q What’s to stop flats being built towards Penn Hill end or further up Canford Cliffs Road as the Council has already allowed the building of flats on Canford Cliffs Road near Compton Acres on both sides of the road.

A Council policy is not to allow flats to be built in a road consisting predominantly of houses.

A resident stated that blocks of flats are creeping along Canford Cliffs Road and this is being driven by developers. It seems to him that, when the Conservation. Area status is removed the Eastern side of Canford Cliffs Road, this will lead inexorably to more flats and that the Council’s proposed changes are being driven by the fear of litigation and costs. None of the proposed changes are going to be of benefit to the residents

This statement was greeted with a large round of applause.

In response, NJ replied ‘I’ll take this as a statement’ – the resident then asked ‘who is going to benefit from this change?’

A Repeated that the Council has to have justification for keeping things as they are.

Q Once again, what is driving this change?

NJ said that, at this stage, the changes are only a proposal. The boundary review proposal is a consequence of an assessment of the conservation area against the criteria for designating such areas.

Another resident said that, in 21 years, there has been no change to the Eastern side of Canford Cliffs Road, except to No.1, and once again, what is driving this decision as it is of no benefit whatsoever to the residents

One member couldn’t see why the Northern side of Lindsay Road, which had a higher density of traffic than Canford Cliffs Road should remain in the Conservation Area, whilst Canford Cliffs Road should be taken out.

A It is felt that the general character of Lindsay Road made it worth maintaining in the Conservation Area, despite the traffic.

Q As there are only six properties in Western Avenue which are classified in the Survey report that are deemed to be ‘positive’ and everything else is deemed ‘negative’ and, as there is also a fair amount of ‘fast’ traffic, when does this road lose its Conservation Area status?

A It is not necessarily the buildings alone in Branksome Park that are important, but the general character. You will find that there is a lot of green in Western Avenue.

A resident retorted that “There is also a lot of green on Canford Cliffs Road”.

Q What are we trying to preserve if an Inspector cannot see it from the road, and is therefore not interested. There are several houses on Canford Cliffs Road that are worthy of preserving, despite what the Council’s Survey report says. “I don’t agree with your survey at all.”

It was pointed out that the findings in the Council’s Survey report were not consistent with what is physically there and some worthy buildings had been scored negatively.

Once again – what are they trying to conserve.

A In terms of Conservation Area status, one has to be able to see the buildings from the public highway. If they are not seen they are not adding to the public amenities of the area, therefore they do not score and thus appear negatively.

A resident pointed out that, if the Council remove the Eastern side of Canford Cliffs Road from the Conservation Area, it is ‘leaving the door wide open’ for another Planning decision to be appealed against and then there will be another block of flats on Canford Cliffs Road and that will erode the character of the area. So far, the character of the road has NOT been eroded. Since 1981, when the Conservation Area was first introduced, there has been very little change to the Eastern side.

The Beach Road Conservation Area (BRCA) was then raised and a resident said that the BRCA was a woodland so why must that be taken out of the Cons. Area.

A Landscape alone is not a reason for designating a Conservation Area.

A member pointed out that Beach Road Car Park is unpopular because the road has to be crossed to access the beach, and there have been several accidents on this road.

Q Are trees on Council-owned land subject to TPOs. A No. not normally.

A resident stated that the only thing wrong with Beach Road Car Park is the lack of proper signage.

NJ agreed and said that he would be taking that up with Transportation Services again.

Aimee Alexander stated that, by sacrificing these Conservation Areas, the whole vista as seen from the Harbour will be changed, and all the years of hard work to put these Conservation Areas in place will be sacrificed at one stroke.

Q Why was Beach Road designated as a Conservation Area in 1990 and now it is proposed to be de-designated.

A The Council view is that it appears to have been designated purely for landscape reasons, and the view now is that it doesn’t justify Conservation Area status.

NJ said that he was not saying that the Council does not value the area as a verdant pleasant area, but that it just does not meet the criteria as a Conservation Area.

A resident stated that, because of the difficulty actually finding Beach Road Car Park, tourists are put off visiting the area and move on.

Bertie Bowman asks if he may call on the Council to arrange a similar meeting for the Lilliput and Neighbourhood Association.

Q If Compton Acres is removed from the Conservation Area doesn’t this leave it open for this to be the next housing development.

A The reason it is proposed that this area be removed from Conservation Area status is that it is already a Grade ii Park and Garden, which actually provides it with more protection than Conservation Area status. The Council feel there is no need for this duplication.

Q So are you saying that the protection status will be no worse than presently.

A Correct

Q If you ignore the residents’ opinions on these issues is there any comfort you can give us that the three-quarter acre rule of the Covenants in Branksome Park will afford us some protection.

A Planning consent may be gained, but it may not be able to be implemented, as release from the Covenant will be required.

Q Will those of us who have a three-quarter acre plot on the Eastern side of Canford Cliffs Road still be protected from a neighbour wishing to split his plot because of the Covenant, should the Conservation Area status be taken away.

A Yes.

JS intervened at this point and said that, as many of the Covenants had been varied & waived over the years, he thought not and made reference to the Lands Tribunal case involving McCarthy & Stone, 14/14A The Avenue and (The) Branksome Park Association Ltd. As he understood it, the case was dismissed as (The) Branksome Park Association Ltd did not contest this. NJ thanked JS for his clarification on this matter.

Chairman’s note: I’ve always understood it to be the case that, if the Local Planning Authority give consent to a Planning Application, the Lands Tribunal will not over-rule this unless there is an overwhelming reason for doing so.

Q What is the reason for taking Beach Road out of the Conservation Area

A The flats do not meet the criteria for designating this a conservation area.

Q Is Luscombe Valley in the Conservation area. A No

Q It is obvious from the tone of the meeting that residents are far from happy with the proposed plans. What action can be taken by the residents to re-address the balance should the Council decide to go ahead with this plan.

A As we are still within the consultation period, so residents can send their views to the Council.

You can also lobby your Ward Councillors. There is no right of appeal once this has been decided by the Council.

Q Is there an option to make representations through the Residents Association.

A That would be at the discretion of the Chairman.
Chris Stacey stated that, after speaking to people in another part of the country

they felt that there was no point in having Conservation Areas, as the Council allows any sort of building anywhere. CS thought that the meeting was a waste of time as no one will take any notice of what is being said here and things will just carry on as normal.

JS said if residents were unhappy, they should lobby their Ward Councillors and when the changes and results of Public Consultation are reported to the Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee, attend this meeting in force, to show the strength of public feeling.

Cllr NS said, in so many words, that he was ‘gearing himself up’ to receive a large number of e-mails on this subject

JS thanked Nigel Jacobs & Aliis Kodis for attending the meeting and answering residents’ questions and concluded the meeting at 07.30pm.

4. Next Steps

  •   The ten week Public Consultation ends on 3 September
  •   The Council will take account of public comments
  •   Changes and results of Public Consultation will be reported to the Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be held later in the year. Chairman’s Note Meetings are fixed for 6 November 2014 and 22 January 2015

Agenda Branksome Park Canford Cliffs Residents Association Meeting August 2014

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BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (Founded 1958)

@ THE COMMITTEE ROOM (formerly known as THE LOUNGE), REAR OF BRANKSOME ST ALDHELMS PARISH CENTRE

7.30 pm.

(ACCESS VIA LINDSAY ROAD) WEDNESDAY 13th August 2014 @ 7.30 pm AGENDA

  1. Apologies/Accuracy of Minutes (09th June 2014)
  2. Matters arising (Not covered under “Review”)

    Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel etc sites – update Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update Community Working Group
    Council Budget Monitoring report (2014/15)

John Sprackling ditto

Public Rights of Way
Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden)
Localism Act/Community Engagement
Navitas Bay Offshore Wind Farm
Road safety concerns Burton Road
Sustaining Poole’s Seafront (Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan DPD) John Sprackling & Proposal for On-Street Pay & Display on selected roads adjacent to beach
areas
Gypsy and Travellers Sites
Party houses
Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Conservation Areas Boundary Review
Uniting the Conurbation
Succession planning

8.00 pm.

  1. New Housing Development
  2. Accounts to date
  3. Date of next meeting

8.30 pm.

6. Any other business

ditto

Keith Alcroft John Sprackling John Sprackling

Any other business should be advised to the Chairman at the meeting. Items raised during the evening may be put on the Agenda for the following month.

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 10th September 2014 at 7.30pm – The Committee Room, Rear of Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre (Access via Lindsay Road)

Meeting re Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Conservation Areas Boundary Review on 29 July

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Meeting re Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Conservation Areas Boundary Review on 29 July at 6.00pm at Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre, 401 Poole Road (Access via Lindsay Road)

Notwithstanding the Drop-in event at All Saints Church Hall, Western Road on Thursday 24 July from 3.00 to 7.00pm, the association share your concerns and have arranged a Public meeting devoted, solely, to the above subject – see above. As you might expect, the proposed changes to the following Conservation Areas are generating a lot of interest in the area covered by our Association.

Beach Road – It is proposed that the Beach Road Conservation Area be removed. It is not considered that Conservation Area status is the right tool to protect landscape for landscape sake. However, should it be decided that the designation remain then it is considered that the flats and car park should be removed from the Conservation Area as these are not positive features. It is also considered that should it be deemed to retain the status then it would be logical to consult on the creation of a new Conservation Area at Branksome Dene Chine which displays the same characteristics as the other two chines at Beach Road and Canford Cliffs.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Beach Road Conservation Area.

Branksome Park – The character of Canford Cliffs Road has been significantly eroded and its removal from the conservation area is recommended. The other boundaries were also re-assessed to ensure they reflect the landscape character of the area. It is the trees and soft landscape i.e. the setting that give the area significance rather than the properties themselves.

Recommendation: to consult on proposed changes to the boundary of the Branksome Park Conservation Area.

Canford Cliffs – As with Beach Road it is proposed to remove the designation for the same reason, that Conservation Area status is not the appropriate tool to protect landscape. However, should it be decided that the designation remain then consideration should be given to including those positive buildings within Flaghead Road, St. Clair Road and Cliff Drive.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Canford Cliffs Conservation Area.

Canford Cliffs North – The Borough of Poole Characterisation Study 2010 concluded that the current boundaries are ‘irregular and rather arbitrary’, and it recommended that the boundaries are amended to create a more cohesive area. The conservation area appraisal survey highlighted there was little to distinguish the conservation area from the surrounding streets and it is recommended to

rationalise the boundary and include additional positive buildings to give more cohesion to the area.

Recommendation: to consult on the inclusion of additional positive buildings within the Canford Cliffs North Conservation Area and consequent changes to its boundary.

Chester Road – No change.

Compton Acres – As a Grade II* Registered Park and Garden, the landscape and its setting already have more protection than conservation area status provides, so its validity as a conservation area is questionable.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Compton Acres Conservation Area.

Evening Hill – The character of this conservation area has been significantly eroded through plot subdivision and the rationale behind its designation has been lost.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Evening Hill Conservation Area.

Harbour Heights – It is questionable whether the character of this small group of buildings is of sufficient special character to be a conservation area. However, if it is decided that the conservation area should be retained, the Church of the Transfiguration should be considered for removal from the conservation area as it is of a different architectural style and age than the other buildings.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Harbour Heights Conservation Area.

Haven Road – No Change.

The Avenue – Properties to the east of the existing conservation area between Cassel Avenue and the boundary of Bournemouth Borough Council were appraised together with those along the north side of Mountbatten Road, and considered to be of sufficient quality to be included in the conservation area.

It is therefore proposed to treat those remaining conservation areas in Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill as one. In addition, other than for Haven Road, it is proposed that an article 4 Direction be considered to manage gates, fences, driveways and boundary treatment.

Recommendation: to consult on changes to the boundary of the conservation areas and to introduce an Article 4 Direction to manage gates, fences, driveways and boundary treatment.

CRIME REDUCTION ROADSHOW

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Poole West Safer Neighbourhood Team will be touring their patch, with the Dorset Police Sheducation trailer in tow, from
Tuesday 15 July 2014 – Saturday 19 July 2014.
They will be offering crime prevention advice and items (bike locks, alarms etc)
The Force tractor will be in attendance at the final event on 19 July as well as a Dorset Fire and Rescue Service fire engine for people to have a look around.
Neighbourhood Watches/Horse Watch/Urban Heaths will also have stands to promote the good work that they do.

Poole West Roadshow – Upton

Poole West Roadshow

Branksome Park Canford Cliffs Residents Association Meeting July 2014

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MINUTES OF BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 09 JULY 2014 AT 7.30PM IN ST. ALDHELM’S CHURCH

PRESENT: Terry Stewart (TS) President

John Sprackling (JS) Chairman

Wayne Hancock (WH) Vice-Chairman

Michael Parkin (MP) Membership Secretary

Keith Alcroft (KA) Planning Officer

Carol Parkin (CP) Hon Secretary

John Gunton (JG)  Magazine Editor

Cllr Mrs May Haines (MH) Ward Councillor

Cllr Peter Pawlowski (PP) Ward Councillor

Approx. 30 Members/Wardens

1. APOLOGIES AND ACCURACY OF MINUTES

JS welcomed those present, particularly, our two Ward Councillors and Mohan Iyengar, who is standing as prospective Conservative Councillor for Canford Cliffs Ward to replace Cllr Neil Sorton.

 

Apologies: Apologies received from Cllr Neil Sorton, Steve & Jen Cameron
(Party House Action Group), Martin Heath & William Mutlow JS

 

Accuracy: JS said would sign the Minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting held on 11 JUNE 2014.

2. MATTERSARISING
Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel sites update: JS reported..

JS

Victoria Education Centre (Landscaping to the new entrance) – No new JS developments

(Overhanging vegetation) – The overhanging hedging has

about allegedly excessive charges imposed by Continental Landscapes for removing branches blocking roads, following storm damage. The resident had been informed that this would be ‘at cost’ but had subsequently received a bill for £2,500. Residents would be best advised to ask for an estimate before agreeing for work to be carried out,

Community Working Group (CWG): Next CWG meeting to be held on 3
September 2014. JS said he would distribute the Minutes of last month’s All meeting with the Minutes of this meeting.

TS reported that he had taken Steve Cameron (Party House Action Group) to this meeting. Steven Thorne was asked by TS to give the Council’s position on the matter of Party Houses. However, even though requested by TS, Stephen Thorne’s statement of the Council’s planning policy re Party Houses was not included in the minutes of this meeting.

  1. Quayside (former Dolphin Quays) development – No new developments
  2. Former Poole Pottery & Swan Inn site – ditto
  3. Quay Thistle Hotel site – ditto
  4. Old Orchard House – ditto
  5. Land at West Quay Road – ditto

Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update:

31 Western Avenue

been cut back.

JS said that, although unrelated to this topic, he had been contacted by a

resident

Wednesday, 09 July 2014

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Council Budget Monitoring report: (2013/14): JS said that a 17 page update report on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2014 to 2018 is being presented to the Cabinet at next week’s meeting with no Executive Summary. The current estimated Cumulative MTFP – Net Funding Gap is 2015/16 £5.0m 2016/17 £10.8m 2017/18 £13.5m

Public Rights of Way

Westminster Road end of Dalkeith Road – No new developments.
Buccleuch Road to Lakeside Road – ditto
Bessborough Road – ditto
Footpaths 82/128 (at the rear of 48 Panorama Road to the small beach) – No new developments.

Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden): JS reminded those present that the Royal Horticultural Society’s visit to the garden is to take place on 14 July at 11.30am.

Localism Act/Community Engagement: TS reported that two years ago the Government passed the Localism Act which encourages Councils to devolve power down to the residents of the electorate. Unfortunately nothing much has happened recently.

There has been a lack of communication from Poole Council down to the residents on a number of issues. For example, even though there have been four Council meetings on the subject of ‘travellers’, there has not been a single communication to the resident leaders who have been leading the campaign against the ‘travellers’. TS feels that there should be an onus on the Council that, where there is a major concern/ the results of Council decisions should be communicated to the residents.

There was a meeting with the Council Leader some five months ago, when she promised to have a meeting with residents to improve communication, but this has still not taken place.

Navitus Bay Offshore Wind Farm: Roy Pointer began by thanking all those who had taken the trouble to register with the Planning Inspectorate’s (PINS) website.

There have been 2,728 people who registered.

This is a record of the number of people who have registered against any windfarm. RP will keep residents apprised of the next steps. There was an article in the Bournemouth Echo when this was announced. Local Authorities now have to produce ‘Local Impact’ reports; PCBA is feeding in information to these. LIRs have to include all impacts that the wind farm would have on the locality; not just planning issues.

The next event will be a preliminary meeting called by PINS when the Examining Panel is appointed. They will be appointed by PINS and their job will be to examine the application by Navitus. The earliest date for the Prelim. meeing will be some time in August and all IPs will be able to attend.

As the Government have received a very strong message from UNESCO prior to the determination of the application, RP felt in no doubt that the status of the Jurassic Coast as a World Heritage Site would be lost should the project go ahead.

Road Safety concerns – Burton Road: No objections were received to the advertisement of the proposal to extend the yellow lines at the junctions of Balcombe Road with Burton Road. The yellow lines will be extended very shortly, and drivers should find it much easier to use the junctions once this has been done.

WM

RD

MH/WH JS/TS

IC/PT

Wednesday, 09 July 2014

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Sustaining Poole’s Seafront (Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan DPD)
& Proposal for On-Street Pay & Display on selected roads adjacent to TS beach areas:

A report from the Sustaining Poole’s Seafront Working Party is being presented at Monday’s Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee and some of the key points to have emerged from the recommendations of the working party are:

  •   The purpose of the document should change from that of a financially driven response to the need to invest in the seafront to a strategy for the enhancement of the seafront based on the type of place that it should aspire to be.
  •   Caution has been expressed about adhering to the original ideas where they may actually compromise a more wholesale approach to redevelopment, for instance at Sandbanks.
  •   The provision of additional beach huts is accepted and would help to satisfy demand.
  •   Hotels are considered a more risky and volatile proposal and are not considered the most suitable option.
  •   The provision of a boardwalk between Shore Road and Sandbanks is favoured and it is considered that this should be provided in the short term.
  •   The watersports hub originally proposed to centre on Branksome Chine was considered more appropriate at Branksome Dene Chine
  •   Additionally off street car parking should be considered with the potential for a single deck multi storey car park at Sandbanks to be investigated.
  •   The Working Party is very much against the proposal to reduce the parking in Sandbanks car park, and they have recommended that additional car parking be provided at Sandbanks.
  •   The main ethos is that we move away from this ‘how we make money’ approach that the original plan had, and we need to protect our family oriented venue.
  •   The infrastructure needs to be improved or replaced as it is failing after so many years of use. Cllr. PP hopes that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then the Cabinet will back the working party. CP pointed out that the Council had paid an awful lot of money for a report by consultants who had little idea of the local needs and pointed out that surely the Council themselves had enough local knowledge of what is needed. Cllr PP agreed with this in principle and said that it is a lesson to be learnt for the future. JG asked if it is true that there is a proposal to sell the Beach Road car park. Cllr PP said that there was indeed such a proposal by the Strategic Car Parking Review, but this had been abandoned. There is, however, a proposal for better use to be made of this Car Park.

    Chairman’s note: Mohan Iyengar advises me that he attended the Economy Overview & Scrutiny meeting on 14 July and writes “During one of the latter items on ‘Safeguarding Poole’s Seafront’, officer, Nigel Jacobs, reported that the council was no longer making any recommendation to introduce parking charges into residential streets near to beaches. Provisionally, good news. But once the minutes emerge, let’s scrutinise that commitment.”

    Gypsy and Travellers’ Sites – TS reported that there were several invasions TS last year and so far there have been three this summer. He pointed out that Bournemouth Council take a much firmer line in dealing with this and they ‘lock
    down’ their parks with guards to stop travelers getting into them. He feels that

    Poole Council should be a little more proactive in dealing with this problem.

Wednesday, 09 July 2014

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

‘Party houses’: In the absence of Steve Cameron, JS reported that the week before last, representatives of the Group met with Zeitgeist Television regarding a potential programme on Channel 4 television. It has now been confirmed that, following its presentation to Channel 4, they have confirmed that they intend to go ahead with the programme.

Cllr Peter Pawlowski said that he had had a meeting with the Head of Legal Services and is trying to push for the use of Planning Contravention Notices to deal with this problem. The Council is still seeking Counsel opinion but this is not likely to be available for at least another month.

Cllr MH reported that Planning Enforcement has now received 40% response to their street survey, which will be used to present to Counsel.

21 Canford Cliffs Avenue, which has been used as a party house. has now been sold and will become a family home.

Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Conservation Areas Boundary Review – JS said this seems to be generating a lot of interest and invited Cllr PP to say a few words about this.

Cllr PP reported that the Planning Officers had decided to review all the Conservation Areas. The Planning Inspectorate are obviously not putting the same weight on preserving these areas as the Council, as many planning decisions have been overturned, and the Planning Officers want to get to a state where whatever is published is more defendable.

JS asked if the Association should hold a separate meeting devoted, solely, to this subject – this was agreed;

The Council is organising a A Drop-in event at All Saints Church Hall, Western Road on Thursday 24 July from 3.00 to 7.00pm

The webpage on the the BoP website can be found via

http://www.boroughofpoole.com/planning-and-buildings/urban-design-and- conservation/heritage-conservation-areas-and-listed-buildings/.

An extract from the report presented to the Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 5 June 2014 will be included in the Minutes – see below.

Chairman’s note: A Public meeting has been arranged to discuss the Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Conservation Areas Boundary Review on 29 July 2014 at 6.00pm at Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre, 401 Poole Road (Access via Lindsay Road). Aliis Kodis, Senior Urban Design & Conservation Officer, Planning Policy & Implementation Team, Planning & Regeneration Services will attend the meeting to make a short presentation and answer questions

Canford Cliffs/Penn Hill Conservation Areas

Beach Road – It is proposed that the Beach Road Conservation Area be removed. It is not considered that Conservation Area status is the right tool to protect landscape for landscape sake. However, should it be decided that the designation remain then it is considered that the flats and car park should be removed from the Conservation Area as these are not positive features. It is also considered that should it be deemed to retain the status then it would be logical to consult on the creation of a new Conservation Area at Branksome Dene Chine which displays the same characteristics as the other two chines at Beach Road and Canford Cliffs.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Beach Road Conservation Area.

Branksome Park – The character of Canford Cliffs Road has been significantly Wednesday, 09 July 2014

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

eroded and its removal from the conservation area is recommended. The other boundaries were also re-assessed to ensure they reflect the landscape character of the area. It is the trees and soft landscape i.e. the setting that give the area significance rather than the properties themselves.

Recommendation: to consult on proposed changes to the boundary of the Branksome Park Conservation Area.

Canford Cliffs – As with Beach Road it is proposed to remove the designation for the same reason, that Conservation Area status is not the appropriate tool to protect landscape. However, should it be decided that the designation remain then consideration should be given to including those positive buildings within Flaghead Road, St. Clair Road and Cliff Drive.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Canford Cliffs Conservation Area.

Canford Cliffs North – The Borough of Poole Characterisation Study 2010 concluded that the current boundaries are ‘irregular and rather arbitrary’, and it recommended that the boundaries are amended to create a more cohesive area.

The conservation area appraisal survey highlighted there was little to distinguish the conservation area from the surrounding streets and it is recommended to rationalise the boundary and include additional positive buildings to give more cohesion to the area.

Recommendation: to consult on the inclusion of additional positive buildings within the Canford Cliffs North Conservation Area and consequent changes to its boundary.

Chester Road – No change.

Compton Acres – As a Grade II* Registered Park and Garden, the landscape and its setting already have more protection than conservation area status provides, so its validity as a conservation area is questionable.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Compton Acres Conservation Area.

Evening Hill – The character of this conservation area has been significantly eroded through plot subdivision and the rationale behind its designation has been lost.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Evening Hill Conservation Area.

Harbour Heights – It is questionable whether the character of this small group of buildings is of sufficient special character to be a conservation area. However, if it is decided that the conservation area should be retained, the Church of the Transfiguration should be considered for removal from the conservation area as it is of a different architectural style and age than the other buildings.

Recommendation: to consult on the de-designation of the Harbour Heights Conservation Area.

Haven Road – No Change.

The Avenue – Properties to the east of the existing conservation area between Cassel Avenue and the boundary of Bournemouth Borough Council were appraised together with those along the north side of Mountbatten Road, and considered to be of sufficient quality to be included in the conservation area.

Wednesday, 09 July 2014

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

It is therefore proposed to treat those remaining conservation areas in Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill as one. In addition, other than for Haven Road, it is proposed that an article 4 Direction be considered to manage gates, fences, driveways and boundary treatment.

Recommendation: to consult on changes to the boundary of the conservation areas and to introduce an Article 4 Direction to manage gates, fences, driveways and boundary treatment.

Succession planning: No new developments 3 NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT –

JS said that the Association had not made any representations on any Planning KA Applications since its last meeting.

Other current planning issues

146 Canford Cliffs Road (Demolish existing and erect 3 – 5 storey building with rooftop garden; and surface level and basement parking to form 10 self contained flats) – Letter of objection lodged on behalf of Association on 20/05/14.

Compton Acres, Canford Cliffs Road (Erection of building comprising 20 Apartments with basement parking; re-arrangement for the existing Compton Acres parking area, and demolition of the existing office building set within the current car park) – This site has been acquired by McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyle Ltd. Despite the demolition of the former office at Compton Acres, “there are several other ‘prior to commencement conditions that have not been discharged at this time“.

Norfolk Lodge Hotel, 1 Flaghead Road – There is to be a Public Consultation All about the proposal to redevelop this site to provide 20 later living apartments at Harbour Heights Hotel on 23 July 2014 2.00pm to 7.00pm

4. ACCOUNTS TO DATE – JS was unable to report the total Association
funds as at 30th June 2014 as Paul Fearnley is currently away. JS

5 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Pine Drive – JS said that a resident has raised the issue of the double-yellow
lines at the Western Road junction of Pine Drive. He is informed by MH Transportation Services that Pine Drive is not Public Highway (Council records
show this as a private road). Cllr MH to investigate.

Itinerant in Chaddesley Glen – JS is in contact with Poole’s Housing and Community Services who are the lead service for this situation. The relevant officers are looking into the issues JS has raised and will consider the best way forward including JS proposal of a meeting.

Uniting the Conurbation (UTC) – JS reported that he had attended a UTC Steering Group meeting on 30 June. He said that he would include the Chairman’s Press Release in the Minutes.

Uniting the Conurbation welcomes the government’s recently announced a £66.3m investment in our local economy which Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) says could result in the creation of 25,000 jobs, the building of more than 3,000 homes and the generation of up to £500m in public and private investment.

It is nevertheless odd to see that such a large injection of public funding was not secured directly by our elected local government authorities but by a

Wednesday, 09 July 2014

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

“partnership” which is dominated by a small group of unelected business people.. It is also very strange that, although the original invitation to our conurbation to bid for a City Deal stipulated that it must “contain proposals for stronger governance” across our “economic area,” the DLEP Strategic Economic Plan (the basis of the bid) says nothing of substance about this.

We must have on-going and meaningful dialogue between our representatives in local government and the businesses community which drives economic growth. Queen Victoria’s day was the heyday of municipal enterprise, whose initiative and breadth of vision created an infrastructure which allowed industry to prosper. Unfortunately the view from Whitehall seems to be that such dialogue was not taking place and Indeed, today’s fractured structure of local government in the South-east Dorset Conurbation is clearly not up to such a mighty task. Does that make it right to hand the purse-strings of public funding to an unelected body such as DLEP?

This is a time of very expensive and disjointed local government. The challenge for Whitehall is to grasp the nettle and give our conurbation a single unitary authority which will provide stronger governance for our economic area and meaningful dialogue with the business community. That is the democratic way forward and the need is truly urgent.

There was no other AOB – The meeting closed at 8.00pm and adjourned to the Parish Centre garden for Wine & ‘nibbles’.

Date of next Meeting: The next meeting will be on Wednesday 13th August All 2014 at Committee Room (formerly Lounge), Rear of Branksome St Aldhelms
Parish Centre (Access via Lindsay Road)

Wednesday, 09 July 2014

Association of Dorset Watches

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You are invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday 2nd July, 2014 at the Sandbanks Hotel when Martyn Underhill, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset will speak at a public meeting arranged by the Association of Dorset Watches (ADW).

Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm

Venue: Sandbanks Hotel, 15 Banks Rd, Poole. BH13 7PS

Free Tea & Coffee will be served 3.30pm – 3.45pm

This is a free event. There is no charge.

R.S.V.P.

Limited places are available.

To reserve your place :

EMAIL – send your name & phone nr to pathalliday@talktalk.net or

TEXT – text your name to mobile phone nr. 07749 386 006 or

TELEPHONE – 01202 700 911 and leave a voicemail message

Car Parking

There is a large free car park at the hotel. As a visitor to the hotel, it is important to register your vehicle details on arrival at reception.

If the hotel car park is full there is ‘Pay & Display’ on-street parking which costs about £1.20 an hour. There is also a small ‘Pay & Display’ public car park on Shore Road very close by.

If you would like to know more about the role of the PCC and his work, please visit his website:

http://www.dorset.pcc.police.uk

If you would like to know more about the Association of Dorset Watches, please see the ADW website:

http://www.nhwdorset.org.uk

Community Working Group Meeting Minutes 28th May 2014

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COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP MEETING MINUTES Planning & Regeneration Services including Building Consultancy Wed 28th May 2014 2.00pm – 5.00 p.m. – Cattistock Room

ATTENDEES:

Borough of Poole Attendees:
Stephen Thorne (ST) – Head of Planning & Regeneration inc Building Consultancy (chair) Richard Genge (RTG) – Planning and Regeneration Manager
Sue Ludwig (SPL) – Business Manager
Gwendoline Brennan-Barrass – (GBB) – Economic Development Officer
Gillian Cathcart (GMC) – Business Support Officer – minutes

Community Working Group Members / Resident Associations Attendees:

Terry Stewart (TS) – Mary Parsons (MP)

Graham Whitehall (GW) – Chris Mills (CM) –
Chris Allenby (CA) –
Ann Wood (AW) – Brian Finch (BF) – Gerald Rigler (GR) –

Sue Chapman (SC) – Ken Bearcroft (KB) –

Guest
Steve Cameron (SC) –

CPRE
Lake Res Assoc Hamworthy / Friends of Hamworthy Park Lilliput and Neighbourhood Assoc
Bridging Communities
Poole Old Town Conservation Group
Hamside Residents Assoc
Friends of Harbour Reach

Society of Poole Men Poole Agenda 21 Parkstone Bay Assoc

Canford Cliffs & Branksome Park Residents Assoc

Apologies:-
Julie Bagwell (JB) – Watch this Space Tony Hamilton (TH) – Poole Agenda 21

Gabriella Cobelli (GC) – PA to Stephen Thorne (minutes)

1. 1.1

1.2

Minutes & Matters Arising: Last Regular CWG meeting (20.11.13) & CWG AGM (01.04.2014)

Minutes of previous CWG meeting held on 20.11.2013
Item 10.3, re: Repair of Hoarding – GR wishes to express his thanks that these repairs had been carried out. All items agreed as an accurate account of the meeting and therefore ratified.

Minutes of previous CWG meeting held on 01.04.2014
Question 4 from Q&A sheet (Item 6): Link Road on Gallagher site: This was raised by TS who requested confirmation that this item was accurate, GR also contributed to the discussion.
Action: It was agreed that ST will discuss the issue with his Portfolio holder to seek clarification/confirmation. (Post meeting note: GC spoke to ST – the minute is accurate).
Item 6.2: Interim Chief Exec arrangements: MP asked on what grounds there was a non-appointment of Chief Exec post. ST gave overview of current situation. Vote of confidence in existing team.

complete

Item 25: Planning creep via non-material changes: GR registered his disappointment with this item and expressed his views accordingly. RTG reassured that there were no difficulties within the Borough on this issue. ST gave overview of the process and Enforcement action issues. GR thanked the Chair and RTG for explanation.

BF raised issues surrounding “The Boat Shed” development: RTG assured and explained how/why decision made relating to this site. ST explained Permitted Development rights and why enforcement action could not be taken on this issue. BF was satisfied with information imparted by ST & RTG.

2.

Community Working Group – Communication & Consultation

SPL explained Data Protection implications on email address sharing. Consensus was everybody happy to share their email address with Members of the Group. Action: GC to contact those not present at this meeting to see if they are also happy with this arrangement.

Complete

3.

CWG – Communication & Consultation

In response to question from TS re: email listing, SPL responded by explaining the limitations due to Data Protection Act for email addresses and that Data Protection is an obstacle in realising an email list Action: SPL will contact Emma Leatherbarrow (Corporate Strategy Team Manager) and ask her to give us an update on where she is with this issue.

SPL

4.

Member Tour of Inspection – Wednesday 2 July 2014

ST explained the ethos behind this Tour. Completed forms to be given to GMC/SPL at end of meeting. SPL said that as the Tour will be returning to Civic Centre (and NOT Upton House), members have option to attend either a.m OR p.m. RTG assured Members that there would not be much walking involved!

5.

Access & Movement Workshop 9.04.2014

Chris Allenby raised question (by email to ST) i.e.: “The Access and Movement seminar took place on the 9th April, can we have an update regarding the process and at what stage we are? What was the detailed outcome after the seminar? (We have probably all read the workshop Notes).”

Various workshops have taken place. ST explained money had been found to carry out the modelling work (£250K). Various options are involved. RTG also contributed to the discussion. It was hoped that full Approval for an SPD should be obtained by Xmas 2014 after another consultation phase on the whole document during the Autumn.

In relation to the Port Link Road two-thirds are committed to be built by May 2017 (but the Port Link Road is a very important/significant issue). The remainder is dependant upon Gallaghers, and under the dedication agreement for Rigler Rd, will be completed within 12 months of commencement of development on the Power Station site.

MP expressed concern relating to vehicles coming off the Bridge and turning left to the Port, felt it was “an accident waiting to happen” and she wished to register her concern on this issue. ST replied that he was aware and that was why the

Port Link Road was a priority. ST gave update on costing for Twin Sales Bridge and where funding had come from and confirmed that it was a £40 million project.

6.

Protection of the High Street

ST introduced Gwen Brennan-Barrass (GBB) who gave a brief introduction explaining that the complexion of retail had changed over the years and policy must reflect this and change accordingly. De-Regularisation has simplified the “Change of Use” process (explained by ST & RTG) through the adoption of a Local Development Order.

Trams definitely regenerate and rejuvenate any High Street but it was agreed that this was not an option for Poole due to obvious constraints. GBB shared with

members the “Vacancy Rate Survey” for Poole which indicated that at present the vacancy rate was at 8% compared with the national average of 14%.

GBB set the scene, introducing the role of the Town Centre Management Board to increase the vitality on the High Street and circulated copies of their 5 year strategic plan and highlighted the projects that they are involved with Markets, Street Entertainers, Christmas Parade, Film Day in Falkland Square and Xmas Lights.

GBB referred to the £50,000 from reserves which had been allocated for projects on the High Street – supporting business start-ups to test new ideas, introduction of 3-D virals to give a look of vitality to vacant units and improve the internal and external look of these units.

GBB spoke about working with Town Centre Management Board and consultants to evaluate the interest of businesses to apply for a Business Improvement District in the town centre and if so to help access a loan grant to process the scheme.

GBB referred to the Commercial Property Database and how our units/land are marketed to interested businesses Property Pilot. GBB spoke about the Top of the Shops Event which is in its 9th Year involving a Mystery Shop exercise across, Poole Town Centre, Ashley Cross, Ashley Road, Canford Cliffs, Penn Hill and Broadstone and culminating in an awards evening sponsored by Breeze Volkswagen and Sibbett Gregory.

GBB updated the meeting about the sponsorship by Economic Development at the Borough of Poole, Poole Tourism and the Dolphin Centre Management team to assist BU students on the Retail Course in researching opportunities for the town and producing their joint dissertation/report on developing Poole into a 21st Century town. A copy of the report was circulated. This is the third report which has been produced by the students from this course, brilliant, innovative ideas but unfortunately the funding is not available to implement them.

GBB mentioned the development of a Night Time Economy Strategy and various members of the Community Working Group confirmed that they were aware of the strategy and were involved in the research.

GBB fielded questions from MP re: Growth Hub etc. and explained some of the support that Economic Development gives to new/businesses. Please see the following web site addresses:-

  •   Growth Hub – http://www.dorsetgrowthhub.co.uk
  •   Dormen – http://www.dormen.org.uk
  •   WSX Enterprise – http://www.wsxenterprise.co.uk/our-services
  •   Borough of Poole Web Business Pages – http://www.boroughofpoole.com/business-support-andadvice

7.

Planning Applications & Communication

TS expressed concern with regard to the Magna Road application. RTG explained a weekly list is published and details can be found on the web site. BF felt it should be better identifiable and that often different descriptions of addresses picked up different results. Action: ST agreed to speak with Keith Pegram (Projects & Performance Manager) to try and find ways the system can be made more user-friendly and addresses consistently used.

ST/ KDP

8.

Hamworthy Park

BF felt that an official Enquiry should be held regarding this matter. RTG clarified some of the issues re: Fields In Trust. BF introduced documents/pack of information, the contents of which were noted. RTG & ST of the opinion that the myriad of issues raised by BF would be better addressed outside of this meeting and advised BF to arrange a meeting with RTG to discuss and hopefully resolve. MP expressed concerns surrounding Hamworthy Park and whether this should be the subject of a Planning application, felt that public open spaces being taken over by developers. ST explained this was more of a matter for Sarah Varley (Asset, Estate & Data Management Senior Manager) to address as outside the remit of the Planning Service. (Post meeting note: This matter has been passed to Kevin McErlane (Interim Strategic Director).

9.

AOB
Review of Planning Practice Guidance – RTG rebutted comments made

by TS and clarified policies all of which was supported by ST.
Campaign for Sensible Tree Management Update – GW RTG clarified/informed members on this issue. The Green Infrastructure Strategy

was discussed and explained to the Group by RTG.

  •   Viewpoint at Harbourside Park – GW The application for the removal of 5 Oak Trees at the “viewpoint” was withdrawn because of the number of objections. Do Planning consider this a viewpoint? General no-specific discussion about engagement with residents by the Council.
  •   Target for Employment – TS raised the issue of Employment Sites being given permission for residential use. There was concern that we won’t have enough land left to deliver the requirements of the Core Strategy. RTG referred to the evidence given at the Magna Road Planning Inquiry that there is plenty of Employment space in Poole at this time.
  •   Section 106 as opposed to CIL – TS Terry asked whether Gallaghers are entering into a Section 106 Agreement or CIL? RTG advised that developer’s legislation allows developers to decide.
  •   Party Houses – TS had brought Mr Steve Cameron to the meeting specifically to discuss “party houses”. Mr Cameron is an affected neighbour. ST explained the action that the LPA is taking in order to determine (in each individual case) whether a material change of use as occurred.

Date of the Next The Community Working Group Meeting: –
Wed 3rd Sept 2014 – 2.00pm-4.30pm – ROOM 134 CIVIC CENTRE