SELWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF SELWOOD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Held at East Woodlands Village Hall
on Wednesday, 14th January 2015
1. Present: J Dowling, , J Leach, Mrs K Ward, M Scully, Miss J Heritage, P Coleman and C Smith (clerk)
J Dowling welcomed local residents to the meeting who were primarily interested in two local planning issues
(Court Farm West Woodlands and Land at Marston Gate, Frome) see below. Apologies were given by J Dowling
for not proceeding with the Court Farm discussions as Debbie Marriage from Parker Dann Planning Consultancy is
due to attend the meeting but has not yet arrived so continued with the general business of the meeting.
2. Apologies: G Stickley.
3. Minutes of last meeting: The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 3rd December 2014 were
agreed by those present and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record.
4. Matters Arising:
a) Fly tipping Feltham Lane, East Woodlands Clerk e-mailed MDC and roadside rubbish has now been
removed.
5. Finance:
Current balances (as at 31st Dec 2014): Current Account 564.17; Business Reserve Account 5,020.74
There are no outstanding payments. Bank statements circulated to the meeting.
6. J Dowling welcomed Debbie Marriage of Parker Dann Planning Consultancy to the meeting Ms Marriage
gave her apologies for her lateness. Ms Marriage was then invited to address the meeting with the revised
planning application for a Ground based photovoltaic solar farm at Court Farm, West Woodlands, Frome.
Ms Marriage opened her address by stating that the new planning application differs mainly on three counts, i) the
solar farm to decrease in area by approx. 25% due to the proposed development being on land of lower
agricultural grade (graded 3b and 4), ii) a study of suitable brownfield sites in the area has proved negative and iii)
as regards views from nearby AONB (Cranbourne Chase), this has been mitigated with increased planting of
trees/shrubs.
A member of the public asked why the initial application had been refused J Dowling then read the reasons as
stated in a letter from MDC addressed to the applicant.
Mrs Ward asked a series of questions: i) What is the 40K incentive offered to the community benefit fund, ii)
where is it deemed a necessity for this development as stated in the application, iii) what is going to happen to all
the metal work etc after the lifespan of the project. Ms Marriage responded by saying that the incentive offered to
the community is normal to offer in such cases ; Ms Marriage then referred to NPPF policy which stated there is a
national need for renewable energy which should not be questioned and also referred to the International Planet on
Global Change. Ms Marriage was unable to say there was a local necessity for such developments: as regards the
disposal of the construction materials at the end of the life span of the development, there would be conditions
attached to the decommissioning of the site if the application is successful.
A series of other relevant points were put to Ms Marriage as follows:
Why the use of green field sites for such a development reason given as a study in the area revealed no
brownfield sites suitable, the development is considered to be on low grade agricultural land;
Owner of Severn Acre Caravan Park stated their views would still be blighted and that the effect on his business
would be appalling inverter stations have been moved back;
As regards another nearby site, it is claimed that a humming noise can be heard from inverter stations Ms
Marriage said residents should take that complaint to MDC.
Another resident asked if a further reduction in size could be considered by reducing a corner bordering the
Severn Acre Caravan Park Ms Marriage said she would take this back to the client/developer.
Ms Marriage was asked by J Dowling if the appeal from the initial refusal of the application was still going ahead
Ms Marriage confirmed that it was as, in her opinion, it was a good application which merited approval as is the
current revised application.
It was quite clear from the members of public attending the meeting, that this development is most unwanted.

Ms Marriage was thanked for attending the meeting and taking questions she then left the meeting. The meeting
then continued as below:
7. Planning:
For recommendation
a) Court Farm, West Woodlands, Frome, BA11 5EN (2014/2326/FUL) Ground-based photo voltaic solar
farm, access, grid connection and grid connection cable, substations and associated works. Following a
presentation by Ms Debbie Marriage and questions from councillors and members of the public (see
above), P Coleman proposed rejecting the application on the grounds that such a development would be

taking up use of valuable agricultural and greenfield land and also a visual eyesore in a very
beautiful area of countryside. This was then seconded by M Scully and unanimously passed by the
meeting.
b) Land at Marston Gate, Frome, BA11 4DH (2014/2718/OTS) A new pub/restaurant (approx.. 150
cover) and associated car/cycle parking, landscaping and access. Mr P Faulkner (licensee of
nearby Masons Arms PH) was present at the meeting and stated he was against the application as it
would not only affect his trade but also the pub/restaurant businesses in Frome are already going
through hard times and any further competition would only make the situation worse. Mr Faulkner
was not against the site being developed as per the original application for light business use. Mrs
Ward proposed rejecting the application on the grounds that there is already a public house with
restaurant with 60-70 covers (Masons Arms PH) some 30 yards from this proposed development.
Councils should be protecting local businesses and this proposed development would only harm
the nearby business. Already sufficient public houses/restaurants in the town. This was seconded
by P Coleman and unanimously passed by the meeting.
c) May Cottage, East Woodlands Road, East Woodlands, Frome (2015/0010/HSE) Proposed annexe to
existing dwelling. J Dowling suggested leaving any decision with the Planning Officer as councillor P
Coleman has an interest in the property and to avoid any conflicts of interest the meeting unanimously
agreed with the proposal.
d) Land at Vallis Veg, Egford, Frome (2014/2332/FUL) Use of agricultural land for seasonal camping (May
October). M Scully proposed recommending the application on the grounds that there are no reasons to
object seconded by Miss Heritage and unanimously passed by the meeting.

Approved by MDC
a) Cherry Tree Farm, Jeffries Lane, Spring Gardens, Frome (2014/2133/PAO) Application for Prior
Approval to change the use from Class B1(a) (offices) to residential. PRIOR APPROVAL IS NOT
REQUIRED.
b) New Farm, Shepherds Lane to Feltham Lane, East Woodlands, Frome, Somerset (2014/1795/HSE)
Demolition of existing conservatory on the rear elevation with the construction of a two storey extension
with a kitchen and utility on the ground floor and a bedroom and en suite above, and a sun room extension
with roof lights to the side elevation.
c) 2 Tytherington Bulls Quarries Road, Tytherington, Frome, BA11 5BW (2014/1852/HSE) Removal of rear
extension and the construction of a 3 storey rear extension. Construction of porch to the side elevation of
the property.
All the above approvals were circulated to the meeting.

Refused by MDC Nil

Appeals Nil
8. Correspondence: Nil.
9. Miscellaneous:
a) Parish Polls consultation Dept for Communities and Local Government seeking views on proposals to
modernise parish polls. Councillors have been previously circulated with details but were reminded to refer
to the Dept for Communities web site for more information

b) Recording of Council Meetings circular on rules governing the tape recording/videoing of

meetings circulated to the meeting.

c) Traffic issues Tytherington Mrs Ward has been endeavouring to press forward with traffic
monitoring through the village but is still awaiting something concrete from Somerset C.C.
highways Mrs Ward will contact Alvin Horsfall (Somerset C.C. councillor/Somerset Highways)
d) Temporary Road Closure Bulls Quarries Road, Tytherington from 1 st Feb 2015 for 3 months to enable
strengthening of Tytherington Bridge. NOW POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. circulated to
the meeting. Mrs Ward advised the meeting that she has been in contact with the department of 'bridges'
who advised her that work is likely to commence April/May 2015 and that she would be kept informed by
the department as soon as they have any concrete updates.
e) Temporary Road Closure Feltham Hill from 20m either side of the railway bridge for a distance of 60m
from 9th Feb for 1 day to enable a railway bridge examination. Circulated to the meeting.
f) Transparency Code for Parish Councils with an annual turnover not exceeding 25K. circular circulated
to councillors.
g) Public Meeting at Vallis Youth and Community Centre 16th Jan 1730-1930 re discussion/film on the new
Council offices in Christchurch Street West, Frome. Circulated to the meeting.
9. Selwood Parish Council web site: Mrs Ward reported that she hopes to have the web site up and running by
March. A meeting with the Clerk and J Dowling (Chairman) will be arranged shortly to agree the way forward
and present a trial model to councillors at the next council meeting (25 th February 2015).

10. Reports:
a) Blue House, Frome J Dowling informed the meeting that the Blue House house managers have
been made redundant and replaced with a manager and secretary who have relieved the Trustees of a lot
of the responsibilities an updated report will be given at the next meeting
b) Footpaths J Leach reported that one of the footpaths at Blatchbridge has been the subject of recent
clearance of overgrown vegetation etc.
11. Any Other Business: Flooding at Wallbridge J Dowling reported that he has recently received an
e-mail(s) from Adrian Dobinson (MDC and Frome Town councillor) concerning this issue he is unsure
exactly what the current situation is but will continue to monitor events.
12. Date of next meeting: 7.30pm Wednesday 25th February 2015 at East Woodlands Village Hall.
There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 9.10 pm.

SignedDate