Agenda for Horsham District Council Development Control (North) Committee held on Tuesday, 5th April 2005

Southern Regional Play Area Association (SERPA) Spring Newsletter.

Jim Gee of Leisure Services has written in reply to the Council?s letter of objection to the Newfoundland dogs being banned from the Country Park, which suggested that the dogs should be allowed to have one day a year for training purposes.

Mr Gee replied that the ban has been discussed at great length and in great detail, and is in response to a sustained number of complaints from visitors to the Park and local residents over the last few years. The Newfoundland dog owners, with up to 15 dogs present, have used the park on Saturdays in the summer form 9am to 3.30pm, with the dogs barking constantly throughout this time. Mr Gee states that the dogs are not being actively trained to work as rescue dogs, but is more a hobby for the dogs and their owners.

Several attempts have been made over the years to reduce the disturbance caused, including attempts to encourage owners to control the dogs? barking, to limit the activities at less busy times of the year, and to limit the hours of the activity, but these measures did not succeed in reducing the disturbance or the level of complaints received.

Mr Clarke said that one of his concerns was that the Country Park had not consulted with either the Parish Council or the local District Councillors before making this decision.

Mr Senneck said that considering that the Country Park was a major leisure facility in the village, he thought that the Parish Council should be consulted on this and other issues.

Mr Clarke reported that he had written to Jim Gee as a private individual asking for more information as to the number and nature of the complaints received.

This letter was addressed to the Council Chairman Mr Senneck, following his recent meeting with Mr Simpkin, together with Mr Watson, County Councillor in relation to DC/04/2328 concerning development proposals for Station Yard Christ?s Hospital.

The School have asked their consultants to produce a preliminary design statement to address the issue of the possibility of widening Station Rd to allow for two-way vehicles access as requested by the County Council. The consultants are also preparing a Road Safety Audit.

As this application has already been discussed at the Parish Council, it is subject to the six month rule, whereby a specific matter cannot be revisited for six months, unless with the agreement of the majority of councillors. Therefore, if members wish to discuss any transport documents in relation to the application DC/04/2328, then it must be on the agenda for a Full Council meeting, and a vote taken whether or not to discuss it further.

A copy of this questionnaire has been sent to every household in the district. The answers will provide a strong evidence base for improving and developing community transport solutions.

Permission was sought at last night?s Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting to purchase a new double-fronted closed notice board for Blakes Farm Rd at a cost of £795 inclusive of VAT. This was approved, and the order will be placed shortly.

Mr Stainton has been in discussion with Evan Giles of Horsham District Council in relation to planting in Nyes Lane near the fence. Mr Giles has indicated that the District Council would be happy to support the Parish Council financially for extra planting in this area.

Mr Stainton reported that he had been contacted by a resident of the neighbouring Roundstone Caravan Park who had concerns in relation to the planting on the boundary. He suggested that the sum remaining in the District Council ringfenced fund for that area of space, thought to be in the region of £200-£300, be used for extra planting along the boundary.

Mr Senneck reported that he had re-routed the footpath on the boundary, to take it away from Roundstone gardens.

Coole and Haddock have written to confirm that they now hold the title documentation on behalf of the Parish Council.

Nothing to report.

The Deputy Clerk wrote as instructed to Leisure Services to ask if the District Council would consider having a skateboard/BMX site in a corner of Ben?s Field.

Jim Gee of Leisure Services telephoned the Deputy Clerk and indicated that the District Council would consider this request, although it may take some time before an answer could be given.

It was reported to Full Council that District Councillors Peter and Julie Stainton were against a skateboard park in Ben?s Field, but their reasons for objecting were not clear. The Deputy Clerk has written to Mr and Mrs Stainton to establish their reasons in order that these might be addressed.

Mr Stainton confirmed that he has received the letter but could not recall having strong objections to the siting of the skateboard park in Ben?s Field. He thought that it was Mrs Stainton who had had concerns, but it was not possible for him to give her views in her absence. However, he seemed to recall that Mrs Stainton had commented that in her opinion the extent of the required hardstanding and size of equipment would be inappropriate to the Country Park, and that perhaps other areas of hardstanding should be investigated first within the village, for example, the schools.

Mr Senneck said that although he had not been present at the SWAT meeting when the objections attributed to Mr and Mrs Stainton had been made, the Clerk had reported to him that they both had objected to the siting of the skateboard park in Ben?s Field. Mr Senneck said that on a recent tour of the village with Jim Gee and Trevor Beadle, they had all thought that Ben?s Field was the most suitable site.