Present:
Mr. Senior (Chairman), Mrs Aylott, Mrs Adams, Mr Brown, Mrs Dyer, Mrs Elphick, Mr Hardy, Mrs Hathaway, Mrs Watkin and Mr Watson. District Councillor Keith Baker. Mrs Lancey (Clerk). 6 members of the public.

1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies received from Mrs Williams.

2. Councillors’ Declaration of Interest for items on the Agenda
None recorded.

3. Planning Applications
0701697FUL – Temporary use of former runway for external storage – Alconbury Developments Limited

0701698FUL – Temporary use of hardstanding for external storage – Alconbury Developments Limited

0701699FUL – Temporary use of existing building for employment (B1,B2,B8) – Alconbury Developments Limited

Mr Watson summarised the above three planning applications. Application 0701697FUL related to the south eastern half of the runway towards Stukeley where further storage of containers was planned. Application 0701698FUL related to a further storage area around the existing containers currently visible from the gate at the top of Rusts Lane. Application 0701699FUL related to the use of 7 buildings within the site that are currently unused. B1 use means offices and light industry, B2 is manufacturing type uses and B8 means storage and distribution uses.

Transport Statement
If these applications were permitted it would mean in total an additional 171,000sqm of storage space. Added to the existing temporary permissions, this would bring the total up to 466,000sqm which is only 164,000sqm less than that which required a rail link to the site. The traffic assessment provided by the developers estimated a modest level of additional HGV and LGV vehicles at peak times, but even these modest levels equated to an additional vehicle every 45 seconds.

Ecology
Various wildlife species had been identified on the site. The developers did not consider the new proposals would adversely affect any of these species.

Landscape & Visual
The landscape assessment was based on the application for containers to be stored up to 11.6 metres high and dealt largely with views from the north and east, not from the roundabout/road at the top of Rusts Lane. No height restrictions had been placed on the original application, although the subsequent Secretary of State’s decision stated that containers should be stacked no more than 10 metres high.

These applications were discussed at length by the Parish Council and it was unanimously agreed that all three applications should be refused on the grounds of adverse traffic impact, visual impact and noise impact. It was felt that further development in the area would be a genuine threat to the village. Mr Senior thanked Mr Watson for his work on behalf of the Council who were very appreciative of his knowledge and expertise. Mr Watson would prepare a report for return to HDC Planning (also attached to these minutes). The Clerk would forward this report to County Councillors Peter Brown and Laine Kadic and also Jonathan Djanogly MP. She would also request that Mr. Watson be able to speak at the next Development Control Panel meeting.

4. The Bus Shelter
Mr Senior outlined the current situation. When the Parish Council had agreed to the replacement bus shelter on the village green, it was only on the understanding that the new shelter would have a seat and sides which were deemed necessary for the fundamental use of a bus shelter. Many residents in the village were bitterly disappointed with the shelter that had subsequently been erected by the Huntingdon Community Safety Partnership with no seat and no sides, affording no protection from bad weather. This new shelter had been installed in spite of e-mails received from HCSP, stating that the shelter would indeed have a seat and sides. HCSP had now informed the Parish Council that they would have to pay an additional £1150 in order for sides to be installed.

The situation was discussed at some length. It was agreed that HCSP should be allowed to proceed with the installation of the seat and sides in the shelter before additional payments by the Parish Council were discussed. In the meantime the Clerk would liaise with CALC as to the current situation. It was agreed that a working party should now proceed with all matters relating to this bus shelter and they would report back to the Parish Council as appropriate. Mrs Aylott, Mrs Dyer and Mrs Hathaway would form this working party.

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