Minutes
Wednesday 30th November 2011, Village Hall 7.00pm
For The Dunstan Steads Farm Building Planning Application Meeting Of Craster Parish Council
Present
In the Chair Vice Chairman Pauline Baird.
Clerk Helen Brewis.
Parish Council Members Joyce Shaw, John Gallon, Margaret Brooks, Bryn Owen, Michael Robson, Alan Punton, Michael Craster & Elizabeth Pearson.
In Attendance Mr Neville Fawcett (Embleton Parish Council).
Approximately 25 Members
of the public including Mrs P Owen, Mrs H Punton, Mr R Cornall, Mr M Townsend, Mr Jones, Mrs & Mrs D Robertson, Mr & Mrs Turnbull, Mr & Mrs I Gaston & Mr R Gaston.
1417. Apologies for absence.
Joan Angus.
1418.
11/02793/FUL Dunstan Steads Farm Building Planning Application.
The planning proposal is for the erection of a steel-framed livestock building, hardstanding and 10,000 litre effluent tank; temporary dwelling (caravan) with associated new vehicular access; and associated drive, yard, parking areas, landscaping, boundary fence, sewage treatment plant and drainage.
10 Minute Summary from Mr I Gaston (Applicant).
Mr Gaston has been farming for 40 years and now farms Ravelaw Farm at Duns rearing pigs, beef cattle and crops. At 12 months old the calves are sent to the processors to provide meat for McDonalds and supermarkets.
Mr Robert Gaston will run Ravelaw whilst Mr & Mrs I Gaston will run Dunstan Steads Farm, rearing calves for Ravelaw.
Dunstan Steads has 405 acres but no house or farm buildings & the young calves need to be isolated from other calves and bedded in deep straw.
The effluent tank will be constructed next to the livestock building, Mr Gaston has liased with the NCC Environmental Health Officer concerning noise levels for the nearby houses.
There will be 100 calves at a time housed in the livestock building, and at 12 weeks these calves will be transported by landrover & trailer back to Ravelaw.
A dwelling is required on site, as the calves are very young and need to be checked frequently.
Mr Gaston chose not to site the buildings on the concrete road to Dunstan Square, to avoid hindering the walkers and cyclists who already use this route.
The site will be screened from view by trees and Mr Gaston intends to make his vehicles available during the winter to keep the road clear of snow.
He will also raise crops, ½ to be kept at Dunstan Steads for feed and ½ to be transported out for sale like neighbouring farms.
10 Minute Summary from Mr M Townsend (Objector).
Mr Townsend has run the Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel in Embleton for 15 years; the Hotel’s economy relies on tourism. Tourists stay in this area due to the fabulous views and scenery, abundant wildlife and clean air. He believes we should work hard to preserve the unspoilt scenery and the AONB should be given more importance in the planning decisions.
The petition the objectors have run in Newton, Craster and Embleton concerning the damage which this planning application will do to the local wildlife, scenic views and increase in traffic has raised 400 signatures (300 from people living outside of the area). 40 objection letters have been received by NCC concerning the development, one from Mr Giles Ingram.
The proposed development could be expected to result in a reduced visitor spend which will impact on the tourism based jobs in the surrounding area – manual workers, B&B establishments, waiters, window cleaners and shops’ summer trade. These workers’ wages are spent within the area on a week to week basis compared to the spend of one or two new jobs created by this planning application.
The road down to Dunstan Steads is inadequate for large farming vehicles, can Ravelaw at Duns not be expanded? Could Mr Gaston not buy an exisiting house in Embleton instead of siting a caravan and hardstanding?
Mr Neville Fawcett – Embleton Parish Council.
Embleton Parish Council are concerned about the traffic through Embleton and the inevitability of large vehicles needing to pass each other on the Dunstan Steads road - there are however a couple of places which could be used as passing places.
They believe the site would be better if screened, and were worried about the effluent and increase in vehicle numbers. The impact on wildlife especially the red squirrels concerned them and any extra noise the planning application may create.
Main questions raised by the Craster Parish Councillors.
To Mr Gaston:-
What crops would be grown - 2/3 cereal 1/3 oil seed rape.
The junction into Embleton is a bad one for wagons, what size will be used – moving the calves will be done by landrover & trailer; half the crops will be sold and transported out, but this will require no bigger a vehicle than has currently been used.
Neither the Parish Council nor locals had been made aware of the first planning application for the shed – NCC published a 28 day notice but they didn’t notify all parties.
To Mr Townsend:-
The petition says increase to traffic 168-265 cars down road, 50-60 heavy goods vehicles, that could have been misleading to the people who signed (how many of these heavy goods vehicles were for the farm and how many delivery vans, oil wagons etc for the houses) & what percentage of tourists wouldn’t come back because of a new built barn – a small proportion of tourists per year will stop coming and they won’t recommend us to potential new tourists.
The Meeting was then closed to the public while the Councillors discussed the plans, objection letters & the email received from Mel Nicholls, Ecologist for the AONB.
The following letter was drafted for the NCC Planning Department:-
‘With regard to the planning application for new farm buildings at Dunstan Steads, Craster Parish Council endorses the position of the AONB as outlined in their email dated 29th November 2011 (attached below).
The Parish Council added the following three points:-
a) The re-siting of the caravan from the east side to the west side of the road.
b) The immediate implementation of a screening programme, as a gesture of goodwill.
c) Confirmation that NCC Highways Department has not changed their view of no objection since the previous application.
Subject to the adoption of the AONB proposals and the above three Parish Council additions the Parish Council would not object to the application.
----- Original Message -----
From: Nicholls, Mel
To: 'h.brewis@btopenworld.com'
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:18 PM
Subject: 11/02793/FUL Dunstan Steads
Hi Helen
Thanks for the phone call. As outlined no-one is able to attend the meeting to represent the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership. However, if it would assist the Parish Council in its deliberations, I can provide the following comments which it would be appreciated if you could circulate to members or table on behalf of the AONB Partnership.
o The AONB Partnership seeks to ensure that all developments in the area avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on the special features of AONB. In this regard the Partnership considers Application 11/02793/FUL has the potential to create adverse effects on the AONB and its landscape character, visual amenity, biodiversity and recreational opportunities.
o The Partnership is advised that Dunstan Steads has been an arable farm for over 20 years, with no livestock rearing, contrary to claims made by Mr Gaston and his agent. It was purchased by Mr Gaston as an arable farm.
o The Partnership is not opposed in principle to a change of farming use to include livestock rearing. However, it would be preferable to have a comprehensive farm development proposal that covered all elements of Mr Gaston ’s plans, rather than the piecemeal approach adopted to date. This would permit consideration by all parties of all effects of the proposals especially cumulative effects.
o A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment be undertaken by the applicant of all potential sites for the shed, caravan and all works for the consideration and response by consulted parties prior to determination.
o An assessment of potential adverse effects of the tank, sewage treatment plant and their operation on the watercourses, biodiversity and special interest features of the AONB and the designated SAC, SPA, Ramsar and SSSI sites be undertaken by the applicant for the consideration and response by consulted parties prior to determination.
o If County Council persists in determination of this application without the above Assessments the shed should be constructed from materials and in a colour that is more in keeping with its surroundings of high landscape quality (ie green roof and full side and end wall cladding), with landscape screening. Design, materials and landscape planting must be to a standard approved by the Principal Natural Environment Officer in consultation with the AONB partnership staff.
o In the event of any determination there must be no adverse effects of any effluent discharge from the tank or sewage treatment plant on the watercourses, biodiversity and special interest features of the AONB and the designated sites.
o In the event of any approval any s106 agreement to include: provision for pedestrian/recreational access along the road, reinstatement of hedgerows and small field sizes (if any extensive livestock fattening is planned), relocation and improvements to the colour of the existing shed to reduce its adverse effects on landscape character and visual amenity.
Do not hesitate to phone me at home this evening (01670 787534) or on my personal mobile (07930112469) tomorrow if you need to clarify any of the above. Really sorry I am unable to attend in person.
All the best for a successful meeting.
Regards
Mel Nicholls
Ecologist
T: 01665 511207
M: 07768310629
Postal Address:
Development Services
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF
Office address:
Allerburn House,
Denwick Lane,
Alnwick,
Northumberland NE66’ |
