Parish Council Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on

At 7.30 p.m.

in the Village Hall, Warmington

Mr D Rowell (Chairman)
Mr R Bosworth (Vice Chairman)
Mr A Hinton
Mrs M Hodges
Mr M Dixon
Mr R Enfield
Mr D Short
Mr P Banbridge

60+ Parishioners were also in attendance together with Mr J Hoyes, Elton Estates, Mr D Symes, D K Symes Associates and Mr P Watson, Development Control Officer NCC.

2. APOLOGIES : Apologies were received from Mr V Cooper, Mrs J Stroud and Sir William Proby

3. ABSENTEES : None

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST : None

Mr Du Croz asked Mr Watson if the application falls within the policies already set. Mr Watson’s response was that in some areas policy will act in favour of the application and in others it will not. As far as gravel extraction is concerned this is encouraged by the policies laid down. In terms of landscape, however, the policies will serve to act against the application. At the end of the day all aspects must be balanced to give an overall opinion.

It was asked why the application had been resubmitted when it had been refused in the past. Mr Dixon suggested that the application is different from the previous one.

Mr Symes then outlined the principles behind the application. Basically it has been driven by pressure in the world of agriculture to diversify. The reservoir will be filled from the river Nene in winter when surplus water is available. The construction period has been estimated at 4 years because of the volume of materials to be removed. It is anticipated that the extracted gravel will be placed in the market. Ideally it will be moved to a processing plant. This will enable working schedules to be more fixed and predictable. On a day to day basis there will be one excavator on site. The constraints are from the volume of material to be removed. On completion the soils initially moved to the sides will be respread and a wetlands area provided.

Mr Bosworth expressed his concern about vehicle movements. Mr Symes stated that advice has been taken from Highways and the traffic will either turn right or turn left and utilize the roundabout. Traffic movements have been identified at 120 per day as a maximum figure. Realistically this figure is very high and a lot will depend on the location of the processing plant.

Mr Bosworth asked if the extractions have to go to Northamptonshire. Mr Watson suggested that if they did go to Northamptonshire they would add to the county’s allocation, but that NCC are not in a position to control the market place for materials.

Mr Enfield asked if consideration had been given to the effect on the Elton junction. Mr Symes suggested that Highways seem to suggest that the road can accommodate the increased traffic numbers. Mr Enfield asked further how certain they could be that lorries would follow the designated routes. Mr Symes stated that all lorries are controlled by the contractor who would impose strict guidelines regarding such matters. At present it is felt that Stanwick may be an appropriate destination. If the lorries are all going to a set destination they can be more easily controlled.

Mr Enfield asked if there would be a footpath for the public to access the wetlands and the reservoir. Mr Symes suggested that this would be up to Elton Estates.

On behalf of the Village Design Statement Group, Mr Du Croz suggested that there are a lot of mixed feelings in the village. It is felt that the landscaping needs considerable attention and that a management plan post construction should be in place. Mr Du Croz would like to see Elton Estates being more proactive and giving definite undertakings on design up front. Mr Hoyes pointed out that it is difficult to do anything until planning permission has been given. He suggested that Elton Estates are committed to the wetlands and the wildlife. It was suggested that NCC may give planning permission with one of the conditions attached being for a landscape plan to be drawn up and approved.

Mr Rowell read out various concerns conveyed to the Parish Council by letter from a couple of Eaglethorpe residents. Concern was expressed at the lack of notification of the application to residents who would be affected. Concern was expressed that "normal working hours" could be excessive. Ideally the residents would like to see the project completed in 2 years rather than 4. It is requested that dust is kept to the minimum and that there should be little or no lorries reversing causing noise disturbance. The problems are seen as the entrance to the site on the A605 where there are no deceleration or acceleration lanes. Mr Symes suggested that traffic plans have to be acceptable to Highways and if there is a need for such lanes then they will be put in. Further the residents would like assurances that the site will be used as a reservoir and not a marina or a tip. Mr Symes stated that the plans were for a reservoir and nothing else.

Mr Murphy expressed concern about the lack of notification regarding the application and subsequent meeting. Mr Rowell pointed out that the application had been flagged up at the last Parish Council meeting and as such appeared on the last minutes. The meeting was also advertised on the Parish Council noticeboard and around the village as is usual practice will planning applications. Mr Murphy asked about the possibility of another noticeboard at Nene Pastures.

Mr Thomas suggested that Elton Estates could approach the Wildlife Trust for help in establishing the wetlands. Elton Estates suggested that they would welcome their input.

Mr Symes was questioned as to why a reservoir was necessary and why it should be sited where it was. He replied that it is now part of government agricultural policy to remove subsidies. Landowners are therefore seeking to diversify. In order to have a reservoir a certain type of soil is required. It needs to respond well to irrigation. Water also needs to be available. The ADAS report has suggested that the site is suitable. The Environment Agency have suggested that there is the capacity available to fill the reservoir in the winter. A reservoir is better situated near a river than having to have water pumped from long distances. Mr Hanlon questioned the need for such a large reservoir but was informed that it is relatively small for a reservoir.

Mr Moss questioned the benefit for the village of the application. The area is one of outstanding natural beauty and will be subject to excavations over a 4-year period for the benefit of one landowner.

The question of mud on the roads from the lorries was questioned. Mr Symes stated that controls were in place to prevent this. The road leading down to the meadow will be upgraded to hardcore. There will be a wheel-cleaning machine that all lorries have to pass through. If this does not work the road will be cleaned. As a last report there is legal protection in the form of the police, Highways and conditions laid down by NCC.

It was questioned whether the wider impact on the road to Stanwick would be considered. Mr Watson suggested that Highways would look at all of the implications. Mr Rowell suggested that any such concerns could always be taken to meetings of the North East Northants Community Safety Partnership where Highways Officers and the police are always present. It was suggested that slow moving lorries could cause impatience.

It was questioned that if the project is successful would the reservoir be expanded or another one built. Mr Symes stated that this would be very unlikely. It would be very costly to change and there would be no more capacity left. The reservoir would be physically incapable of getting bigger.

It was questioned what the situation would be with the lorries should there be an accident on the A605. Mr Symes suggested that there is considerable flexibility with movement and it is not critical. Advice would be taken from the police.

Mr Davey suggested that the hazards of the A605 cannot be avoided, but that other routes could have been investigated. He suggested a route through to Elton. This would encourage the introduction of a roundabout at the Elton junction and be of benefit to all.

Mr Edsall, CPRE expressed his concerns with the finished article. He suggested that if all jump on the bandwagon of reservoirs then the price of the resultant crops is likely to go down. If this occurs, what guarantee is there that the project will be completed. Mr Symes stated that certain conditions will be imposed by NCC and they will see that they are enforced. Mr Hoyes suggested that Elton Estates is in the fortunate position of having a site amenable to a reservoir. Not everyone would have this and it is very unlikely that many could therefore "jump on the bandwagon"

Mr Du Croz suggested that to date there has been poor communication with Elton Estates regarding the application. He suggested that this has resulted in anxiety and misunderstanding which could have been prevented. Mr Du Croz asked that the Parish Council request Elton Estates to respond within a reasonable timescale, via a newsletter to all issues raised tonight.

Mr Symes was asked whether water pumps would be functioning 24 hours a day. This will be the case but they are relatively quiet. He was questioned re the height of the soil and stated that the maximum height for soil is 3m and for subsoil 5 m. When completed there will be very little noise from the pump house. The hours that will be worked will be 7am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am – 1pm Saturday. The only light will be from the machines themselves. Mr Symes was questioned about the possibility of lorries queuing but stated that there would be adequate tarmac areas to accommodate them. There will only usually be 1 excavator on site and lorries will use a loop system to prevent noise from reversing bleepers.

It was questioned whether any further minerals would be excavated around the site, but Mr Hoyes suggested that the area was fairly physically restrained. Mr Symes suggested that more engineering clay may need to be brought in but that this was in the report. This clay would be brought in on the empty lorries where possible, therefore there would be no significant increases in traffic movements. The excavator is likely to be up to a 20-ton machine, in keeping with the size of the site.

When questioned Mr Symes stated that it would be an agricultural reservoir with minerals as the by-product, not the other way round.

There will be a considerable amount of overburden, but this will be used to create the wetland area.

Mr Short suggested that although it is now permissible to irrigate directly out of the river, this would no longer be the case in 4 years time. This is why the Environment Agency encourage the storage of winter water for the summer.

Mr Rowell thanked Mr Symes, Mr Hoyes and Mr Watson for their input. He also thanked the audience for their participation and questions. Mr Symes and Mr Hoyes left the meeting at this point.

The Parish Council then debated their response to the application. Mr Dixon suggested that it was a well put together application with few reasons to object. He suggested accepting it with various points noted. Mr Bosworth suggested that there are two main obstacles. Firstly the traffic problems and secondly that it contravenes the local plan for minerals. If accepted, although only small scale, it could open the gate for others to follow. Mr Bosworth suggested opposing it. Mrs Hodges agreed with Mr Bosworth. Mr Rowell suggested that NCC would interpret these comments. Mr Enfield felt that it could only be hoped that Elton Estates and NCC had taken on board the comments made this evening. After a vote 3 were in favour of the application with provisos and 3 were against. Mr Banbridge was not in a position to vote as this would preclude him from voting with the ENC Committee which he chairs. Mr Du Croz asked if Mr Banbridge would take the views of the meeting to ENC. Mr Banbridge suggested that all he could do was declare the views of the meeting. Mr Rowell, with the casting vote, voted against the application.

At this point all but 4 parishioners left the meeting.

After discussion it was decided that although the Parish Lengthsman had been very good for the village in the past, this would not necessarily apply today. In the past the Lengthsman would be paid by the County Council. Today the Parish Council would pay for however many hours they require at a rate of about £8-£11 per hour. Since WS Atkins have taken over highway matters have improved considerably. The system of informing Atkins what is required seems to be working well. Mr Bosworth proposed and Mr Banbridge seconded that the scheme is not affordable. AIF.

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