Milverton Parish Council
Report on Meeting held 4th November 2013

PLANNING
Under planning Members approved an extension to 12 Woodbarton.
However, a proposal to create 6 holiday cottages on the site of redundant farm buildings at Baghay caused some concern and prompted a lively debate. Eventually members, whilst agreeing to the principle of development on the site, commented that they felt the proposal was over-development of the site which could lead to traffic and noise problems. 

The Parish Council has been in discussions with the University of the West of England (UWE) to seek assistance with drawing up a Neighbourhood Plan. Councillors are very concerned that decisions made today have to meet the needs of the village for many years to come. Already an analysis of census data has shown that the village has an ageing population and therefore important decisions on what development is needed for the next 20-40 years have to be made. Discussions with UWE have revolved around producing various scenarios for parishioners to consider. These would vary from no development to a significant number of houses as well as options in between. Once worked up parishioners would be consulted on which scenario best fitted peoples personal and community aspirations. This information would be gathered as evidence to support the Neighbourhood Plan process.

Councillors were reminded that the latest TDBC site allocation consultation had started and would run until 12th December. There will be an exhibition in the village on Monday 25th November. At present the proposal is for one site of 20 houses in Butts Way and the Parish Council is encouraging everyone to come to the exhibition and to discuss the proposals with Parish Councillors.

Councillors are preparing for the Public Inquiry into the extinguishment of a footpath on the eastern side of the Parish. Somerset County Council wish to remove the path from the Definitive Map because it is an anomaly - a mistake of drafting the map. The Council has countered this and put forward a case that it is totally wrong to seek to remove a path simply because a mapping technician had, in the past.  failed to copy the line of the path correctly. The hearing is in Taunton on 11th December.

The Parish Council has agreed to assist the Recreation Ground Committee in a project to refurbish the play area using S106 money from TDBC.