Page 114 - Archive in reverse date order

that we can do nothing about. For example, the concern of some that we “should stop worrying
so much about Planning issues and deal with the levels of horse manure in Parsonage and
Cocksure Lane” and “Can you resolve the problem of insensitive parking in Gattons Way?”. The
Committee did appreciate that such matters were of concern to individual residents, but this was
not what we are here for. David then turned to some of the issues that the Association did need
to consider:-

4.3 Residential Development: Following the unfortunate success last year of the application to
build six residential properties at 139 North Cray Road, there had been further residential
development applications for Green Belt sites; but we had been mostly successful in helping to
obtain refusals for these.

Regarding 139 North Cray Road, a key issue was that the Planning Committee, in approving the
extension of the scheme from two to six houses, had stated that had two not already been
approved by Planning, the proposal would not have been supported by the Committee. David
stressed that this emphasised the importance of Planning being made aware of people's concern
at the outset so that it would delegate the decision to the Planning Committee.

A key success in stopping further residential development has been in respect of 63 Parsonage
Lane (Orchard View Farm) where Planning refused an application to erect three 4-bedroom
houses with detached double garages. These houses were planned to be grouped together in a
corner of the plot with what, as it seemed to us, an obvious intention to submit further
applications for increased development at this site.

Other refusals were:-

(a) the building of a detached 3-bedroom bungalow at Forest View Stables in upper Parsonage
Lane – again, something that would have changed the character of this part of the Lane.

(b) the building of a bungalow in a rear garden in Honeyden Road. This road lies in the Green
Belt, and is a small estate dating from the 1920s. Backland development of this kind would have
altered its character and set a precedent for Honeyden Road and Barton Road – and beyond.

Other successes (non-residential) included:-

(c) refusal for the continuing use of the land on the east side of the North Cray Road – opposite
the Scout Hall- for the open storage of some 50 motor vehicles. We had been unaware of this
activity, and are now seeking Enforcement action.

(d) success with Bromley Council, who refused to allow the establishment of a Waste Transfer
Station in Old Maidstone Road – where asbestos material would have been handled. A fire here
would have created serious problems for our members in Maidstone Road, and in Barton and
Honeyden Roads.

4.4 Private Gypsy Sites: the applications from Little Acre and Little Haven (two intrinsically linked
sites in Bunkers Hill) were considered at a 4-day Public Inquiry held in January and April, at
which our secretary, Jean Gammons, Sylvia Malt of the Bexley Civic Society and Cllr Don
Massey argued strongly against these gypsy sites as “inappropriate development in this Green
Belt and Heritage Land”. Our objections were supported by some 50 emails from our members
– provided to the Inquiry in response to our Groupmail appeal for members' views.

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