The application to build houses on gardens and scouts land behind Pickhurst Lane and Mounthurst Road was refused last week, but the developer has now lodged an appeal.

The proposals at 2-6 Chestnut Avenue in Coney Hall were turned down yesterday. The developer has six months to appeal.

The government recently changed the planning rules (known as PPS3) to remove the classification of back gardens as developed land, making it harder for such areas to be built on.  However, such proposals can still succeed in certain circumstances, and some appeals against such refusals elsewhere have been successful.

Objectors to the proposed backland development in Chestnut Avenue, Coney Hall

Residents of Coney Hall objecting to the backland development proposals for 2-6 Chestnut Avenue gathered this morning to show their concerns.

They were joined by John Stone, Chairman of West Wickham South Residents’ Association and Cllr. Neil Reddin as local councillor. Neil promised that they would keep residents informed of progress. The application is expected to be determined in early July.

(Credit to Christine Riches for organising the gathering.)

Your local councillors have received many enquiries and objections to the plans from local residents, particularly in the light of the change in the law, announced by the new government a few days ago, which removes the automatic designation of back gardens as ‘brownfield’ sites. It is now harder (though certainly not impossible) for developers to get planning permission for so-called “backland development”,

Cllrs. Graham Arthur and Neil Reddin are opposing the plans. (Cllr. Anne Manning, as a member of two of the plans committees that might hear the application, must remain publicly neutral at this stage.)

The proposals will include ‘zig-zag’ markings around the corners of the junction and part-time parking restrictions along sections of Gates Green Road to allow traffic to pass, hopefully tackling the ‘gridlock’ that currently occurs during school opening an closing times.

Draft plans were made available by your local councillors at the Wickham Common Residents Association AGM where initial comments were made and will be passed to the highway engineers.

If the consultation results are favourable then work is planned to be completed in time for the start of the Autumn term.

We will continue to defend the clean and green environment and quality of life that our residents hold dear and to ensure that the voice of Hayes and Coney Hall is heard at the Council.

Despite this, we are aware that the recent harsh winter has taken its toll on the ward’s roads, and that potholes have appeared in many places.

The Council’s road inspectors spent several weekend in March identifying potholes for repair, including a number in Hayes and Coney Hall. As the road surface was still brittle because of cold temperatures, we have continued to see new potholes appearing at a faster rate than in previous years. Cllr Colin Smith, the Councillor responsible for road maintenance, has instructed the contractor to provide extra road maintenance teams to identify where the problems are and clear the backlog of potholes.

In their recent budget, the Council allowed for an additional £250,000 to repair potholes, in addition to extra funds for general environmental improvements.

The plans, which include new surfaces and amended white lining, have been agreed and it is now awaiting insertion into the work programme. Residents will be contacted directly by the Council prior to the start of work, which will also affect the easternmost section of Addington Road.

Improvements to the appearance of the tatty verges has also taken place, with the results becoming more evident as spring and summer progress.

David Soul, Cllr. Neil Reddin and Bob Stewart at Letchworth Drive

David is a personal friend of Bob and met people in Coney Hall, Old Hayes and Letchworth Drive along with Conservative Council candidates and councillors Graham Arthur, Anne Manning and Neil Reddin.

Following representations from those present, the committee agreed to allow drinking only with a meal for the final hour (11pm to midnight) on Sunday through to Thursday – the existing licence already allows opening until midnight, though the current owners only usually serve alcohol until 11pm.

It was also agreed to allow drinking in the outside areas (including the back garden) only until 10pm.

The applicant had already agreed to change their proposed closing time of 00:30 back to the existing midnight, and the committee allowed the serving of (non-alcoholic) refreshments until midnight.

The licensee expects the refurbishments to be completed on the ground floor (the new restaurant and bar area) in time for a mid-June opening.

We anticipate that the plans for the upstairs function room will require a seperate licensing application, following a planning application.

The new technology is expected to provide more acccurate information as well as the signs being easier to read and also showing more service and general information.

Installation is expected in the 2011/12 financial year at the stops at Hayes Station, Coney Hill Road, the Layhams Road/Addington Road junction and the Hayes Lane/Hayes Road junction.