ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES

September 3^rd 2025

 DRAFT

A meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council Planning Committee was held on September 3^rd 2025, at Eccleshall Community Centre at 7.30pm.

 182/25).   Present were: –

Councillor S. Perren (Chairman)              Councillor C. Ryan-Bloor

Councillor R. Langford                                Councillor M. Gosling

Councillor P. Jones                                     Councillor D. Hall

Councillor C. Wilkins                                  Councillor S. Mifflin

Councillor S. Kean                                       Councillor D. Feneysey

Councillor R. Taylor

Mrs Stacey Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public

 183/25).  Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Delanchy, Hill, Dale and Reid.

 184/25).  Declarations of Interest and Councillor requests for dispensation relating to items on the agenda:

There were no requests to receive, and no declarations of interest were made.

 185/25).  Public Participation

There was no public participation.

 186/25). To approve the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 13^th August 2025

The minutes, which had been previously circulated, were agreed and signed.

 187/25).  Planning Decisions of Stafford Borough Council:

25/40837/TCA – Eccleshall Conservation Area: Yew (T1) – Reduce crown height from approx 11m to 8.5m and crown spread from approx 6.5m to 5m. Yew (T2) – Reduce crown height from approx 12m to 9m and crown spread from approximately 7m to 5.5m. Crown thin both trees by approx 20-25%. 63 High Street Eccleshall. Approved.

25/40399/FUL – Installation of 10 detached single-storey wood-clad cabins for retail & office use (Class E) with associated landscaping to be used in association with the wider existing garden centre use. Fletchers Garden Centre Stone Road Eccleshall. Approved.

25/40112/HOU – Single-storey rear extension with internal alteration (in conjunction with 25/40148/LBC). 63 High Street Eccleshall. Approved.

188/25)   Planning Applications for consideration:-

25/40865/FUL – Change of use from dwellinghouse to offices for church staff. Trinity Cottage Church Grove Eccleshall. There were no objections to this application.

25/41034/HOU – Two storey side extension. Bay window to front. Chimney to side. Balcony at rear. Open sided covered front porch. New House 62A Stone Road Eccleshall. There were no objections to this application.

25/40993/HOU – Single storey rear extension and single storey front extension. Low Rising 2 Newport Road Eccleshall. There were no objections to this application.

25/40808/FUL – Proposed 20m x 57m sand and fibre all-weather outdoor arena. Hill Top Farm Little Sugnall Lane Little Sugnall. There were no objections to this application

189/25).  To consider any further applications:-

25/40282/FUL – Amended Application – Variation of Condition 2 (amendment to approved plans) on Application 21/35138/REM ( Appeal Decision APP/Y3425/W/23/3332072). Eagle Inn Car Park Newport Road Eccleshall. It was resolved to continue to object to this application on grounds of excess scale and mass with its negative impact to neighbouring residences.

190/25).   Any Other Planning Matters: –

• Save Eccleshall Resident Group update:
  • There was a meeting on the 1^st September for those members who have volunteered to work on the various objections, with teams formed for each potential application. There are concerns on the short timescale to turnaround objection letters for distribution if the resident letters wait for the specialist guidance from the Parish Council’s consultant. In order to reach the widest audience, letters would be produced, mass printed and delivered door to door. However, it was noted that letters produced in advance of a live application or without the expert guidance may be less impactful. The best letter format is for the resident to put their personal objections at the top of the letter, followed by standard objection guidance with the appropriate references to policies and legislation. The resident group members plan to object to all applications.

• To provide an update on the work to date with Urban Vision Enterprise (UVE) planning consultancy:
  • The planning working group met online with Hannah Barter on the 14^th August, where she advised the approach to be taken and answered any questions and addressed any concerns raised. The working group will be meeting Hannah on site on the 18^th September to walk around all potential planning areas. This will further inform the work that is underway by UVE to ensure they will be in a position to respond to the applications as they arise. It is possible that the first application may be submitted in October.
  • Residents have received a response from SBC Planning in relation to the letters of concern raised, which notes ‘ we will continue to require applicants to respond to relevant concerns raised as part of the decision-making process, including the submission of additional infrastructure information where relevant. We will also continue to require that decisions take account of other relevant applications when balancing the capacity of the infrastructure and needs of the community, and balance this with the legal requirement to evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis.’ The Clerk will ask Hannah to clarify whether the Borough will take a wider approach to considering all applications as part of the bigger picture, when the usual process is always advised that each application has to be taken on its own merits and not in conjunction with other applications.

  191/25).   Correspondence:-

• There was no correspondence for consideration.

  192/25).   Accounts for payment:-

Paid since the last meeting:

Authorisation was sought for payment of the following accounts:-

All were in favour, and the accounts will be paid accordingly. Cllrs. Taylor and Jones will process the approvals online.

 193/25).    Date and venue for next meeting:

Wednesday 17^th September 2025, at Eccleshall Community Centre, following a meeting of the Parish Council.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.35pm.