Sutton St Edmund ten-home development turned down
A refusal to allow plans for ten new homes near Sutton St Edmund's playing field has been welcomed by village leaders.
During a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, Sutton St Edmund Parish Council members were told that a planning application for ten four-bedroom homes in Cross Road had been turned down.
South Holland District Council planning officers had agreed with the parish council's view that the four acres of land on which the homes would be built was outside the part of the village set aside for new housing.
In a statement to the district council, Gedney-based applicants SH and MB Properties Limited, said the homes "will provide a high-quality environment for the whole village" and would have "minimal impact on the neighbouring properties in terms of overlooking".
But in their decision notice, planning officers said: "It has not been demonstrated that the development is necessary to this location and it is not considered to be a type of housing that requires a countryside location.
"The development would further intensify housing along Cross Road to the detriment of the character and appearance of the locality."
Intention to tackle dog mess in play area
. Parish councillors are to consider ways to stop dog mess being left on the village playing field at the same time as they whether to repair or replace play equipment there.
A RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) inspection report on play equipment in the village raised a number of "medium risk items" to be acted on.
But vice chairman Coun Clare Hunns said: "The play equipment is potentially coming to the end of its natural life and we need to raise, and retain, funds for the replacement of this equipment."
Discussion then moved on to the cleanliness of the playing field itself and the risks posed to children by dog mess.
Coun Gary Masters said: "If there's a sign going up saying 'No dogs in the play area', then we need to enforce it.
"We'll probably get stick about it, but if we don't do something, dog mess is a danger to children who use that play area."
But a different view came from Coun Angela Savage who said: "We have some young families in the village who have a dog and might want to go to the park with it."
'Tremendous progress' on Community Speed Watch in village
. About ten per cent of drivers travelling through a section of Sutton St Edmund were found to be going above the 40mph limit, members were told.
An update on Community Speed Watch patrols in the village, which started on August 1, was given during Wednesday's meeting
A total of 651 vehicles had been monitored across five patrols, with 67 having exceeded the 40mph limit along Broadgate, with the fastest clocked at 60mph.
In response, parish council chairman Coun Michael Coleman said: "I think we've made tremendous progress on that front and I think it'll start to have an effect.
"I'm keen to see if we get any more feedback from parishioners on this and if they notice us doing it because it'll be good to see them getting behind it."