Defford/Besford

There were eight planning applications requiring comment.

W01/00106 Mr and Mrs D Adams - no objections but the materials to match the existing building.

W01/00173/00 Mr D Robinson - demolition of existing development and construction of dwelling, Water Tower Site, Broad Hill. The council were opposed to any development on this site. The location is the most prominent in the parishes and in open countryside. The Water Tower workings are fairly inconspicuous and the original building was demolished several years ago.

W01/00382 Mr D Porter - re-submission of W00/0220 which was refused. The council were opposed to the proposals which were not substantially different from the original. No reason to overcome the refusal was submitted.

W01/00394 Mr and Mrs K Barker - change of use of agricultural land to grazing for horses, land rear of plot 5 Besford Court Estate. No objection to grazing of horses but no shelters or stabling or horseboxes of any kind.

W01/00432/PP Mr and Mrs A Holmes - re-submission of previous planning application for single storey extension to form kitchen and utility room at rear. Creation of bathroom, study, landing and store room and bedroom in roof space using velux windows plus single storey extension to garage, Glenavon, Upton Road. The original objections were still valid and concerns of the council were still valid.

W01/00485/PP Mr S Wickens - proposed two storey extension to side to provide kitchen, utility and cloakroom with bedroom and en suite above. Single storey extension to rear to create family room, office and sun room, Candleford Harpley Orchard. The comments regarding the original application which was approved apply with this new application.

W01/00149/PN Mr D Griffin - retention of agricultural workers dwelling as built Besford Bridge Farm. The PC had not received any objections to this dwelling which had been built for several years and therefore no action was recommended.

W01/300385 Mr and Mrs R Hudson - extension of external store, Dower House, Besford Court Estate. No objection but materials to match existing.

Planning decisions had been received concerning the following:

W01/00017/PN Environmental Agency - approved subject to certain conditions including landscaping and materials.

W00/01733/34LB Mrs A Rice - approved subject to conditions including amended plans, materials, floor slab levels, foul drainage to connect to new public sewer and landscaping and access arrangements.

The works associated with the new sewage were drawing to a close and completion was expected to be during April. It was confirmed that the village hall car park would be re-laid with road scalpings as originally provided. Also a new post and rail fence would be constructed on both sides of the new access roadway. There were problems associated with the electrical supply to the new pumping station which would delay its commissioning and this would mean that the date for owners of property to complete their connections would be six months from the commissioning date, it was reported that the old village drain in Harpley Road was blocked over the Easter holiday and discharging down the road.

Also concerns grading a footpath were expressed. The council would bring these matters to the attention of the contractors at the site meeting. As all of Worcestershire was designated an infected area regarding the foot and mouth epidemic all footpath work would be put on hold and all planned walks cancelled. It was disappointing to record that once again some property owners whose land adjoined Public Rights of Way had failed to cut back overhanging hedges. The next sale of the late Ron Howes estate would take place on May 5 when postcards and photographs of the villages would be included.

THE LATE RON HOWES ESTATE: The third auction took place at Upton-upon-Severn Primary School on May 5. Whereas the first sale had been mainly toys and the second household items this third sale included several collections of period postcards from around the local villages and towns. However, there were also extensive collections of cigarette and tea cards plus several albums of photographs especially related to the local railways. Lot 154 was purchased consisting mainly of postcards of Defford and Besford but some photographs were included. Dating from around 1909 to the mid 50s subjects included general views around the village plus church and cemetery lychgate scenes. However several photographs of the junior school children were featured. Altogether 46 items fetched £270. Lot 204 contained 59 photographs of the railway system at Defford and Eckington including construction of the new dual carriageway bridge and dating mainly from the 60s and 70s. In a private deal after the auction three items from the early days of Besford Court Catholic Mental Welfare Hospital for children were acquired. One again several thousand pounds were raised for the exchequer.