Decision on Prolog site deferred by Chilton Parish Council

Yesterday’s Chilton Parish Council Meeting was a lively affair with a higher than usual number of local residents in attendance. They were keen to make their voices heard in respect of the application by Prolog to build warehouses and a headquarters office off Church Field Road.
The decision to support or not to support the application, or to make comments, has been deferred by the Parish Council, pending the outcome of a public consultation that is to be held on 22nd September at the Christopher Centre in Sudbury at 7.30. The Chairman of the Parish Council is also seeking guidance with regard to voting protocol from the Monitoring Officer at Babergh in view of the fact that a significant number of Parish Councillors have a prejudicial interest in the scheme due to the fact that they live nearby and will be affected, or that they are on the Board of Trustees of Chilton Church, or involved with Woodland BATS which could ultimately be involved in managing the adjacent woodland site.
The application is a tricky one and in my view a sensible balance has to be sought.
It is unlikely that the Development Committee will refuse to grant planning permission for the site which is clearly designated in the Local Plan as being for ‘Employment use’, and this is particularly true at a time of economic uncertainty. However it is, I think, important, that economic considerations do not completely overwhelm the environmental ones.
The main concerns seem to be the height and volume of the structures and their relationship with nearby historic buildings, and indeed with the other adjacent warehouse and office buildings. There are also lighting and noise issues plus the need to have regard to the woodland screening of the site and pedestrian and non motorised access to other parts of Chilton.
Let us hope that some of these concerns can be addressed.