Thanet Local Plan Enough is Enough
I had hoped to report on the public meeting last Friday at the Westgate Pavilion but although I arrived in good time the venue was already packed and like many others we were unable to gain entrance. Judging by the mood outside there was anger at the numbers of houses the Local Plan is suggesting especially in Westgate.
Reports back from the meeting indicate that the meeting was very robust. There were 300 chairs and there must have
been at least another 200 standing: packed to overcapacity.
Reports suggest that the planning
officer got short shrift: he was trying to give a
presentation from notes about what he would not talk about and that got
everyone very cross. The chairman did a good job and cut the presentation
short to allow people to ask questions. Reports indicate that these were not well answered by the
planning officer.
Several people spoke who were knowledgeable and articulate and
exposed some of the basic flaws in the local plan as its stands currently.
These fault lines give a lot to base an opposition upon. Some of
these articulate people have agreed to join the steering group. Many others have joined the Facebook group.
I think the meeting gave a very strong message to government and local government that "Enough is enough, do not mess with Thanet."
Anyway here are the minutes of
WESTGATE AND WESTBROOK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
WESTBROOK BOWLS CLUB ON MONDAY 12th
JANUARY 2015 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Tom King, chairman and councillor, thirty members, and KCC
Cllr Jeff Elenor.
The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Kath Bonner, Mick
Rooney, Chris Smith, and John and Mavis Vaughan.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
None
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (8th
December 2014), which had been circulated, were adopted on a prop by Don Eacott
sec by James Brazier, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) TDC Chief Executive. Questions were asked about about this
resignation and possible severance package, as notice was not being
served. Tom reported that councillors
have been called to discuss the recruitment of a new chief executive, and that
the other details requested may be released later.
2) Business Rates £196 reported
as Paid in last Treasurer's Report. The
secretary, Richard confirmed that the appropriate form to apply for small
business rates relief had been sent in and produced a reduction in the amount
payable. James Brazier thought the rates
relief should have been 100% so that nothing was payable.
3) Attendance of Councillors at
W&WRA General Meetings. Derek
confirmed that this would be published in the next magazine.
COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
KCC Cllr Jeff Elenor:
1)
Administration of Libraries etc. A consultation period will run until 8th
April concerning the trust that will be set up to run these.
2)
Plan for New Houses.
This will be discussed in full later during the meeting.
3)
Pedestrian Crossing, Westgate Bay Avenue. Jeff had brought in a copy of the technical
drawing for this crossing which would be used for the consultation period.
4)
Local Children's Nurseries. Jeff had made representations to the
appropriate people at KCC concerning a local nursery.
Questions/Comments:
Tree roots in Rowena Road had become a trip hazard, and
had caused at least one accident.
Railway Footbridge.
It was reported that two out of the three lights were not working, Tom
said this came under TDC responsibility and he would chase it up.
PLANNING
1)
123, Canterbury Road, (Summerlands). Application for erection of four detached
dwellings to the rear and formation of access road, following partial
demolition.
2)
15, Wellesley Road.
Request for certificate of lawful development for single storey
extension. (If granted this would then not require a planning application).
3)
2/62, Cuthbert Road.
Application for permission to erect an eternal staircase for a fire
exit.
CORRESPONDENCE
1)
Dementia Helpline.
There is now a twenty four hour helpline available.
2)
St Mildred's Road/Westgate Bay Avenue. An email had been received concerning many
incidences of poor and illegal parking, which had also been experienced by many
members present.
TREASURER'S REPORT
None
EDITOR’S REPORT
Derek requested articles for the next edition, now
required as soon as possible.
SUNSHINE REPORT
None
MEMBERSHIP
Rosalind reported that membership numbers had held up well
this year, and reminded the meeting that
membership could be offered to local residents when discussing the housing
consultation.
CIVIC REPORT
Westgate Heritage Centre (in St Saviour's Church). Next meeting is Saturday 7th
February at 10.30am when there will be a talk by Chris Wyer about Westgate's
Post Boxes.
PRESS REPORT
Richard told the meeting that last month's report was more
condensed, and had been published in full in one edition of the Gazette.
SOCIAL
1)
Quiz Night. Next
quiz to be held on Friday 20th February.
2)
New Year Lunch.
Eighty seven members and guests had attended the lunch which was very enjoyable. The raffle made £151. Rosalind and all helpers were warmly thanked
for their work.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Consultation for Proposal of
1,000+ Houses at the Back (South) of Westgate. Tom told members the W&WRA
has organised a public meeting this Friday 16th January at Westgate
Pavilion. Leaflets had been delivered to many roads and given out from a table
in Station Road and were welcomed by local residents. Speakers accepting invitations to the meeting
include those from the CPRE, Doctor's Surgery etc, officers from TDC will be
present. BBC South East and the Gazette
had been invited. The Cabinet Advisory Group had declined the invitation, and
Sir Roger Gale MP was unable to attend.
There will be an independent chair person. Garlinge RA are holding a
meeting at the Methodist Church on Monday, and Birchington also are to have a
public meeting and exhibition. The new housing estate could stretch from the
Quex grounds to Garlinge and beyond.
Ron
Rolfe told the meeting that this Westgate Development features well in Facebook
and a vote of thanks was made to Hannah and helpers who had prepared this.
Tom
said that as yet no drop in meeting in Westgate had been arranged by the TDC as they had thought that the public
meeting would be sufficient. Since many
local residents may not be able to attend in the evening or negotiate the
steps, the secretary, Richard was asked to email the TDC concerning a drop in
meeting, and also to invite/remind local ward councillors re the meeting. Tom said Friday's meeting would be assessed
to consider if a further meeting should be held.
Dave
Morrish, who has had considerable experience in local government, thought the
consultation was poor as it was all electronic, and many facts were wrong. He also pointed out that “Examinations in
Public” meetings will be held. High growth
is wanted by councils developers and land owners, whereas most residents do not
want this. Representations/presence at
these meetings will only result if there have been proper responses. The plan should be examined thoroughly for
valid reasons of objection such as a sudden increase of population by 50%, and
the fact that the updated census was not used, traffic problems etc to give a
full considered response to say that the plan is unsound.
Tom
had spoken to the TDC planning consultant Ismail Mohammed about expressions of
interest in providing land in Thanet, and there had been sufficient for 22,000
houses. The Westgate CAAG was working
with Tim Ingleton. Abigail pointed out
that this was an area of high poverty/deprivation. The question of agricultural land with grade
one agricultural soil could be considered, but if specified in the local plan
it made it easier for such land to undergo change of use so that it could be
developed. A number of members recalled the
severe flooding experienced in 1973 in Canterbury Road and area around
the Walmer Castle when a resident was drowned, due to sudden heavy rainfall,
and how this situation could be worsened by concreting over the agricultural
land.
Members
present doubted very much if such a development would provide employment for
local people, many projects in the past
had not done so.
A
proposal was then made by Dave Morrish seconded by Tony Sykes that a
sub-committee be set up to prepare a response to the TDC draft local plan which
would be subject to the full committee
approval. This was unanimously agreed.
Tom
said that anyone with expertise and contributions to make would be welcome to
the sub-committee.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 9th
February, in the Town Hall Buildings. 7 pm for 7.15 pm
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 8.35pm.
