Chilmington Green protests against town plan
Comments |
Residents from the hamlet of Chilmington Green were out in force
over the weekend to gather support against plans for a town to be
built near their homes.
About 800 people signed the petition at the weekend against
plans to build up to 7,000 homes on farmland.
As well as thousands of homes, the development will
include offices, a supermarket, a secondary school and up to three
primary schools.
Resident Max Frohnsdorff said: "The response to our petition has
been overwhelming, 90 per cent of the population who live in the
affected areas have signed our petition to oppose the liquidation
of our countryside and heritage."
Detailed plans for the area are due to be released by the end of
the year, with formal consultation beginning in 2011 before a
planning application is submitted, probably in the spring.
Richard Alderton, head of
planning and development for Ashford Borough Council, said:
"Chilmington Green has long been identified as part of the town’s
expansion plans and has been subject to considerable involvement of
residents, community groups, landowners and developers in
workshops, exhibitions and meetings over the years.
"The change of Government has
lead to the removal of centrally imposed housing targets, but
Ashford remains a designated growth area and will continue to grow
over time.
"The relaxing of targets means
the Council has more freedom and does not have to chase unrealistic
housing targets. We can concentrate on creating appealing places
with good design which will give Ashford a long lasting legacy and
help create the types of places people are proud to live
in.
"Our aim remains to make
Chilmington Green will be a new thriving; sustainable community
based around a lively High Street with attractive homes and
neighbourhoods in easy reach of new parks and open spaces, shops
and community facilities, as well as excellent public transport
connections to the town centre."
We will continue to work closely
with local people to design this new community in a way that sees
the best of the area’s heritage, landscape and ecological assets
protected so that existing and new benefits can enjoy
them".
For more on this story, see the Kentish Express, on sale
Thursday.
Tuesday, September 07 2010
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.