by Gerry Warren

An expert in politics from the University of Kent has agreed to head up a new action group established to fight plans for a huge new housing development around New House Lane and Cockering Lane, in Canterbury.

Clive Church, Emeritus Professor of European Studies in the School of Politics and International Relations, is to take over as chairman of The Hilltop, Iffin, Merton and New House Lanes Action Group (HIMN).

The new group is helping residents respond to the city council’s Local Development Framework consultation document and represent their interests as the Framework process goes forward.

Mr Church (pictured right) has lived in New House Lane for 28 years and is a former chairman of Thanington Without Civil Parish Council. He also served on the Canterbury District Committee of the Kent Association of Parish Councils.

He said: “The job of HIMN is to ensure that residents are fully represented through the planning process which is likely to be long drawn out.

"We want to persuade the city council that its assessment and proposals are flawed. In particular, we feel that concentrating on one giant development is the wrong approach.

"It would destroy the very things which the Council document claims to want to protect and embellish.

“Putting development west of New House Lane would harm the city by diminishing two of the most famous views of the cathedral, those from the hills to the north of the city and that from New House Lane."

He added: “HIMN accepts that more housing is needed and it wants to see a successful city which is attractive to visitors and to business, but it is also convinced that disproportionate single-site, development will act against the long-term interests of both city and district.”