Dear Mr Barman,
I am writing to take issue with your reporters in the last issue of KE who described Ashford Independents as “anti-homes campaigners”. The photograph of Ashford Independent candidates you published on page 13 of the KE dated 14th April was taken in the Old Railway Works on Newtown Road for a reason: they are an ideal site for development which already have planning permission for 788 residential units. This demonstrates that there are alternatives to destroying valued green fields. Unused Brown Field sites around town such as the old Railway Works and Elwick Road could provide homes in sustainable locations, rather than in areas which require car use and will lead to more congestion of local roads such as the A28.
As the Ashford Independent candidate for Stour Ward in Central Ashford I understand that residents of urban areas have less interest in whether or not some green fields south of Ashford are built over. However, as an urban resident myself, I believe the principle is the same – why should valued green areas be lost for the sake of development, when there are plenty of Brown Field sites in and around the town which already have planning permission which have yet to be developed?
The most visible green sites currently under threat close to Central Ashford are the three fields between Drovers Roundabout and The Warren Local Nature Reserve. These were earmarked for the Park & Ride and enabling development of housing and offices, but as the Park & Ride is unlikely to go ahead for the foreseeable future, if ever, there seems to be no good reason for destroying what remains of an attractive green entrance to Ashford, particularly as development there would inevitably damage the wildlife and amenity value of The Warren, and add to traffic congestion.
If elected I would do my utmost to protect the remaining green areas in and around the town from inappropriate development.
Emily Neighbour, Ashford Independent Candidate, Stour Ward
