To the Editor, Ashford and Tenterden Editions
Dear Sir,
Many people will find it offensive that Cllr Clokie has referred in your paper to the popular objection to the massive Chilmington development as 'nonsense'. The petition of some 3500 signatures against the development not only reflects the thousands of lives that would be blighted by it but the sound reasons why it should not happen.
The new Government has thrown out the Growth Agenda, and the new Localism Bill under preparation insists that local people whose lives are affected by decisions should have a say in making them. Legal opinion and Council advice suggest that there is no legal compulsion, only difficulties, unexplained should the Council not proceed. Ashford sits in the middle of four towns all expanding - Maidstone, Dover, Canterbury and Folkestone, and should be seen in this context. To the North West of the County there is the Thames Gateway development, possibly the largest single increase in housing in an area in the country. So where is the need?
The proposed Chilmington development will impact on Singleton, Washford and Shadoxhurst and beyond. 7000 houses is equivalent to two Tenterdens. A town centre is planned that would compete with Ashford. Thousands of residents will have their lives blighted by losing the coutnryside environment they bought into by urban sprawl, increased traffic and parking problems, apart from suffering 10 to 15 years of contruction chaos. Some 1000 acres of productive farmland will be lost at a time when there is a world food shortage.
So why is Cllr Clokie so eager to press ahead? Since the year 2000, when the Town had some 20,000 houses, over 15,000 new houses/flats have been built or are currently in the planning process excluding the planned Chilmington, Tenterden, Kennington and Willesborough developments. This 15,000 represents a 75% increase in Ashford's housing, more than necessary for local need and is a large contribution to the housing stock in the South East. If you then add the lack of infrastructure funding (for schools, hospitals etc), the lack of jobs, inadequate roads, the shortage of drinking water that KCC predicts will start in 2016, the lack of need for such commuter developments, and the massive public opposition, you can easily come to the conclusion that it is nonsense to proceed, not nonsense to object.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Peter Davison
Leader, Ashford Independents
Birchett, Birchett Lane, Orlestone, Ashford, Kent TN26 2ED
01233 732280
