Dear Cllr Wood,
Ashford Independent Association members are very concerned at the stated intention of Ashford Borough Council to proceed with this development against Government guidelines, ahead of brownfield and other sites that have planning permission, in the face of huge public objection, while the Core Strategy has not been reviewed or the Area Action Plan, and economic planning been completed. Ashford has large numbers of empty houses and shops. You were reported in the Kentish Express of 13 October as saying that if there is good cause, this project can be taken out of the Core Strategy. This is what we ask you to do, as in the circumstances the development makes no sense.
When the Prescott Plan (Sustainable Communities Act) came in, Government made clear that the development concerned Ashford Town and not large areas of rural farmland. The development was listed to be Central and Concentric, jobs and infrastructure led, with brownfield sites first. The Gas Works, Railways Works brownfield sites have planning permission. The Waterbrook site development was agreed years ago as was Cheeseman's Green. The brownfield sites of the Commercial Quarter and Elwick Road are in the planning process. These sites, subject to minor change up or down, represent some 9000 housing units or the equal to 15 years of development at current building rates. Together with the 6000 odd houses built since the year 2000, it is an increase in the size of Ashford Town of about 75%, so where is the need for the addition of the Chilmington development and why are we going greenfield first?
The Borough Council is here to administer the area and serve its residents. So why is the Council ignoring a petition against the development, now rising to 4000 signatures? Residents are not objecting just because of the huge impact on the area and Ashford as a whole, but because there is no need and in the circumstances the development doesn't make sense.
In any business it is foolhardy to proceed until the business plan has been completed and tested. In this case the Council is proposing to approve the development before the economic/business case has been finalised, or the Area Action Plan agreed, or the Core Strategy completed. Cllr Michael has illustrated his and our concern over this in his email awaiting your response.
Ashford Town has large numbers of empty houses with a run-down Town Centre with empty shops everywhere. Does this suggest a need for a huge additional housebuilding programme? The Council seems to be acting positively to bring the development forward early.
One of the main concerns is the lack of experience of Ashford Officers in building towns. Look at the £6 million plus cost overrun and commissioning problems at the Stour Centre. We make no criticism of our Officers, but building a Town of this size is not the normal work of these Officers.
The other reasons for taking the development out of the Core Strategy are:
a) Other Towns around Ashford such as Dover, Folkestone, Maidstone and Canterbury are all expanding in addition to the huge Thames Gateway development.
b) The new jobs target has not been met, thus making new residents commuters.
c) The high-speed trains are already at full capacity.
d) It is not clear where all the infrastructure funding is to come from.
e) The development will need some 1000 acres of productive farmland at a time of world food shortage.
f) The impact of the development on the environment and ecology of the area will be devastating.
g) KCC have said that potable water will start to become short after 2016 if building continues.
h) The A28, the only main road that serves this huge site, is not dualled and is already at peak capacity at rush hours.; The remaining road infrastructure is completely inadequate for a development of this size. Tenterden, half this size, has 5 main roads entering/leaving it.
i) The Smartlink bus service is postponed due to shortage of funds.
All this makes a compelling case to take the development out of the Core Strategy. I have about 1000 residents in my Ward who express concern and request me as their elected Councillor to do something about it, hence my contributions at meetings and this letter. Please may I have a response so that we can understand the Council's position.
Regards,
Cllr Peter Davison
