AGM

Consultation Over Housing Sites

The public consultation document on the future of Tenterden is available from the library and includes possible sites for allocated housing.

[INSERT LINK to TENTERDEN AND RURAL SITES DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT - ISSUES AND OPTIONS REPORT on ASHFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL WEBSITE]. It invites public views on four main issues:

• Proposed development around the Appledore Road area, specifically the triangle of land between Woodchurch Road and Appledore Road (site18), Homewood Playing Field (site19) and land adjacent to Belgar (site13)

• Proposed development on 23 acres north of the A28 adjacent to the cemetery (site7)

• The proposal that development should be near to the town centre and existing services to lessen the impact on the countryside

• The phasing of development to ensure integration

Tenterden's Housing Growth to be Doubled!

The government inspector has unexpectedly overturned Ashford's figures for Tenterden's housing growth for the next thirteen years. The target for allocated housing growth for Tenterden in the original core strategy was for an additional 265 houses by 2021. The inspector now says that this should be almost doubled and increased to 500! And there is no right of appeal.

Ashford planners had calculated original figures on the basis that Tenterden and other rural communities in the borough have a history of consistently delivering additional housing through what are called "windfall" schemes (development on land that is not allocated in the plan for housing development). The Elmfield development, the Oaks Gate apartment block on the old police station site in Oaks Road and the more recent housing on The Lindens on the Ashford Road are examples of "windfalls" that have contributed to significant recent growth in the town that was not originally foreseen.

The inspector has slashed this assumed windfall element by more than two thirds. This has hit Tenterden disproportionately, since as the second largest settlement in the borough with a good service provision it sits on its own at the top of the "tiered settlement hierarchy" for allocated housing.

All this raises serious questions about the role of central government in determining regional growth. More immediately it cuts across the current process of consultation with the local community on possible sites in the town for allocated housing. That exercise was to have been completed in June, but has now had to be extended.

500 More Houses - A Community Response

The extraordinary decision in the summer by the government inspector to virtually double Tenterden's allocated dwellings to 500 by 2021 over-rode ABC's original proposals and fundamentally undermined the consultation process on the local plan that was already underway. Nevertheless, we met the deadline and have presented a detailed written response in the Ashford's consultation over the local plan.

The Association was also invited to send representatives to a special meeting called by the mayor Cllr John Weller to help establish a community view on the strategic implications of the revised housing target. There was a clear consensus among all community representatives as follows:

• The proposed 500 dwellings should not be allocated on one single site

• The allocations should be located close to the town centre

• Green Lungs are needed to maintain the connection between the town and the surrounding countryside. Formal open space also should be provided

• It is essential to provide a housing need analysis to ensure that appropriate provision is made for both local needs and affordable housing

• Guidance is needed from ABC in respect of the amount of land required for employment purposes relative to the proposed 500 new dwellings

• Sites need to be phased in order to prevent those furthest from the town centre being developed first

• ABC should provide a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment including an infrastructure assessment before any decision is made on preferred sites

• Infrastructure elements e.g. replacement Health Centre / Doctors Surgery and a long stay off street car park should be included

• A roof tax should be levied to fund proposals put forward in the Tenterden Healthcheck and Action Plan including; health care, schools, open space and community facilities

• Development of any sites allocated should be undertaken in discrete parcels accessed from existing links to the road network. Care needs to be taken to ensure that any link does not become a 'rat run'. A direct link between Recreation Ground Road and Smallhythe Road should be avoided.

Support School With Direct Action on 30mph Limit

Restrictions on speed limits, especially on the A28 through St Michaels is a high priority of TDRA and we have pledged our support for St Michael's primary school's campaign to reduce the speed limit. One completely legal yet effective course of direct action is for all of us to resolutely drive at 30mph in the current 40mph zone so slowing the traffic flow to a more acceptable speed!

Cycleway-Stop Go Stop!

Expectations were raised earlier in the year that Phase 2 of the Grange Road-Town Centre cycleway, using part of the redundant railway line, would be completed. Unfortunately planning deadlines were not met in time and the funding body South East Development Agency (SEEDA) would not allow Sustrans "slippage" into this financial year. However, David Young, Sustrans coordinator for the southeast, reports that he has managed to secure funding from ABC as a contribution towards tree works and ground works. These are expected to commence in August or September. Sustrans will meet any financial shortfall for these works and look to recoup expenditure at a later stage. He is meeting Kent Highways services next month to discuss the link into Homewood School and will be exploring options to complete the route to the town centre.

The Gateway Facility

Work on the new Gateway in Manor Row, the first of its kind in Kent to include a Post Office, has started and is due to open in December. The following are a few of the issues raised by interested bodies, including members of the TDRA committee, at the consultation meeting in the Town Hall earlier this year when plans for the re-siting of the library, Tourist Information Centre, ABC office with the post office were discussed:

• Is the library going to be as large as the current one at the Pebbles?

• Is it necessary to have lavatories and showers in the limited space?

• Won't customers queuing at the post office counter spill over into the library?

• Is a library facility, traditionally a quiet area, compatible with other activities

And the official answers in brief are: " The floor area of the new library is larger than the existing " Plans take account of all users and need to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act " Appropriate queuing facilities will be provided, including additional space for queuing at busy periods e.g. Christmas. " The design has been carefully thought out and advice taken from professionals

Tenterden Improved - Station Road/Coombe Lane Project

The planning application for this has now been finalised and a decision is expected by November. There have been productive discussions with local businesses in Coombe Lane e.g. over screening of waste bins and signage and the agreement of the diocese over upgrading access to the graveyard has been secured. However, changes in KCC personnel and restructuring of the Highways department have resulted in delays. As a result the implementation of scheme has been rescheduled for the New Year to avoid the risk of disruption to visitors and retailers in the busy run up to Christmas

A new Heritage Trail pamphlet for tourist, visitors and residents is in the process of being produced with the support of the Local History Society.