AGM

TDRA Planning Policy

Introduction and Objective
Tenterden has maintained a balance between being large enough to provide good facilities, but small enough to retain a true sense of community. It's reputation as the "Jewel Of The Weald" is based upon the combination of its historic town centre and the beautiful countryside around it. As a result, people who live and work here enjoy an excellent quality of life and the town has a thriving tourist economy.

Our objective should be to maintain that balance.

Consultation
This draft policy represents the views of our whole membership that is about 1000 people. This is a significant proportion of the residents of Tenterden and St Michaels

We carried out an extensive consultation of our members last year and 400 questionnaires were returned and analysed. That analysis formed the basis for the development of this policy draft

We also held our annual coffee morning in the High Street recently and about 100 people dropped in specifically to let us have their views on the Parish Plan wish list. These views have also been incorporated into this draft policy
Policies

Geographical boundaries
Our geographical boundaries should be Tenterden and St Michaels The TTC Ward boundaries

We should also comment on applications in the surrounding areas where they directly affect Tenterden

We should also comment on the large scale applications envisaged for the Ashford region where they affect Tenterden

Parish Plan
We should support the Parish “Wish List” as an interim measure

Our long term aim should be to work with TTC and other community bodies to formulate a Parish Plan.

General Development Principles
We should object to any development that falls outside the current town boundaries as defined in the current local plan

We should encourage the protection the views from Tenterden of the surrounding countryside

We should encourage the protection the views of Tenterden from the surrounding countryside

We should campaign for the adoption of the conservation area assessments for both Tenterden and St Michaels as planning policy. In the meantime we should refer to them when commenting on planning applications and therefore encourage the planning officers to consider their recommendations more fully

We should apply these general principles to new and existing buildings, roads, parking, pavements, street furniture, open space and parks

New And Existing Buildings

• There is a target within the current local plan of about 30 new dwellings a year. We should monitor the planning applications and keep a current total of both the number of dwellings and also the number of habitable rooms. We should review the totals annually and remind ABC planners of the totals
• We should support small scale infill developments subject to their design and effect on the townscape or the environment
• We should object to any application that would use green field land especially in the AONB
• We should object to any change of use of buildings or land resulting in a loss of employment to residential development

Roads, Parking And Pavements
Traffic levels in Tenterden and St Michaels are growing at an unsustainable rate threatening the quality of life of residents. Pedestrians, parents with children, the disabled and cyclists should have higher priority when decisions about highways design are being made. The town’s existing commercial success will be further enhanced if pedestrians, both residents and tourists, enjoy using the town centre. In order to achieve this, the following policies are proposed:

• Consideration should be given to reducing the amount of through traffic using the A28.
• Tenterden should have better pedestrian crossing facilities and to more pavement space. If necessary the road widths should be reduced at pavement pinch points if necessary. ( illegal parking on the double yellow lines in the High Street does not seem to impede traffic flow)
• Pavement space should be increased further by relocating spaces from the High Street to existing car parks.
• Proper provision should be made for all day parking for people who work in Tenterden.
• The design of the pavements and crossings should be improved to cater better for the elderly, the disabled and parents with pushchairs
• Provision should be made for proper loading and unloading from the High Street shops
• Provision should be made for well designed and located bus shelters
• The market should be located in the High Street

Open Spaces, Parks and Leisure Facilities

• All new developments should include additional recreational space or facilities or a commuted payment made by the developers. This is important to maintain the balance of recreation facilities and land in the face of increased housing
• Adequate leisure facilities should be provided for teenage children
• The historic greens should be protected from misuse and damage particularly by illegally parked vehicles and temporary highways works
• We should encourage all planning applications to take special note of existing trees, shrubs and any other important landscape features
• We should work with ABC find ways of to improving the Library
• A circular walk should be created linking the historic woodlands an countryside around Tenterden

Design

• We should encourage high quality architecture and design that is appropriate to each site. This should not preclude good contemporary design even in conservation areas
• Our comments should extend to the materials and architectural detailing of buildings as these make or break the quality of the completed design
• We should object to poor quality design where seen from a public place
• We should comment on the landscaping works surrounding buildings and encourage full details to be included in planning applications

This draft dated 6th November 2003