Urban Development Plans Summary

The Urban Plans were displayed today at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford.

Ashford has been allocated a large amount of money from the Central Government as it is identified as a key growth area and needs more housing to sustain the population and employment.

However, as with all planning applications, you cannot gurantee everyone will be happy with the proposals.

26 sites are listed as proposed development areas. These can be roughly divided into district;

Kennington

Kennington North, a current site of arable farm land commencing behind the Towers School and going across to the A28 has caused disconsternation among residents. 600 homes will create an huge addition to Kennington, and while not many people wish to change their view from fields to houses, the development will provide more housing for the area as well as further road systems that will link to the eventual Park and Ride system.

However, the proposed development of land between Orchard Lane and East Mountian Lane is not so straight forward. The land is also arable farm land, but there is no legal access at present to the field. The Orchard Lane is a private road that is a single file gravel road maintained by legal burden of covenant and there is no easement in existence to allow access to the field.
It would be impossible to expand the road to allow a two way thoroughfare and therefore the field is effectively landlocked.

Development of land around Ashford Hockey Club and Ashford Cricket Club would also allocate another 600 homes to the far side of Kennington. However, there is no proposal to add additional schools or facilities. I am unsure Byebrook Surgery would cope with an additional 1200 residents, and although the proposed Goat Lees development is to go ahead, this will not support the amount of families likely to move to the area. I would also question whether the five secondary schools in Ashford are enough when increasing Kennington's population by another council ward. On the other hand, increased facilities at the Hockey and Cricket Clubs will be an asset to a town with growing sports potential.

I cannot say I am too eager about Eureka Park and Sandy Hurst Lane developments either. Again, this is arable land that is a familiar surround of the town. While this development is marketed as employment opportunities by creating what will be the largest business park in the country, I am all too aware of Orbital park and Cobs Wood, full of warehouses providing minimum wage manual work, where several have been vacant for years and the constant flow of businesses through the existing parks creating a constant flow of redundancy and redeployment that does not benefit the community. Those who can get jobs in London for higher wage and permenance will continue, and we will be left with concrete and glass structures surrounded by lorries avoiding paying for the lorry park.

Repton Park and Goddington

Chart Industrial Estate will be redeveloped to support the Victoria Way flyover. For existing businesses this implies a raise in the rates, and I have concern about leasing new properties in the current economic climate.

Leacon Road, linked to Chart Industrial Site will provide further 150 residences and more business premises. The same applies.

Extending Godington Park by 150 has already caused much upset for residents in the area. The arable farm land is full of footpaths and gorgeous scenary that will be lost.

The Warren Park and Ride will provide the ever expanding town with some good transport facilities, but only from the M20. The downside is access from Canterbury will be directly through Kennington and make the roads worse.


Town Centre

Ashford Hospital and Lower Queens Road will provide 100 new homes, while 15 flats are proposed as well.

Singleton

A gap filling 20 homes to be added to Bishops Green.

Beaver

Redeveloping Beaver Green School to provide extra housing does not bode well for schools already bursting with students accross the area.

Park Farm

Park Farm presents the highest level of expansion in the area, ground I used to walk on as foot paths is now a myriad of housing and this is set to continue. With over subscribed schools and a lack of industry, I anticipate complaints here too.


Willesborough

The William Harvey Hospital will be given access from the A20 alongside 300 new homes. This may or may not delight people who seek cheap or free parking for the Hospital, but I doubt it will delight the residents who battle to park alongside their own homes in the process. There is also no apparent plans to extend facilities in the area, and I predict further strain on the schools and medical services.

Lees Farm will become 20 additional homes. This is already an enormous area and it feels as though they are filling every available space with more housing. This also applies to Blackwall Road, Canterbury Road and Hunter Avenue.

The development of Newtown Works and the Klondyke Works have been in the pipeline for years. It will provide prime housing for rail access but will be a thorn in the residents' sides.

Summary

There is a proposed additional 2200 homes within the planning and it is likely to have a dramatic effect on social services in the area. Current growth may include a range of alleged employment opportunities with business parks, leisure parks and travel facilities, but the increase of strain to doctors, dentists, schools and Borough services will present a drain on resources unless the priorities are changed.

The plans will be shown again on Wednesday 27th January at Godington Village Hall if you wish to review them yourself.

Bear in mind if you wish to complain you must write an individual letter per person. A list of signatures in this instance will only account for one complaint when assessed by the planning committee.