Open Letter: Approval of Dobbies Leisure Garden Centre

Dear Sir or Madam,

The decision made at Ashford Borough Council Planning meeting to approve the introduction of a Dobbies Garden Centre on Eureka Park was disappointing to say the least.

While there was a number of objections raised regarding the issues of competition, which are not considered to be a planning issue, there was still the issue of changing the designation Of the building in question. This area was designated office space and neither retail more leisure. In the event that this designation was to be overridden, it should have at least been designated leisure space.

To designate the land as “retail use” signifies that the parent company, Tesco, may at any time change the Dobbies to a Tesco supermarket without consulting the public or the council. There are already significant legislative guidelines on allowing monopoly by Tesco across Europe and our councillors have just effectively let them in through the back door.

The ability of the planning committee to override the designation of the building in spite of significant public opinion against the idea, as well as against the principle and purpose of the Eureka Park, raises serious questions About the principle and purpose of our Borough Council.

Public Services should be for the public, run by people that are elected by the public, In order to facilitate the use of the town. When Eureka park was designed, It was intended to be a site dedicated to scientific technology and development to increase jobs and prospects for both the local borough and the country.

However, by introducing a Garden Leisure Centre, as Dobbies is meant to be, we are simply introducing further low paid low-grade jobs and not developing the economic climate of Ashford in the slightest.

Kind regards

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Open Letter: Street Pastors

Dear Sir or Madame,

While I have been saddened to follow the murder trial on behalf of the victim Ben Neilson, and would like to send my regards to his family, the idea of the introduction of Street Pastors Raises serious concerns.

We already have a significant network of Community Safety Specialists in Ashford. This includes Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Community Wardens and Community Forums. In spite of this, Ashford has one of the highest levels of Antisocial behaviour in the country.

The continuous issues regarding the Churchyard are indicative of this. Because of this, I am confused as to what the Street Pastors will be able to bring, where police and other Community Safety Specialists are failing.

In addition to this, like a lot of the network of Community Safety Specialists, the Street Pastors will not have any powers in order to act against crime or protect themselves or others.

The scheme may inadvertently create additional targets of violent behaviour which will put not only the Street Pastors but also members of the public as a higher risk.

We are still awaiting proposals by Ashford Borough Council to make the town centre an alcohol free zone during the evenings. I would hope that Ashford Borough Council do not anticipate utilising volunteer Street Pastors to maintain this regulation.

Kind regards,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Rather Engaged

Just a note to apologise for my lack of bloggery.

The election has kept me more than busy, and the ongoing debates between Lib Dems and other parties is something of a touchy subject.

However, on top of that, I'm doing something rather shocking and conventional, getting married. On Saturday 15th May 2010.

I do intend to blog on the length and brevity of the election, liberally littered with philosophising on what exciting times these are, just not today!