Now that there is more time before the planning committee meeting we think it would be very useful if you would all contact members of the planning committee to explain why you think they should refuse the planning application.
The key planning argument is that the so called public benefit of the development (mainly the leisure centre) outweighs the harm it would cause.
This harm includes:
Harm to the setting of the canal (a Schedule Ancient Monument) and it’s tranquility
Loss of open space
Loss of the visual amenity/open character of the site
Devastation to the wildlife and its habitat
Flood risk – even if the site itself is now considered to be in zone 1 it is surrounded by zone 3 and so would be marooned in a flood situation.
Please try to use your own words and add something about what PP means to you personally and why leaving PP as open space is more important to you than a new leisure centre.
Don’t worry about the financial viability/alternative site for the leisure centre argument – we are dealing with that.
Our Facebook posts reached 8000 people last week. Imagine if the councillors received 8000 emails objecting to the development of PP! Surely they couldn’t ignore us then. Especially with local elections coming up next May.
However, as far as we know cabinet members will not be allowed to sit on the planning committee because of the conflict of interest so there will be substitutes. (We are in discussion with the council about whether Susan Carey should be allowed to sit on the committee as she is an ex cabinet member.) So we suggest you write to all 20 non cabinet members – that should cover all possible combinations of councillors who might sit on the planning committee. It won’t matter if you end up emailing someone who won’t be on the committee.
Here are their email addresses: (note that Carol Sacre does not use screens and so will not read emails. Her contact details are:
3 Pilgrim Spring
Folkestone
Kent
CT19 6QE
Bus. phone: 01303 853493)
| carol.sacre@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| claire.jeffrey@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| clive.goddard@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| damon.robinson@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| david.owen@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| frank.mckenna@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| Ian.Meyers@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| janet.holben@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| len.laws@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| mary.lawes@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| michael.lyons@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| paul.peacock@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| peter.gane@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| philip.martin@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| richard.pascoe@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| rodica.wheeler@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| roger.wilkins@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| russell.tillson@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| susan.wallace@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
| susie.govett@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk |
Just for information:
The members of the planning committee are listed here: http://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/moderngov/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=439