‘Unanswered questions’ for campaigners

Campaigners have raised more questions about a controversial garden town ahead of an upcoming public consultation on the plans.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) confirmed last week that blueprints for the first 8,500 homes at Otterpool Park, a major development around the former Folkestone Racecourse, had been submitted.

The documents will now be subject to a validation period, expected to be a few weeks long, after which time they will be available for the public to view and respond.

But some opponents to the proposals believe many queries could remain unanswered.

Bob Edden, co-chairman of Sellindge and District Residents’ Association, said: “We don’t know what the application amounts to - 8,500 is very different in numbers from before. It’s very unclear what they’re actually doing.”

FHDC, alongside developing partners Cozumel Estates, has projected to create 10,000 homes on greenfield land around Folkestone Racecourse in phases over a 30-year period.

The original figure was 12,000 homes, which was cut down following consultation.

It is understood that bosses hope to start building initial homes and infrastructure next year, with scope for 1,500 more at a later date.

Mr Edden continued: “It’s a muddled situation because we can’t keep up with it anyway. If the masterplan is 10,000, then they should be showing that now.

“I’m assuming that it will be out in the open and that this application will show where they plan to build first.”