Ashford’s the new Monaco

Recent lockdowns have resulted in people generally travelling less using motorised transport, but a welcome increase in cycling and walking, more so because summer holidays are almost upon us.

Groups of young cyclists (mostly boys aged eight to

14) have been seen milling about housing estates, which would be good if only they practised the Highway Code and kept to the cycleways or, if riding on road, kept to the left where appropriate.

Added to the problem, there are a number of ‘boy racers’ screeching around Ashford who think they are in Monte Carlo.

I am not exaggerating the danger, especially since I have witnessed the death of at least two cyclists in the past, and one of those was a boy of only 14.

Perhaps parents would bring their children under control for everybody’s sake.

Ted Prangnell plans are a complete betrayal of what was agreed with residents.

It is further evidence of Ashford Borough Council’s blatant disregard for its residents and failure to follow proper governance when it comes to development.

Policy S20 states that any development at what is designed to be a business park should be limited to

375 homes with no entrance in Sandyhurst Lane, in an agreement signed by the leader of the council Gerry Clarkson.

Worryingly, the current design shows plans for 600 homes, 150-bed retirement village, and an entrance in Sandyhurst Lane – in a complete reversal of what was agreed with local residents.

What is the point of residents being taken through a public consultation to agree a Local Plan when it counts for nothing?

Time and again, ABC is tearing up the Local Plan and declaring it is open season for housing.

What is so appalling is that ABC adopted the scoping document without consulting residents or me as their representative.

How is the council able to accept a scoping document that is vastly different to the site outlined in the Local Plan?

The past few weeks have seen a range of controversial development applications, emphasising the council is completely disconnected from the electorate.

Residents of Goat Lees must now marshal themselves to fight the Quadrant proposal, and I ask residents to step up and be part of the action group to say enough is enough, and get this undemocratic proposal thrown out.

Cllr Winston Michael

Goat Lees ward, Independent

Like so many organisations and residents, the

Sandyhurst Lane Residents' Association cooperated with, and on occasions fought, Ashford Borough Council and its officers to produce the adopted Local Plan 2030 which, when finally adopted, we thought would set the shape of the borough for the next 10 years.

We were wrong!

Developers apparently can propose new layouts for the already agreed site concept of Eureka Park with more houses, less commercial space and a new 150-bed retirement village, with less green space.

To reduce the impact of this increase on the local transport system they then propose to completely overturn the Local Plan S20 policy which clearly states that “vehicular access to the site shall be provided from Trinity Road only”.

Contrary to this policy we now learn it is proposed that 150 of the new houses shall exclusively use a newly created access point onto the rural Sandyhurst Lane.

Not without a fight.

Tony Bartlett

Chairman, Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association

I am disappointed that councillors on ABC appear to have made it their mission in life to inundate Ashford with as many building sites as is humanly possible.

The Large Burton application for 725 houses was waved through in May despite fierce opposition from residents with a convoluted response from ABC’s director of law and governance, Terry Mortimer, when residents asked for an independent inquiry on the planning committee’s decision.

Now there are plans for 65 flats where Lipscomb is situated, a further 600 houses adjoining Brakes off Trinity Road and yet another 34 apartments once Swanton House is demolished.

I worked for several years in Swanton House around 2001 and found it a quirky building full of character and I am very disappointed it has been left to fall into disrepair. There is a song titled Little Boxes, the lyrics of which are “there’s a pink one and a green one and a blue one and a yellow one, and they’re all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same”. Everything which made Ashford a market town with interesting old buildings is being whitewashed out of its history to be replaced with soulless houses and apartments everywhere. Shame on certain members of ABC for not respecting Ashford’s history and not listening to their residents’ concerns and opinions, and maybe realising that it’s time to call a halt.

Pamela Welbourn

What do you think?

Email kentishexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk

More letters on pages 52-53