Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Samaritans call for more helpers
Canterbury and District Samaritans is sending out its own appeal for help due to a lack of volunteers.
The charity, which handled 18,000 phone calls last year, cannot currently operate as many hours as it would like, because of the shortage.
It says volunteers, who can come from all walks of life and receive full training, have the chance to change the lives of people in emotional distress.
An information day is being held shortly.
For more details contact Jessie at the.samaritans@ btconnect.com or visit samaritans.org/canterbury
The free helpline number is 116123 or visit the centre in Northgate, Canterbury. A 250-home estate on the outskirts of Canterbury will bring “chaos, traffic and concrete” to rural life, opponents claim.
The ambitious proposal off the A28 at Westbere also includes a supermarket, medical centre, children’s nursery and business units.
But as an outline planning application was submitted this week, critics claim the Hoplands Farm scheme will have a catastrophic effect on the village.
Among them is Westbere parish council, which is concerned about the impact on the rural hamlet, especially when added to 400 homes already planned for nearby Hersden.
It says: “Each of the proposals has an implication for the others and it is, therefore, almost impossible to comment on each individually without taking into account the combination of these in a way in which none of the developers have considered to date.
“In Westbere parish council’s view it would be catastrophic, particularly from the environmental and transport impacts, if they all went ahead.”
It also fears the road network, especially the A28, will not be able to cope with an estimated five-fold increase in traffic and is worried about the potential damage to the environment and countryside.
Sturry and Wickhambreaux parish councils and local residents have also written to object.
Dr Van den Broek said: “It is self-evident that substantial pollution and traffic problems would follow in the wake of the proposed development, result-
‘Substantial pollution and traffic problems would follow in the wake of the proposed development’
ing in additional risks to public health and an increase in the misery already experienced by drivers using the A28.
“The revised environmental statement dismisses these legitimate concerns, saying they will be ‘negligible’ or ‘minimal’ because it relies on misleading data, spurious analogies and even wishful thinking.”
Victoria Waters adds: “This proposal will completely change the quality of life and the village, which will become just an extension of the city.
“The plan is far too extreme. We already have our village shop – a friendly store that will suffer if this plan goes ahead.
“The dentist, pharmacy, apprenticeship centre, and nursery would only be needed to support the 250 houses and the area will be destroyed with this development.
“Please let this village remain a village – an escape from the city that we work in and not an extension of the chaos, traffic and concrete.”
The developer behind the proposal, Quinn Estates, claims the scheme helps meet a shortfall of land for housing in the district.
It also predicts the development and facilities will create numerous jobs, providing an economic boost to the community.
The proposals include five acres of business space, an apprenticeship centre for construction students and 40 acres of open public space for recreation.
Kent Highways has withdrawn its initial objection to the plans on the condition that various highways works are completed to mitigate the effect of the extra traffic.
What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup. co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.