Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Villagers’ anger at housing plans
Angry locals are accusing developers of shoehorning extra homes into Sturry.
The city council’s Local Plan – its housebuilding blueprint for the next 14 years – allocates just 550 homes for the site and 450 on land north towards Broad Oak.
But an application submitted last week bids to build 700 homes in Sturry alone, with an extra parcel of land, off Shalloak Road and not in the Local Plan, forming part of the scheme.
Critics argue the Sturry project cannot be considered in isolation to the Broad Oak site, for which no official proposal is lodged.
They also claim the plans – which include a new primary school and a £30 million relief road – erode the “green gap” between Sturry and the city.
Katie Machin-miles, of the High Street, Sturry, said: “This proposed project will completely change the character of Sturry.
“Air pollution in the village is already at a dangerous level, and the increase in traffic that would result from an additional 700 homes will only make the situation worse.
“Traffic congestion is bad enough. Putting in another road will only encourage more vehicles to come through the area.
“The field on which the new housing is proposed is a treasured place of natural beauty and enjoyed by many locals as a place to walk, enjoy the views and find some peace.
“To remove this from our village will be detrimental to the quality of life of many villagers.”
Retired teacher Heather Stennett, from Broad Oak, is secretary of the Society of Sturry Villages historical interest group.
She said: “The Sturry application is being made without reference to the Broad Oak Farm site and the highways proposals. We should have been presented with the whole package.
“The information locals have been given is illustrative only, so how are we supposed to comment on something which will affect the whole community?
“Local residents also have concerns about how they will be able to access their own village and the amenities of Sturry when the new relief road has been built.
“We will only be able to get one chance at getting it right because once land is built on it’s too late.”
Peter Byfield, of Dengrove Park, Shalloak Road, is also concerned about increased traffic and pollution. He said: “The extra roads in the plan all lead on to existing roads which are struggling to cope with traffic as it is.
“I can see people from developments where every home comes complete with a garage joining others from farther afield in creating ‘rat runs’ through different areas around Canterbury to beat the traffic.
“Many residents in Broad Oak are elderly, and retired here for a quiet life. Without proper road infrastructure for construction traffic and workers on the new estates, we will become prisoners in our own homes.”
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