Kentish Express Ashford & District
Call to boycott estate consultation
Plans to extend the Bridgefield housing estate on the outskirts of Ashford will go under the microscope next week.
Developers Taylor Wimpey are inviting residents to attend a public consultation detailing plans for the 375-home scheme.
If approved, the scheme – which includes 30% affordable housing – would be built on land between Brockmans Lane and Cheeseman’s Green Lane.
Park Farm councillor Jim Wedgbury (Con) is calling on people to skip the consultation, which will be held at Kingsnorth village hall next Thursday.
“I would like people not to attend,” he said.
“That might be counter intuitive, but I think public consultations help developers as they want to show people have turned up and shown support.
“If it is boycotted, then they can’t do that and I think if people do go it will help the developers and not hinder them.”
The proposed development site is jointly owned by Taylor Wimpey and the Persimmon Homes company.
Cllr Wedgbury added: “Everyone who lives in a house on Park Farm is in a recently built house, so they can’t really oppose to new development when they live in a new development themselves.
“But Kingsnorth parish council is concerned as it thinks other places should be taking the pressure of new homes, too.
“They feel it is time for other places to have some new homes – like Tenterden and Biddenden.”
The consultation will be held at the village hall in Church Hill, Kingsnorth, between 2pm and 7pm on Thursday, November 30.
Kerri-Ann Bland, head of planning at Persimmon Homes South East, said: “Anyone who comes along to our public exhibition on will be able to speak to members of our project team to find out more about our proposals and provide their feedback to help us develop and refine the emerging scheme.”
For more details, visit www. taylorwimpey.co.uk/parkfarmsoutheast after November 30.
What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk