Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Villagers’ appeal for £10k to fight ‘destructive’ housing bid
Controversial application now rests in hands of Planning Inspectorate
A residents group is raising £10,000 to help fight a housing bid they fear could ruin their “lovely historic village”.
Developers are hoping to build 15 two-storey homes - including four “affordable” properties - in Wingham, near Canterbury.
The plans were refused by Dover District Council (DDC) two years ago, but the applicants have now appealed the decision at a Planning Inquiry held last week.
Almost 300 people objected to the scheme when it was put forward, with a proliferation of concerns including that the development would have a negative effect on the village’s character, and highway safety.
Refusing the application, DDC cited concerns over pedestrian access to the site, saying a proposed crossing in Preston Hill would not be “safe and suitable”.
But developers Mr and Mrs van Petegem and Leath Park Developments Ltd have now appealed against this.
At a planning inquiry hearing last week, residents group The Wingham Conservation Group (WCG) also aired concerns over a range of other aspects, such as landscape, heritage and drainage issues.
The Planning Inspectorate says a decision will be made by the end of May.
Meanwhile, WCG is trying to raise £10,000 to cover a shortfall in its funds.
Over the past three years, the group has already spent £20,000 fighting the development.
Thousands have been donated by villagers who “feel this is the thin end of the wedge”, and that if this plan is approved it will pave the way for further development in the village.
The group must now raise £10,000 to cover the remaining costs incurred at last week’s hearing.
Committee member Mark Gardiner said: “We had to raise money to obtain our own experts, in order to stand a chance of fighting the planning, and that’s proved to be very expensive.
“Many groups don’t succeed because they can’t find the funds to fight the developers [who] have got thousands of pounds to spend on their experts.
“We’re trying to raise funds to pay for the fees of people we’ve had to use, otherwise we wouldn’t have had a chance of fighting the application.”
Mr Gardiner explains the group is not adverse to all development in the village.
“WCG is very happy to support housing for local people,” he said.
“There’s four affordable homes on the site we’re currently fighting. But ‘affordable’ means probably in excess of £300,000 for a house, which is not affordable for most people.
“So they don’t meet local housing need, and they really destroy the landscape.
“What we don’t want is 15 executive homes costing half-amillion pounds each, in a field which overlooks the village and is totally different form the historic houses you’re used to if you live there.”
But Leath Park Developments says it is confident the proposed scheme is “sensitively designed”.
A spokesperson said: “Given the picturesque nature of the landscape and need to safeguard the village on behalf of future generations and those residing here, we are confident we have proposed a scheme that has been carefully considered and sensitively designed, and to work in harmony with its surroundings. A landscape buffer zone has been incorporated between the road and the new dwellings. The scheme ensures an affordable allocation in accordance with Dover District Council’s directive, and will be offered at an affordable rent or sold on a shared equity basis to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all.”
To donate to the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/ wingham-conservation.