Concerns over poor planning

I am writing about your recent story about the Cockering Road development [Redrow resumes construction at 400-home

Cockering Farm development in Canterbury after legal challenge fails, March 31] to correct the council spokesman’s very misleading comment: “The developer has now had all of the planning conditions approved and there is nothing to stop work taking place on the site now.”

In fact, reserved matters approval on this development are still outstanding, including one for spine road with accesses onto Milton Manor Road and Cockering Road and associated landscaping, utilities infrastructure, sustainable drainage system and earthworks. This will require consideration of the Environmental Impact Assessment. So as reported, the spokesman’s comments are simply untrue.

Many, notably Thanington and Chartham parish councils, share my concerns about Canterbury’s poor planning here: both the failure to consider impacts of this development upon their communities and consistent lack of enforcement of breaches.

Your readers have commented they want more affordable housing in the development. If they don’t get enough affordable housing but lose the amenity benefit of some lovely countryside and suffer increased traffic harm, how can that be said to be ‘improving the district for those that live, work and study here’?

The council’s decision to drop their investigation into the groundworks last year is a dereliction of duty and failure of proper supervision: it’s like saying they won’t investigate a a theft because the stealing has stopped.

If the council really does want to focus on improving the district, they should direct officer time and energy to applying the planning regime properly, eliminating any need for judicial reviews.

Finally, I did not seek to ‘quash’ the outline planning permission (OPP) granted in 2018, as claimed. Rather I continue to seek to ensure that council properly considers the environmental and

‘It has always been a source of amusement and a “welcome home” to me for the last 40 years to look for Elvis as I rode my motorbike back from Derbyshire’

amenity impacts arising from departures from the OPP, such as the spine road realignment. Camilla Swire Petham

■ When contacted by the Gazette this week, the council said it stands by the comment it provided at the time.