Canterbury district's local plan discussed in public for the first time

 ... and guess what - Herne Bay gets screwed. To pay for treats for Canterbury. 

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Canterbury City Council's draft local plan was discussed in public for the first time last night, amid accusations one of the key sites was "undeliverable" and uncosted.

At a meeting of the council's overview committee, Lib Dem Nick Eden-Green said the proposal for 4,000 homes on farmland at south Canterbury was in the wrong place and would not work. Mr Eden-Green, part of the group involved with putting the plan together, argued fewer new homes were needed than included in the plan. He said:

"There is a lot that is excellent but it is not community led and that has been a fundamental initial failing. We should put houses where we need economic development, Herne Bay and Hersden, not south Canterbury."

Studies commissioned by the council suggested most people's preferred choice for more developments was Herne Bay, then larger villages, then Whitstable, with Canterbury last on the list. [This is a lie - click here to see the truth.] But 70 per cent of people did not support building on greenfield sites.

Mr Eden-Green won applause as he added:

"South Canterbury is barely costed and possibly undeliverable. This site and this plan have been hijacked by that development and the need to put the junction in for economic development."

But both a proposal to refer the plan back to the steering group, and to extend the public consultation, were defeated.

Lib Dem leader Alex Perkins said:

"It is quite clear that publishing this draft plan has caused a great deal of disquiet and discomfort. To cram 4,000 homes in South Canterbury when we know it is only to pay for new roads is wrong. The working group should work with local residents and residents association to find their vision of what local people would like to see in the district because the danger is we are simply going to get this wrong."

In Herne Bay, hundreds of homes planned will also help pay for improvements to roads across the district, officials revealed. The developments at Altira Park, Strode Farm and the former golf club as well as near Briary school in Greenhill would bring in vital cash to pay for a new crossing at Sturry.

Developers would also be asked to fund a 'relief route' for Herne - but opponents said it did not go far enough and a bypass was needed. Canterbury City Council's head of regeneration Ian Brown said:

"We are trying to build communities, not just individual housing estates. The Herne Bay sites will provide a new regenerative beginning for the town, a new focus and will contribute to new transport infrastructure. In part that will help to fund routes through and the Sturry bypass."

But town stalwart Dick Eburne said the plan to improve Bullockstone Road as the relief route did not go far enough. He raised concerns about transport, and said the public transport system would need significant investment in order to meet the target of more people choosing to travel sustainably within three years. He said Herne needed a bypass, and Bullockstone Road was not suitable, and that through traffic on the A28 should be diverted.

But Whitstable Tory Ashley Clark urged people to get involved. He said:

"Canterbury has got off lightly in the past. Whitstable has taken a lot of pain. I want all of you who are not happy with things to participate. Look at what is there and see what you think and if you genuinely can be constructive about it please take part and participate."

Whitstable has been earmarked for 400 new homes alongside Duncan Down, between St Luke's Close and the Thanet Way, with a new junction off the Thanet Way. There is also a proposal for a green burial site on part of Duncan Down as well as more pedestrian access.

Consultation is expected to start in June for eight weeks and the plan is due to be revised by councillors in December, with a public inquiry due to take place next summer before the document is finalised.

Comments sent in before the official consultation starts will not be valid.

Local Plan - Herne Bay

The story so far:

• Maps of the proposed areas in Herne Bay. The cartoon maps come from the Agenda of the Overview Committee 13th May 7pm. I've super-imposed them on a Google map that shows Herne Bay's Urban Boundary.
  
• The Draft Local Plan, to read onscreen or download. 

N.B. The "Land at Greenhill" and "Bullockstone Road" developments are being dealt with in the planning process, as they have already submitted their applications. This is the reason given to explain why they don't appear on any of the Council's Local Plan maps. I've included them in the last map for completeness.

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2013-05 the Draft Local Plan 2013 by HerneBayMatters

Canterbury councillor Roger Matthews acquitted...

... but developer Julian Brealy convicted

A Kent property developer has been warned he could be facing a jail sentence after a jury convicted him of corruption. The verdict on Julian Brealy came shortly after Canterbury city councillor Roger Matthews was acquitted of the charge. The jury of six men and six women found estate agent and property developer Brealy guilty by a 10-2 majority. He was granted conditional bail until sentence on April 13. Brealy, of Mandarin Lane, Herne Bay, and Mr Matthews, of Beltinge Road, Herne Bay, denied the charge.

Mr Matthews, 58, was alleged to have corruptly received benefit by way of unpaid rent as a reward for promoting the interests of Brealy, 51, and two of his companies, Herne Bay Golf Club and Hollanby Estates Ltd. His landlord was Hollanby Estates. Brealy is managing director and a shareholder in the family business. Mr Matthews, who represented Greenhill and Eddington, denied he showed favour to Brealy in return for being allowed to live rent free for almost six years between May 2002 and July 2008 and failing to pay around £36,000.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC ordered Brealy to surrender his passport and banned him from obtaining travel documents after hearing he was a director of Heron Helicopters. He will also have to report to police once a week. Philip Noble, defending, said he would be arguing there were "exceptional facts and other matters" that could enable a suspended prison sentence to be imposed.

"What is clear from the verdicts of the jury is they accept Mr Matthews did not corrupt him."

The judge said he made it absolutely clear that in adjourning sentence for reports there would be anything other than immediate imprisonment. But he added he would consider all the material put before him. Speaking after his acquittal, Cllr Matthews said:

"The whole thing has been hell for me. I knew I had done nothing wrong but you can never tell how it was going to go. When the verdict was read out I felt numb. I’d been told I faced up to two-and-a-half years in prison which just added to the pressure. I’m a very relieved man today. I’ve received so many texts and calls from people congratulating me and saying they always knew I was innocent."

Cllr Matthews said he had yet to decide whether to stand at the next local elections. He said:

"It’s something I have to think about. The jury has come to the right decision today, but mud sticks."

kentonline 19th Mar 2010