Local Plan: Parish pledges to halt Strode in its stride

Parish councillors have vowed to stop a massive housing development they fear would link Herne to Herne Bay.

Members of Herne and Broomfield Parish Council are working with charity CPRE Protect Kent to find reasons to stop 1,000 homes being built at Strode Farm owned by Hollamby Estates, of which parish councillor Andrew Brealy is a director.

Mr Brealy left the room when the issue was discussed at a meeting on Thursday, but chairman Tony Day said the charity's advice was to focus on highways issues.

The development, included in Canterbury City Council's draft Local Plan, would involve upgrades to Bullockstone Road to turn it into a "relief road". But Councillor Day said they did not go far enough. He said:

"The road will end up more or less as it is. It is totally inadequate. It is less adequate than the current route through the village. People from all the new developments will all want to go to Canterbury and will be going through our village or a relief road. All these developments should hinge on the proper infrastructure being in place."

The parish council plans to hire an independent expert - part funded by CPRE Protect Kent - to examine the highways issues but members said it was crucial residents also got involved. Councillor Ann Blatherwick said:

"We need to find out why we are not being considered separately to Herne Bay and why we are not mentioned as a village. We are a separate community. But we are just lumped in together and that explains why they are trying to join us up."

Members also discussed the loss of agricultural land, and the lack of school places. County councillor Alan Marsh said:

"We would need new schools, two primary and two secondary, to deal with the numbers of children. There isn't money for one school, let alone four."

The parish council won the backing of city councillor Peter Vickery-Jones, who stressed he had not been part of the Local Plan steering group that put the proposals together. He said:

"It is about time Canterbury picked up where it should. There has been huge resistance to South Canterbury but it is right it should be developed there."

But he cited the need for an alternative option, and suggested Thanington near Canterbury.

Village Hall plans on display

Plans for a new village hall for Herne will go on display next month. Herne and Broomfield Parish Council members have asked flve developers to provide drawings and costs for a new building in St Martin's View, next to the School Lane car park.

Villagers will be asked to choose their favourite and fill in a questionnaire before councillors decide how to proceed.

At a meeting of the parish council on Thursday, clerk Monica Blyth said developers would be at a public exhibition on Friday, July 12th from 1 to 7pm to answer any questions and results of the consultation would be considered by the hall committee.

Cllr Tracey Jones said it was important the consultation was as wide as possible, with an exhibition at the weekend as well as during the week. Councillors agreed to investigate other dates the material could be on display and to print extra leaflets and posters to distribute via schools and shops.

HB Times 20th Jun 2013

Local Plan: Parish Council oppose Strode Farm plans

Parish councillors are set to outline their opposition to the Local Plan tonight (13th June 2013) as the public consultation on proposals for 3,000 homes in Herne Bay begins. Herne and Broomfield parish council is expected to focus its arguments against plans for 800 houses at Strode Farm.

Although it has expressed disapproval for a 400-home development at Herne Bay Golf Club, councillors are expected to say they will accept the scheme as a compromise. They are calling on residents to write to the city council in opposition to the inclusion of Strode Farm on the draft Local Plan.

The document outlines housing strategy for the Canterbury district until 2031, proposing 15,600 homes for the area overall. Parish council spokesperson
Monica Blyth said:

"The big thing for us is to get out the importance of people responding to the consultation. It carries more weight if several individuals respond rather than getting a petition together. We are going to have to accept some development and of the two proposed developments in the area, we do not want Strode Farm.

Residents want to keep that buffer and the lesser of the two evils is the golf club. It is not such a big development and will have less impact. A development at Strode Farm would have a tremendous impact on the parish."

The parish council is in discussion with the Campaign to Protect Rural England about putting together an environmental challenge to the plans.

Ms Blyth added:

"Canterbury City Council don't appreciate Herne and Broomfield are villages and not part of Herne Bay. Herne was here first and long-established before Herne Bay arrived. This amount of properties will be huge and add 50% to what we have already."

HB Gazette 13th Jun 2013

Local Plan: Herne's identity at risk

People in Herne "have right to be concerned" about the inclusion of Strode Farm on the Local Plan.

In it the council says it would be likely to approve plans for 800 homes being built there. The plan also says a relief road would need to be built for Herne, linking Canterbury Road with Bullockstone Road.

Locals have expressed fears of losing village identity and the increased traffic levels that would come if developments at Strode Farm and Herne Bay Golf Club get the go-ahead. Herne and Broomfield parish council clerk Monica Blyth said:

"The issue the parish council has is the majority of the developments proposed are within Herne or within a couple of miles.  This will have a huge effect on the amount of traffic coming through the village and residents are concerned about losing the village's identity. 

We understand that we will probably have to have something built.  We have been talking to the Campaign to Protect Rural England and are hoping to liaise with them about what is the best way forward."

In a questionnaire given to Herne and Broomfield villagers earlier this year, 342 opposed any development of the golf club or Strode Farm.  Another 52 said they would accept the golf club but oppose Strode Farm and 13 said they approved both proposals.

While a planning application for the golf club is imminent, this is not the case with Strode Farm. Developer Hollamby Estates, which has been linked with the site, says that submitting a planning application will be a long way off.

MP Sir Roger Gale says a condition of any development should be that a relief road would have to be completed first, before houses are finished. He said:

"Often people want to build houses to make money and then say we will give you the land to make the road.  We have got to have funding for the whole road first. A road around the village of Herne has got to be done.  Until that is resolved, I cannot see any real progress being made on that site.

Herne have right to be concerned about the proposed development for Strode Farm.  It's not to say there shouldn't be any housing but a massive housing estate would be unsuitable."

Residents have to speak out

An action group like the one which stopped a Tesco being built in Herne has not been ruled out by Herne and Broomfield parish council. Clerk Monica Blyth said:

"It's a possibility, but that was a different issue. The main thing that stopped Tesco was the issue of access to the site and the fact they wanted to extend it more than they had planning consent for. This is a very different issue. we will have to wait and see."

The council also called on residents to air their views when the Local Plan goes out for formal public consultation.

"It is no good signing a petition saying we don't want it. They need to make their reasons clear why this in not a suitable place to have a development."

The Details

A relief road from Canterbury Road to Bullockstone Road would bisect the 800 home development at Strode Farm. Money for this would be contributed to by developers of the four Herne Bay strategic sites.

A parish hall would be built at Strode Farm as well as some local shops. A footpath linking Lower Herne Road with the golf club development would also be inculded. Developers would also have to contribute towards the cost of the new rail crossing at Sturry.

HB Gazette 9th May 2013

Local Plan: school on the golf course

A new school could be built in Herne Bay after land was ear-marked for educational development in the draft Local Plan.

Developers behind proposals for the former golf club confirmed talks are ongoing about putting a new secondary school on the site, along with a sports hub, supermarket and about 400 homes.

A map published with the Local Plan lays out an area to the west of the golf club site ear-marked for educational use.

The Gazette understands a school would be placed where developers initially planned to put a health club and sheltered accommodation.

Mark Quinn

Quinn Estates director Mark Quinn said:

"We have been speaking to several education providers and we will always look to work with the people of Herne Bay to create a community benefit for everyone."

Herne Bay MP Sir Roger Gale said:

"I regard the golf club proposals as very exciting. I have spoken with the developer and more than one school within the area, with a view to creating a secondary school on the site. We could create a satellite grammar school on that site."

Overall, the proposals would include about 400 homes, a Tesco, a sports hub and offices for small businesses. All of this has been included in the local plan.

Mr Quinn added:

"We think our site is one of the strongest in terms of community benefits and we are looking forward to working with Canterbury City Council and the people of Herne Bay to make this happen."

The first phase of Quinn Estates' proposals is expected to be sent for planning permission imminently. The developers are waiting for the opportunity to respond to a council report on the impact the development could have on retail in the area. Several sports clubs have been offered the use of facilities if the plans are approved.

Clive Cripps

Herne Bay Hockey Club chairman Clive Cripps said:

"I am delighted it has been included in the Local Plan. It takes us closer to making a reality what we have been dreaming-about over the past nine months. These are going to be a great benefit to the town. In the form it is planned, it will give the town the best sports facilities it's ever had and is ever likely to have."

Sir Roger said he had also held discussions with Quinn Estates about the inclusion of a school there. He added:

"I don't think the density of houses in this development would be too high"

Lost Identity

Herne and Broomfield parish council has sald it will oppose plans for a golf club development, althouqh councillors concede they wlll probably have to accept it. Clerk Monica Blyth said:

"Residents are concerned about loslnq the village's identity. We will be swallowed up and become a part of Herne Bay and Greenhill and that is not what anyone wants. We understand that we will probably have to have something."

The Details

A sports hub is the stand-out feature of the 400-home development. This would include eiqht hectares of cricket, tennis, football and hockey pitches, as well as open space. A hectare has been set aside for commercial use, which would become the Tesco site it Ouinn Estates' plans are approved. A separate leisure hub would include a doctor's surgery, businesses and a pub.

The plan says 1.25 hectares would be set aside for Herne Bay High School, but this is not understood to be part of the plans for a new school. Space for a care home has also been allocated. A footpath connecting the site to Herne would also be funded with the developers at Strode Farm. Developers would also have to contribute towards the cost of a Herne relief road at the farm and a level crossing in Sturry.

HB Gazette 9th May 2013

H&B Parish: secret new hall

HB Gazette 16th September 2010

Big secret out about new hall for village

...but councillors still tight-lipped

HB Times 9th Sep 2010