ASHFORD RURAL TRUST ARCHIVED NEWS

Autumn Report 2003

 

The Big Issue of the moment, and it will surely remain of vital importance locally for a long time yet, is Ashford's Future Delivery Board. This is a body formed on the instruction of central government. Representatives of its members, key organisations in regional and local government, have been tasked with the procurement of funds to cover initial planning work for the Ashford Growth Area. The final version of the Board's Delivery Plan was expected to be ready in the Autumn following public consultation. So far we have seen two documents from the Board, the first being its Interim Delivery Plan (2003 - 2006) submitted to Whitehall this Spring. In it the Board recognizes that to provide a sustainable balance of homes and jobs, the rate of Ashford's economic growth will need to triple. You could say that this is obvious but we questioned whether the Board appreciates fully a major problem we see inherent in achievement of such an ambitious economic growth rate - the need to empower a resident labour force with the variety of skills required. In so commenting in June, we went so far as to seek the Board's concurrence that earliest improvement of Ashford's skills base is an imperative prerequisite essential to ensure that the Board's planning for sustainable housing and communities is meaningful and that it justifies central government trust in the Board's competence. We await a reply.

Later in June, we took note of Ashford Borough Council's statement that, as recently as 2001, the combined income of 46% of Ashford households was under £15,000 per annum. Two years on, has this changed? Or is it an indicator of the undisclosed moonlighting that has to go on to make ends meet for nearly half the adult population of Ashford?

In July, the South East England Regional Assembly published the second document to come to our notice, on Proposed alterations to Regional Planning Guidance, South East - Ashford Growth Area, and the Trust was invited to comment on it. SEERA is a Delivery Board member. Whilst remarking on the need we saw for much more explicit reasoning and explanation than the document provided, our salient points included the following issues:
• Proposed alterations to planning guidance require that 30% (3,930) of the 13,100 dwellings to be built in Ashford by 2016 are to be affordable, for occupation by social/key workers. This is a much higher percentage than earlier projected by Ashford Borough Council. Why? A critical point here is that we are now told that each & every such dwelling attracts a building subsidy of £12,500. That's a total of £49,125,000 of tax payers money!
• When the ratio of job holders per household in the borough is presently demonstrably higher than 1 : 1 and rising with near full employment, to plan over the period 2001 - 2016 for 13,100 new dwellings but to provide for only 10,300 new jobs appears to us contrary to the reality of need and at the least requires explanation.
• We call for the principles of sustainable development to list explicitly, as good examples of these principles, the essential need for village community centres, small shopping malls, places of worship, pubs and restaurants - and for affordable housing to be sited, not in outlying urban extensions but on public transport routes to major local job locations and central commuter points.
• A welcome element in the proposed local transport infrastructure is "frequent domestic services on the CTRL". But we know that the contract to build the new trains needed has not yet even been awarded. Trains appear 7 years later.
• We question some of the estimates that make up the £1.15 billion total cost of the 30 year Ashford Growth proposals, excluding land and revenue costs.
A mere £3 million for police stations but £13 million for libraries?
A whopping £30 million for indoor and outdoor sports?
• We call for explanation of the Deputy Prime Minister's August statement that Ashford is to receive an £8 million kick-start payment in response to a £64 million bid in relation to the estimated £1.15 billion total cost of achieving the Ashford Growth proposals the document discusses.

The Annual Coach Tour. This year the tour, free but £5 to non members, starts from the TESCO Willesborough bus stop at 10.30 am Thursday 30 October and includes a visit to Mersham-le-Hatch, the Robert Adam designed home of the Knatchbull family commenced in 1761 and recently vacated by Caldecott College. On to St. Mary's church, Brabourne dating from 1144, then visits to St. Mary's church, Ashford dating from 1216, and the adjacent Museum. This will be followed by lunch at the Old Stacians Cricket Club subsidised down to £10 per head, payable as you join the coach.
After lunch, David Martin will talk to us on the endangered Stour river.
We expect a full coach so book your seat & lunch early. Ring Charles Wilkinson on 01233 758938 or e-mail him at charles.wilkinson@btinternet.com

Membership. We always need more members. Your neighbours may be interested. Why not lend them this Report to read. For £6 a year or £10 for a couple, they could become one of us. For a one-time payment of £50 they could become a single Life Member, for £90 a joint Life Member.