ASHFORD RURAL TRUST

Spring Report 2002

Local planning matters. We summarise our main concerns since last reporting to you.
Friars School expansion, Great Chart. We objected to this, as did many others. Objections to the application were upheld by the Borough Council at its third hearing, which handed down no less than five reasons for refusal. Refusal has been appealed. The final outcome is awaited.
Brisley Farm Kingsnorth. Our suggestions to improve this development were built in to the development plan before construction proceeded.
Spelders Hill, Brook. Our main objections were upheld by the Borough Council, then upheld again on appeal.
Cheesemans Green. We have had a lot to say in the planning of what will become the villages of East Stour and Swanton and we shall be involved in the forthcoming Enquiry by Design consultation process. Flood risk, community facilities and sustainability issues are key.
Ashford Barracks. The Trust engaged with the recent Enquiry by Design mounted to make this development a success. We are encouraged.
Telemasts. We continue our fight for mast sharing as a way of reducing proliferation and we win some, lose some.

Consultation. Our Borough Council has adopted the consultative process with commendable enthusiasm, bringing bodies such as the Trust into the forefront of all debate on what should and what should not happen in planning for development. Certainly we are listened to, our views are noted AND are taken into consideration.

National infrastructure planning issues. Is the government looking closely enough at Ashford's future? At the matter of jobs for occupants of new houses? At the increasing transport, schooling, hospital, power and water needs?
Is Ashford building up a water demand/supply gap? Our letter to the Kentish Express last Christmas drew pointed attention to the danger of "regionalising" major planning decision taking, bypassing local authorities. The Trust is and must remain involved in the debate on Ashford's future, at workshop level.
The South Coast Corridor Multi Modal Study accepted the Trust's participation late last year. Our particular concern remains the inevitable increased traffic impact on today's grossly over-burdened M20 Junction 10, an on-going issue.
Channel Tunnel High Speed Link. Phase 1 is proceeding on time and on budget, with recent major disruptive infrastructure construction through Ashford now virtually complete. We hope that our other recent letter to the Kentish Express of last October served its purpose; the aim was to disabuse interested readers of fallacious commuter misconceptions about life after the link line is operational.
DETR Green Paper on Planning. We have submitted a completed questionnaire on many of the issues arising.

Last October's free annual Coach Tour for members & their friends.
Perhaps the best we've ever mounted but it's a pity we didn't fill the bus.
This is an ideal opportunity for prospective new members to have a look at us and what we do, at a time when Ashford is growing so rapidly. The next tour is on Thursday 31 October. Diarise it now & tell your friends.

The Annual General Meeting this year is on Thursday 30 May, 7 pm in the Octagon Room, Ashford School, by kind permission of the Head Mistress. Always a lively affair, with a glass of wine served on the house until we convene at 7.30. Business only takes half an hour.

For those who pay their annual subscription in cash, this is the best opportunity.

Our guest Speaker this year is Richard Alderton, Strategic Planning Manager, Ashford Borough Council. He will talk on "Planning - Where Next?"

Your Chairman is standing down at the AGM as he is moving to London. We are looking for a male or female successor and welcome suggestions.