Tories to concrete over countryside

10.26.48am GMT Fri 26th Feb 2010

The Conservatives on the City Council have been criticised for adopting a short-sighted approach to the development of the local area.

In the recently published 'Local Development Framework', the council has set out its plans to build thousands of new houses on green field sites to the south of Canterbury, on land highlighted as an Area of High Landscape Value.

Local residents are concerned about the devastation to the countryside if the Tories' plans go ahead. Local campaigner Guy Voizey said, "If concreted over, this landscape will be lost forever. It's a very short sighted approach to development. All this will do is increase problems which already exist, especially the congestion around the city centre.

Area to the south of Thanington being prepared for development

"We now know for certain that the council have been in discussions about a huge development on farmland stretching from New House Lane to Ashford Rd. We know this because we bumped into the developers and their team of architects when they were measuring out the site. They showed us the plans and confirmed that they have not only been in discussions with the council about their development but that it has even been included in the Council's LDF documents as a preferred option.

"A much better option would be to develop around Hersden, which has the largest brownfield site in the district. The former station at Chislet could be reopened, giving the expanded village access to the High Speed rail service as well as to local rail services, minimising the impact on the busy road network. Alongside housing, community facilities, such as shops, schools and a health centre, could be built or improved to the benefit of current and future residents."

Local residents have until just the 12th of March to object to these proposals.