After being away on and off for a while, despite paying attention to most communications, I have only dealt with issues briefly. So from early morning I made phone calls and dealt with email correspondence in more detail. The Local Plan, specifically relating to some Headcorn issues, and the governance of Maidstone Borough Council had reared their heads in my absence and many matters needed addressing.
I needed to talk to my fellow Ward member first, and then co-minded Conservatives who have numerous concerns about the Local Plan and the way things are emerging and developing. I have a very good relationship with several Council members and my camaraderie with the Staplehurst member is strong. I needed to get an idea or a picture of the ways things were, are and may be.
I also spoke to some Members in other parties. Whilst I am keen to protect and defend MY WARD from aggressive development and use several rational reasons to do so, some of those reasons relate to other communities/wards. Staplehurst and Headcorn have much in common. Water, flooding and drainage problems are one very big common bond between us.
And Planning is not the only issue I have to deal with: The Community Wardens are "in consultation" about their roles, a business is under threat in the Ward, another business has drawn out Planning applications outstanding, there are illegal Gypsies encamped in an unacceptable site, a constituent has a problem admitting their child to a school, (there are many), I have some people in the Ward with Housing problems and I have a boundary dispute that is getting out of hand-yes its another one.
So after a lot of communication I also needed to get to a meeting with DHA Planning; the company wanting to develop Hazelpits Farm, or its surrounds, in the afternoon with Cllr Richard Thick. This has been and will continue to be the most contentious Planning application, probably ever, in Headcorn.
It was not a good meeting. I have to admit it became quite heated. Richard and I believe the developers need to know that not only the Parish, but the entire Ward are worried about this Planning application.
We stated some strong opinions and addressed the key issues of the School, traffic/roads, drainage/water/flooding and stated that the development proposals were such a shock to a community in terms of size, effect and the way it would affect the community that such emotive reactions should come as no surprise. We saw it as urbanisation and they did grasp that.
We left the meeting feeling we'd made an impact, but also felt that more work needs to be done such as more lobbying, more discussions with the main parties etc.
Richard and I then visited several Officers and discussed things with them continuing to campaign for RATIONAL proposals for Headcorn and not to allow Developers to be winning every battle and building for profit, rather than sense.
Richard and I then discussed our next moves.
I would then write some emails to various parties such as the Parish Council about the meeting and we would also contact our fellow Maidstone Members and our MP. We would continue with our sentiments in any way.
By this time it was early evening and we were tired.
I needed to talk to my fellow Ward member first, and then co-minded Conservatives who have numerous concerns about the Local Plan and the way things are emerging and developing. I have a very good relationship with several Council members and my camaraderie with the Staplehurst member is strong. I needed to get an idea or a picture of the ways things were, are and may be.
I also spoke to some Members in other parties. Whilst I am keen to protect and defend MY WARD from aggressive development and use several rational reasons to do so, some of those reasons relate to other communities/wards. Staplehurst and Headcorn have much in common. Water, flooding and drainage problems are one very big common bond between us.
And Planning is not the only issue I have to deal with: The Community Wardens are "in consultation" about their roles, a business is under threat in the Ward, another business has drawn out Planning applications outstanding, there are illegal Gypsies encamped in an unacceptable site, a constituent has a problem admitting their child to a school, (there are many), I have some people in the Ward with Housing problems and I have a boundary dispute that is getting out of hand-yes its another one.
So after a lot of communication I also needed to get to a meeting with DHA Planning; the company wanting to develop Hazelpits Farm, or its surrounds, in the afternoon with Cllr Richard Thick. This has been and will continue to be the most contentious Planning application, probably ever, in Headcorn.
It was not a good meeting. I have to admit it became quite heated. Richard and I believe the developers need to know that not only the Parish, but the entire Ward are worried about this Planning application.
We stated some strong opinions and addressed the key issues of the School, traffic/roads, drainage/water/flooding and stated that the development proposals were such a shock to a community in terms of size, effect and the way it would affect the community that such emotive reactions should come as no surprise. We saw it as urbanisation and they did grasp that.
We left the meeting feeling we'd made an impact, but also felt that more work needs to be done such as more lobbying, more discussions with the main parties etc.
Richard and I then visited several Officers and discussed things with them continuing to campaign for RATIONAL proposals for Headcorn and not to allow Developers to be winning every battle and building for profit, rather than sense.
Richard and I then discussed our next moves.
I would then write some emails to various parties such as the Parish Council about the meeting and we would also contact our fellow Maidstone Members and our MP. We would continue with our sentiments in any way.
By this time it was early evening and we were tired.
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