- 30/08/2023
- Posted by: Canterbury Labour
- Category: News
Whitstable Labour councillors have today submitted their opposition to the proposal for 220 extra homes South of the Thanet Way in Whitstable. The proposal has been submitted by developers hoping to take advantage of the fact that the council are in ‘special measures’ and must favour development unless it is unsustainable. A development of on this site would traditionally be opposed.
Members of the public and elected officials had until the 7th May to make comments on the first application with only former Tory councillor Ashley Clark and Labour Councillors Val Kenny and Chris Cornell submitting formal councillor led responses by the deadline.
Since May the scheme has been slightly redrawn and new information provided in response to resident feedback.
Residents now have until the 1st September to make a second set of plans. You can submit objections via the council’s planning portal citing CA/22/00379 or by directly emailing [email protected].
Former councillor Valerie Kenny who is a member of Thanet Way Residents Association (TWRA) said “this is the last chance for local people to have a say on an issue which will fundamentally change the character and nature of Whitstable forever – we can not allow huge new housing developments to be built on the edges of the Thanet Way in a way which damages our health and destroys our environment”.
To help people object we suggest people read a copy of Labour’s detailed objection to the new scheme and a handy guide for residents prepared by TWRA below.
Cllr Chris Cornell, has been working with local residents since hosting a public meeting on the scheme last February and is ensuring the application is debated at a public meeting where residents can have their voices heard.
He encouraged people to have their say by saying “the size and scale of this new development will threaten the green gap surrounding our town. The space between the old and new Thanet Way has long helped protect the character of Whitstable and we simply can’t loose it”.
