17 June 2019
Overnight lorry parking ban approved
As set out in our news item of 4 June 2019 (below), the Joint Transportation Board (of Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council) met on 11 June 2019 and one of the items discussed was the Proposed Permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Ashford HGV Overnight Parking Enforcement. This was a proposal to prohibit permanently overnight lorry and HGV parking in various Ashford locations, including the A20 side road at Potters Corner and the entrance to Sandyhurst Lane. The minutes of the meeting have today been published and record the decision as follows:
Resolved:
That the implementation of the proposed time limited overnight waiting restrictions on the A20 between Charing and Ashford and four Industrial Estates in the Borough be approved.
Councillor Christine Drury, Chairman of Westwell Parish Council, addressed the Board in support of the proposal and the Road Haulage Association's Head of Licensing and Infrastructure, Mr Tom Cotton, spoke in opposition. The full minutes of the meeting may be viewed here (see item 26).
Whilst the TRO has been approved, its enforcement in the same manner as during the trial has yet to be agreed. Approval of the TRO is first step in formalising the process and Officers will be meeting with the Department for Transport shortly to discuss changes in legislation to enable offenders to be fined on the first offence and to increase the wheel clamp release fee.
15 June 2019
Possible congestion tomorrow
An event being held at Sandyacres tomorrow may possibly result in some traffic congestion, although the organisers are unable to estimate the likely attendance.
The event, which is in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind, is called the Great Big Doggie Fun Day. It runs from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at Sandyacres Sports & Social Centre. Details may be found on the website of Guide Dogs Ashford here or their Facebook page here.
On both these websites, the post code of Sandyacres is incorrectly given as TN25 4NT rather than TN25 4PE. We have asked the organisers to correct this common error (which seems to be perpetuated by Google) as we are aware that some members living in TN25 4NT (numbers 54 to 136 Sandyhurst Lane) get disturbed by SatNav users trying to find Sandyacres in the wrong part of the Lane.
11 June 2019
Possible traffic congestion
There are two football tournaments taking place at Sandyacres later this month. It is possible these may give rise to some traffic congestion in Sandyhurst Lane:
Saturday 22nd June & Sunday 23rd June: This is an inaugural football tournament hosted by Park Farm Rangers Football Club for 8 age groups from under 7 to under 14. The event starts at 9,00 am on both days and continues into the afternoon. Details are available here.
Sunday 30th June: A football tournament will be hosted by TSS Youth Football Club for under 7 to under 13s. Details are available here.
8 June 2019
Howard Preston - funeral arrangements
Further to our news item of 28 May about Howard Preston (below), we can now advise the funeral arrangements.
The service will be held at 11.30 am on Tuesday 9th July 2019 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Westwell. This will be followed by burial at 1.00 pm at Bybrook Cemetery. Full details may be found here.
4 June 2019
Lorry parking ban - decision next week
The Joint Transportation Board (of Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council) meets on Tuesday 11 June 2019 and one of the items to be discussed is the Proposed Permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Ashford HGV Overnight Parking Enforcement. This is the proposal to prohibit permanently overnight lorry and HGV parking in various Ashford locations, including the A20 side road at Potters Corner and the entrance to Sandyhurst Lane.
The recent public consultation on the proposed TRO received 17 responses in support (including one from the SLRA) and only one objecting, from the Road Haulage Association. The paper to be considered by the Board, which may be viewed here, recommends that the TRO is made permanent. A decision is still awaited from the Department for Transport as to whether offenders may be clamped on the first offence and be charged more than the current statutory amount (£40), as was the case during the experimental trial which ran from 30 October 2017 to 30 April 2019.
28 May 2019
Howard Preston
It is with great sadness and regret that we report that Howard Preston passed away on Thursday 23rd May 2019.
Howard had an R&D career with ICI, Unilever Research Welwyn, and Food Industries. He moved to Sandyhurst Lane in 1982 and the issue of sand extraction below Molehill sparked the start of the Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association (SLRA).
Howard was a founder member of the SLRA in 1983, when he was responsible for printing and distribution. Following a period working abroad (1988 – 1996), Howard returned to Sandyhurst Lane and became synonymous with the SLRA, leading it as Chairman for 13 years, from 1999 until 2012. Since then he has been an Honorary Life Committee Member.
We shall, of course, pass on details of the funeral as soon as they are available.
17 May 2019
SLRA responds to consultation on
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Draft Neighbourhood Plan
The SLRA has submitted a response to the consultation on the Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Draft Neighbourhood Plan. The response may be viewed here.
14 May 2019
Planning permission sought for new garage at 400 Sandyhurst Lane
An application for planning permission has been made for a new single storey garage at Old Orchard House, 400 Sandyhurst Lane. The closing date for comments is 6 June 2019. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 19/00672/AS).
13 May 2019
SLRA responds to parking ban consultation
The SLRA has submitted a response to the KCC public consultation on the proposed permanent overnight goods vehicle parking ban which includes the A20 side road at Potters Corner and the entrance to Sandyhurst Lane.
The response may be viewed here.
4 May 20198
Lorry parking ban - consultation
The 18 month overnight lorry parking ban trial, which included the A20 side road at Potters Corner, came to an end on 30 April 2019.
We reported in our news item of 9 March 2019 that Kent County Council planned to undertake a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation with a view to making the trial permanent. This consultation is now in progress and runs until 13 May 2019.
The proposed Traffic Order, which goes by the snappy title of “The Kent County Council (Various Roads, Borough of Ashford) (Goods Vehicle Waiting Restrictions and Street Parking Places) Order 2019 - Various Road In Ashford”, may be viewed here. This Order would make permanent the overnight lorry parking ban between 8pm and 7am along the A20 and down the roads off the A20 - exactly as during the 18 month experimental trial.
If you wish to support (or oppose) the introduction of this permanent overnight parking ban, please email your comments to TRO@kent.gov.uk by 12 noon, Monday 13 May 2019.
Alternatively, write to The TRO Co-ordinator, Schemes Planning & Delivery Team, Highways, Transportation & Waste, Kent County Council, Ashford Highway Depot, Henwood Industrial Estate, Javelin Way, Ashford, TN24 8AD.
Entitle your email or letter: “Goods Vehicle Waiting Restrictions – Ashford”, and make clear your A20 interest, as a resident or user.
3 May 2019
Borough Council Election results
The results of the Borough Council Elections held yesterday, for the wards relevant to the SLRA, are on a special page - please click here. The SLRA Chairman has sent congratulations to our re-elected ward councillors, who have both responded.
4 April 2019
Election candidates
The forthcoming elections on 2nd May are being held for Borough and Parish constituencies. The official lists of candidates have now been published and are available through the following links, should you wish to see which borough candidates will be seeking your vote or (in the case of the two parishes below) which parish councillors have been appointed:
Ashford Borough:
One borough councillor to be elected in each of the following wards:
Downs West ward (including 99% of the SLRA area)
Goat Lees ward (including 5 dwellings in Faversham Road within the SLRA area)
Parishes:
Both parishes in the SLRA area are uncontested and will not require an election. The is because the number of nominations does not exceed the number of vacancies.
Numbers in round brackets indicate maximum number of parish councillors, numbers in square brackets indicate the number of nominations.
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell
(including 30.4% of the SLRA area):
Boughton Aluph ward (1)[1]
Eastwell ward (1)[1]
Goat Lees ward (6)[2]
Westwell (9)[9]
(including 69.6% of the SLRA area)
(Percentages calculated on number of dwellings)
2 April 2019
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Draft Neighbourhood Plan issued for consultation
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish have issued their Draft Neighbourhood Plan for a six week public consultation, closing on 19 May 2019.
The Draft Plan contains 10 local planning policies, each based on responses to the earlier household survey and supporting evidence researched by the volunteer Steering Group.
The 167 page draft Plan can be viewed on the BA&E Neighbourhood Plan website here and a summary of it may be viewed here. Feedback is sought via an online questionnaire.
During the consultation period, there will be three community exhibitions about the draft Plan, at which parish councillors will be on hand to answer questions. These exhibitions will be at:
- Sandyacres on Saturday 13 April, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
- Goat Lees Primary School on Saturday 27 April, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
- Iron Room, Boughton Lees on Saturday 4 May, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
A flyer about the consultation on the Draft Plan will be delivered to homes and businesses in the Boughton Aluph & Eastwell parish. The Parish Council will consider and respond to all comments and may amend the Neighbourhood Plan in the light of them. The amended Plan will be subject to further public consultation and independent examination.
The final version will be put to a parish referendum. If it has the backing of residents, it will be adopted by Ashford Borough Council as the Plan which must be used in law to determine planning applications in the BA&E parish.
21 March 2019
Main Post Office moves and has longer opening hours
The main Post Office in Ashford, which has been in Tufton Street since 1926, closed yesterday and re-opens today within the W H Smith store. The new Post Office has longer weekday opening hours (opening at 8.30 am instead of 9.00 am) and will also be open on Sundays. The new hours are: Mon - Fri: 8.30 am - 5.30 pm, Sat 9.00 am - 5.30 pm, Sun 10.00 am - 2.00 pm.
13 March 2019
SLRA Defibrillator installed
The SLRA has now installed a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD), also known as an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
It is located in a purpose-designed illuminated cabinet on the back of the low outer front wall of the Hare and Hounds public house at Potters Corner. It is available at all times, 24/7. To try to guard against theft and vandalism, the cabinet is locked, but can be opened with a four-digit code available to callers to 999 and from the pub.
We are grateful to the landlord of the Hare and Hounds for supporting this initiative and for providing the location and a power supply for the cabinet in which the PAD is housed.
We are also grateful to SLRA committee member Andy Peddle, Managing Director of ANP Security, for providing cabinet installation services.
Defibrillators, used in conjunction with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), can double the survival chances of a person suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Every year there are about 30,000 such cardiac arrests in the UK.
We are hoping to arrange training in the use of this equipment and details will follow in due course. However, using a defibrillator is very easy and straightforward. Please take a moment to watch the short training video by the British Heart Foundation, here, or St Johns Ambulance, here.
9 March 2019
Push for lorry parking ban to become permanent
The Joint Transportation Board (of Kent County Council (KCC) and Ashford Borough Council (ABC)) meets on Tuesday 12 March.
One of the papers for this meeting is a further update report on the Experimental Overnight HGV Enforcement and Clamping Trial 2017, which includes the A20 between Charing and the Drovers roundabout, together with a number of Ashford industrial estates.
Importantly for the SLRA area, this includes the old A20 side road at Potters Corner. (Note that it is technically incorrect to refer to this as a “lay by” as it is a through route used by buses).
The report states that, since the trial was introduced on 30 October 2017, there has been a 61% reduction in inappropriate parking elsewhere within Ashford borough. It also says that the Ashford Truckstop facility is at or near full capacity and a further 200 spaces are scheduled to become available there by the end of March.
The experimental trial is due to end on 30 April 2019. We are pleased to see from the report that KCC and ABC are now to push for the parking ban to be made permanent and this is strongly supported by other bodies including Westwell Parish Council and the SLRA.
The full report may be viewed here, but we reproduce below the final two paragraphs:
Next Steps
15. The ETRO ends on the 30th April 2019. KCC and ABC wish to make the trial areas permanent. We are currently seeking formal DfT approval to continue first time clamping on vehicles that contravene restrictions and an increased clamp release fee to ensure costs can be covered with no additional impact on KCC & ABC finances.
16. In agreement with ABC, KCC are planning to undertake a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation this month (March 2019) to make the trial area permanent to ensure continuation of enforcement. However this is dependent on the response from DfT.
(ETRO = Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, DfT = Department for Transport)
1 March 2019
Local Plan: Formal Notice of Adoption issued
Further to our news item of 27 February 2019 (below), Ashford Borough Council has now issued the formal Notice of Adoption of the Ashford Borough Local Plan 2030. The Notice may be viewed here.
1 March 2019
M20 East bound to be re-textured to "reduce noise"
In October 2014, the London bound carriageway of the M20 between junctions 9 and 8 was re-textured by cutting grooves in the concrete. Highways England said that this was to improve skid resistance and did not anticipate that it would have any significant effect on traffic noise.
The SLRA carried out an opinion survey after the works were completed and 57% of the 27 respondents thought there had been no change in noise levels, 39% thought there had been an increase and 4% thought there had been a decrease.
Some residents have recently received a letter from Highways England advising that the M20 coast-bound carriageway from junction 8 to 9 is now to be re-textured, but this time there is no mention of skid resistance or cutting grooves; Highways England claim that this re-texturing is "to reduce carriageway noise". It is not stated what form the re-texturing will take.
The works are to be carried out between 11 and 24 March 2019, with a 24 hour 50 mph speed limit in place. We know that Highways England have been monitoring noise levels recently from the garden of one of our members, and they have asked to repeat the measurements in the week after the works are complete (w/c 25 March 2019).
A copy of the letter from Highways England may be viewed here.
27 February 2019
Ashford Local Plan 2030 adopted
Further to our news item of 7 January 2019 (below), it is confirmed that the Ashford Local Plan 2030 was adopted at a meeting of Ashford Borough Council on 21 February 2019. The final version of the Plan, as adopted, may be viewed here.
20 February 2019
Charging for non-household waste to begin in June
As widely expected, the decision has been made by Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport, Highways and Waste, Mike Whiting, to introduce charging for disposal of non-household waste (soil, rubble, hardcore and plasterboard) at KCC waste disposal sites, starting on 3 June 2019. This is despite wide public opposition to the scheme.
The charges will be £4 per bag of soil, rubble or hardcore (maximum 5 bags/day) and £6 per bag or sheet of plasterboard. Asbestos disposal will remain free of charge.
The Record of Decision document may be seen here and all details of the issue may be seen here.
Our previous news item, giving details of the KCC Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee’s debate on the issue, is below, dated 27 January 2019.
18 February 2018
M20 noise
Thanks to members in the area, we have become aware that the Highways Agency have recently installed noise monitoring equipment next to the M20/Sandyhurst Lane. We have therefore written to the Highways Agency, copied to Damian Green MP, (see email below), stating that the resulting measurements will not be representative of the normal traffic noise levels and should not be used to attempt to justify any delays or cancellations of the implementation of noise abatement measures.
From: Sandyhurst Lane Residents' Association
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2019 3:51 PM
To: Highways England
Cc: Damian Green
Subject: M20 noise
Dear Sirs
I am writing on behalf of Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association which represents approximately 1,000 residents in and around Sandyhurst Lane, Ashford. This Lane intersects the M20 motorway just to the north-west of Junction 9. We have for many years been campaigning for noise reduction measures on the M20 in the vicinity of this area.
We are aware that Highways England have recently installed equipment to monitor noise, for a period of about 5 days, on the premises of one of our members living adjacent to the London-bound carriageway of the M20. Whilst we are not aware of the precise purpose of this noise monitoring, we wish to point out that the results will far from correctly represent the normal level of noise generated by traffic using this part of the M20. This is principally because there is currently a speed limit of 50 mph on the London-bound carriageway which is widely observed, due to the use of average speed cameras. It is also arguable that the traffic volume during the later part of the monitoring period will be reduced as it occurs in the school half-term holiday.
We trust, therefore, that these measurements will not be used in any attempts to justify further delays or cancellation of any plans to install noise reduction measures, such as resurfacing of the carriageways.
Kind regards
David Porter
Secretary
Sandyhurst Lane Residents' Association
16 February 2019
Emergency stroke services
After five years of deliberation, the Stroke Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups yesterday reached unanimous agreement on the future of emergency stroke services in Kent and Medway and has made the decision to implement the preferred option to establish hyper acute stroke units at the William Harvey Hospital, Darent Valley Hospital and Maidstone Hospital. The official letter giving details of the decision may be viewed here.
14 February 2019
Refill scheme for Ashford
On 31 January 2019, Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, launched the Government’s “Year of Green Action”. Amy Casey, Ashford Borough Council’s Waste & Recycling Education Officer is leading locally on a year-long events plan, with each month having an event/campaign/initiative.
A big plastic/waste reduction campaign is scheduled for the summer. Part of this campaign is to implement the Refill scheme in Ashford. Refill is a nationwide scheme providing a network of points offering the general public free tap water. The aim is to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles used, reduce litter of single-use plastic bottles and increase the availability of drinking water. The public can find which businesses have signed up to the scheme through a smart phone Refill app or by seeing the Refill sticker in the business windows. See https://refill.org.uk/.
The more people involved, the better the outcome will be and the more impact it will have. Therefore Amy is looking for volunteers who are willing to help in this project. It will consist of an initial meeting and then a series of ‘action days’ (probably 2 or 3) to canvass businesses in the borough and persuade them to join the fight. These action days will take place between March and June 2019.
If you are interested in helping, or know of anyone who would be interested, please contact Amy Casey at amy.casey@ashford.gov.uk by Monday 18th February.
14 February 2019
Planning permission granted for extension at Nyali, 354 Sandyhurst Lane
Retrospective planning permission was granted on 13 February 2019 for a single storey side extension at Nyali, 354 Sandyhurst Lane. Full details are available here (search for application number 18/01658/AS).
9 February 2019
M20 noise: Response from Damian Green MP
Following our letter to Damian Green MP (see news item of 30 January 2019, below), we have received a helpful reply from Damian Green MP, promising to pursue the case for resurfacing the M20 between junctions 8 and 9.
The reply from Damian Green may be viewed here.
1 February 2019
SLRA to install a defibrillator
The SLRA has recently successfully bid for one of 70 free redundant defibrillators from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
The defibrillator, which is in full working order, is to be installed in a purpose-made external cabinet outside the Hare & Hounds, Sandyhurst Lane. It will be a “Public Access AED” (Automated External Defibrillator), available at all times. The cabinet will be heated (to keep the equipment in good working order in all weathers) and locked and alarmed (to discourage theft and vandalism). The code for the lock will be available by dialling 999 and will also be sent to all SLRA members and will be also available from the pub when open.
The SLRA defibrillator will add to the growing number of such devices which are available locally. These include defibrillators at:
- Westwell Village Hall (unlocked, available at all times)
- Ashford Golf Club (available when the premises are open)
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council have recently decided to install 4 new defibrillators at the following sites:
- Sandyacres Sports & Social Centre (to replace the existing one, to be available when the premises are open)
- Goat Lees Community Hall (unlocked, to be available at all times)
- Boughton Lees Cricket Pavilion (unlocked, to be available at all times)
- The Iron Room, Boughton Lees (to replace the existing one, to be available when the premises are open)
Please note that there is currently no availability at the above 4 sites; existing defibrillators at Sandyacres and the Iron Room need maintenance and are out of service.
The new defibrillators at these 4 sites will have screens to facilitate use by all, including those without English as a first language.
30 January 2019
SLRA again calls for M20 noise abatement
The SLRA has once again written to the Rt Hon Damian Green MP seeking help in persuading Highways England to bring forward their long term plans to re-surface the M20 in our vicinity with 'quiet' tarmac.
This initiative was taken following the recent publicity that Highways England has generated for their programme of noise reduction measures which they are rolling out to over 1,000 motorway and major A road locations, supported by a special £39 million fund.
The letter and attachments from the SLRA Chair, Tony Bartlett, may be viewed here and the recent government press release about the Highways England programme may be viewed here.
27 January 2019
Charging for non-household waste a step closer
Following the consultation which ran from 6 September to 1 November 2018, Kent County Council’s Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee met on 17 January to consider proposals to introduce charging for disposal of non-household waste (soil, rubble, hardcore and plasterboard) at KCC waste disposal sites. The proposals are to charge £4 per bag of soil, rubble or hardcore and £6 per bag of plasterboard. Asbestos disposal will remain free of charge.
The committee heard that 10% of visitors to KCC waste disposal sites bring this type of waste and that there is a problem with “cross border” traffic now that neighbouring authorities in Bromley, Surrey and East Sussex have introduced charging. There has been typically a 75% reduction in this waste being taken to council sites which charge; people switch to commercial disposal such as hippo bags, skips etc.
The committee heard that the public consultation received 2,841 responses, 85% of which disagreed (66% strongly disagreed) with the introduction of charging. The most common comment was the perceived increase in fly tipping that would result. However, the KCC officers claimed that this was not a valid objection because 12 authorities which had introduced charging reported “little or no” increase in fly tipping and a further 4 authorities reported an increase “in line with national trends”.
At the end of the debate, the vote to endorse the Policy to adopt charging for non-household waste materials at Household Waste Recycling Centres was carried by 9 votes to 2, with 5 abstentions.
In view of the high level of public opposition and the the significant degree of opposition and abstention by the committee, despite the vote to endorse, the Cabinet member responsible was asked whether this would make any difference. He said that he would “take all of that away and consider it carefully” before making decision, though another committee member could be heard saying “I think this decision was made 6 months ago”. The final decision will be made by KCC in February, but there seems little doubt that it will be to introduce charges.
The full debate is available as a video on the KCC website here.
26 January 2019
Road closures for 10k run, 10 February 2018
Confirmation of the road closures for the 10k run on 10 February has now been published by Kent County Council. As expected, Sandyhurst Lane itself will not be closed, but it will probably be very busy between Faversham Road and Lenacre Street as participants make their way from the base at Towers School to the start/finish in Lenacre Street.
Road closures will officially start at 1030 (though the organisers have said 1015 as the race starts at 1030) and end by 1230 at the latest. Roads affected include the entire lengths of Lenacre Street, Kingsland Lane, Eastwell Lane (Tumbledown Hill), Gold Hill and the following parts of Westwell Lane:
- Between the junctions with Eastwell Lane and Gold Hill
- Between the junctions with Gold Hill and Watery Lane
- Between the junctions with Watery Lane and Kingsland Lane
The official road closure notice may be viewed here.
We are aware that some residents wish to access the church in Westwell village for the service at 11.00 am and/or the Wheel Inn afterwards. We have been in touch with the organisers who have assured us that they will be mindful of this situation, which will be discussed at their next committee meeting with a view to ensuring that they have adequate coverage by marshals to facilitate access.
24 January 2019
Appeal against Lenacre Hall Farm planning application refusal
The recently amended ‘hybrid’ planning application for up to 79 dwellings on land at Lenacre Hall Farm (including full planning application for 21 of these dwellings) is awaiting decision by Ashford Borough Council (ABC). This is application number 17/01613/AS.
There was another, separate, full application for the 21 dwellings which was refused by ABC at their planning committee meeting on 18 July 2018 (application number 18/00413/AS).
The applicants, Millwood Designer Homes, have now lodged an appeal against this refusal. This can be seen on the website for the application here (search for application number 18/00413/AS), though there are, as yet, no appeal documents to view.
19 January 2019
Retrospective planning permission granted for summer house/store
at Bears Corner, Westwell Lane
Planning permission was granted retrospectively on 18 January 2019 for a summer house/store at Bears Corner, Westwell Lane. Full details are available here (search for application number 18/01729/AS).
14 January 2019
SLRA responds to third consultation on Land at Lenacre Hall Farm
The SLRA has submitted a third set of objection comments to the hybrid application for residential dwellings on land at Lenacre Hall Farm, following further amendments to the application. The comments submitted may be viewed here.
8 January 2019
GPDE decision for extension at Ashdale, 364 Sandyhurst Lane
A General Permitted Development Extension application, made for a larger single storey rear extension at Ashdale, 364 Sandyhurst Lane has been decided as 'Prior Approval not Required'. Full details are available here (search for case number 18/00022/GDPE/AS).
7 January 2019
Ashford Local Plan to be adopted
After several years of preparation, the Ashford Local Plan 2030 is now ready for adoption.
The final stages of preparation were the public hearings by independent Inspectors last summer followed by the Main Modifications consultation in September and October 2018. The Inspectors have now issued their post hearing report which concludes that, subject to Main Modifications, the Plan is sound and capable of adoption.
The SLRA and many of its members contributed to all stages of public consultation. Of the 7 development sites in the SLRA area originally submitted for inclusion in the Plan, only one (Eureka Park) was eventually included. One of the Main Modifications is the deletion of 7 unsuitable sites, which include the A20 Corridor sites, one of which is Land East of Hothfield Mill.
The full text of the Inspectors’ report may be viewed here.
6 January 2019
10k run to have new venue
The annual 10k run is scheduled to take place on Sunday 10 February 2019.
Last year the event was taken over by new organisers, Sporting Events UK, and this year they have decided that, after 25 years of the event being held at Sandyacres, it will now be based at the Towers School.
We have written to the organisers asking for details of road closures but it appears from the published route (see here) that:
- the race will start and finish at or near the junction of Sandyhurst Lane and Lenacre Street
- the whole of Lenacre Street will be affected
- apart from the start/finish point, the race will NOT be routed along Sandyhurst Lane
Details of the event on the organisers’ website may be seen here.
Overnight lorry parking ban approved
As set out in our news item of 4 June 2019 (below), the Joint Transportation Board (of Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council) met on 11 June 2019 and one of the items discussed was the Proposed Permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Ashford HGV Overnight Parking Enforcement. This was a proposal to prohibit permanently overnight lorry and HGV parking in various Ashford locations, including the A20 side road at Potters Corner and the entrance to Sandyhurst Lane. The minutes of the meeting have today been published and record the decision as follows:
Resolved:
That the implementation of the proposed time limited overnight waiting restrictions on the A20 between Charing and Ashford and four Industrial Estates in the Borough be approved.
Councillor Christine Drury, Chairman of Westwell Parish Council, addressed the Board in support of the proposal and the Road Haulage Association's Head of Licensing and Infrastructure, Mr Tom Cotton, spoke in opposition. The full minutes of the meeting may be viewed here (see item 26).
Whilst the TRO has been approved, its enforcement in the same manner as during the trial has yet to be agreed. Approval of the TRO is first step in formalising the process and Officers will be meeting with the Department for Transport shortly to discuss changes in legislation to enable offenders to be fined on the first offence and to increase the wheel clamp release fee.
15 June 2019
Possible congestion tomorrow
An event being held at Sandyacres tomorrow may possibly result in some traffic congestion, although the organisers are unable to estimate the likely attendance.
The event, which is in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind, is called the Great Big Doggie Fun Day. It runs from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at Sandyacres Sports & Social Centre. Details may be found on the website of Guide Dogs Ashford here or their Facebook page here.
On both these websites, the post code of Sandyacres is incorrectly given as TN25 4NT rather than TN25 4PE. We have asked the organisers to correct this common error (which seems to be perpetuated by Google) as we are aware that some members living in TN25 4NT (numbers 54 to 136 Sandyhurst Lane) get disturbed by SatNav users trying to find Sandyacres in the wrong part of the Lane.
11 June 2019
Possible traffic congestion
There are two football tournaments taking place at Sandyacres later this month. It is possible these may give rise to some traffic congestion in Sandyhurst Lane:
Saturday 22nd June & Sunday 23rd June: This is an inaugural football tournament hosted by Park Farm Rangers Football Club for 8 age groups from under 7 to under 14. The event starts at 9,00 am on both days and continues into the afternoon. Details are available here.
Sunday 30th June: A football tournament will be hosted by TSS Youth Football Club for under 7 to under 13s. Details are available here.
8 June 2019
Howard Preston - funeral arrangements
Further to our news item of 28 May about Howard Preston (below), we can now advise the funeral arrangements.
The service will be held at 11.30 am on Tuesday 9th July 2019 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Westwell. This will be followed by burial at 1.00 pm at Bybrook Cemetery. Full details may be found here.
4 June 2019
Lorry parking ban - decision next week
The Joint Transportation Board (of Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council) meets on Tuesday 11 June 2019 and one of the items to be discussed is the Proposed Permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Ashford HGV Overnight Parking Enforcement. This is the proposal to prohibit permanently overnight lorry and HGV parking in various Ashford locations, including the A20 side road at Potters Corner and the entrance to Sandyhurst Lane.
The recent public consultation on the proposed TRO received 17 responses in support (including one from the SLRA) and only one objecting, from the Road Haulage Association. The paper to be considered by the Board, which may be viewed here, recommends that the TRO is made permanent. A decision is still awaited from the Department for Transport as to whether offenders may be clamped on the first offence and be charged more than the current statutory amount (£40), as was the case during the experimental trial which ran from 30 October 2017 to 30 April 2019.
28 May 2019
Howard Preston
It is with great sadness and regret that we report that Howard Preston passed away on Thursday 23rd May 2019.
Howard had an R&D career with ICI, Unilever Research Welwyn, and Food Industries. He moved to Sandyhurst Lane in 1982 and the issue of sand extraction below Molehill sparked the start of the Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association (SLRA).
Howard was a founder member of the SLRA in 1983, when he was responsible for printing and distribution. Following a period working abroad (1988 – 1996), Howard returned to Sandyhurst Lane and became synonymous with the SLRA, leading it as Chairman for 13 years, from 1999 until 2012. Since then he has been an Honorary Life Committee Member.
We shall, of course, pass on details of the funeral as soon as they are available.
17 May 2019
SLRA responds to consultation on
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Draft Neighbourhood Plan
The SLRA has submitted a response to the consultation on the Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Draft Neighbourhood Plan. The response may be viewed here.
14 May 2019
Planning permission sought for new garage at 400 Sandyhurst Lane
An application for planning permission has been made for a new single storey garage at Old Orchard House, 400 Sandyhurst Lane. The closing date for comments is 6 June 2019. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 19/00672/AS).
13 May 2019
SLRA responds to parking ban consultation
The SLRA has submitted a response to the KCC public consultation on the proposed permanent overnight goods vehicle parking ban which includes the A20 side road at Potters Corner and the entrance to Sandyhurst Lane.
The response may be viewed here.
4 May 20198
Lorry parking ban - consultation
The 18 month overnight lorry parking ban trial, which included the A20 side road at Potters Corner, came to an end on 30 April 2019.
We reported in our news item of 9 March 2019 that Kent County Council planned to undertake a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation with a view to making the trial permanent. This consultation is now in progress and runs until 13 May 2019.
The proposed Traffic Order, which goes by the snappy title of “The Kent County Council (Various Roads, Borough of Ashford) (Goods Vehicle Waiting Restrictions and Street Parking Places) Order 2019 - Various Road In Ashford”, may be viewed here. This Order would make permanent the overnight lorry parking ban between 8pm and 7am along the A20 and down the roads off the A20 - exactly as during the 18 month experimental trial.
If you wish to support (or oppose) the introduction of this permanent overnight parking ban, please email your comments to TRO@kent.gov.uk by 12 noon, Monday 13 May 2019.
Alternatively, write to The TRO Co-ordinator, Schemes Planning & Delivery Team, Highways, Transportation & Waste, Kent County Council, Ashford Highway Depot, Henwood Industrial Estate, Javelin Way, Ashford, TN24 8AD.
Entitle your email or letter: “Goods Vehicle Waiting Restrictions – Ashford”, and make clear your A20 interest, as a resident or user.
3 May 2019
Borough Council Election results
The results of the Borough Council Elections held yesterday, for the wards relevant to the SLRA, are on a special page - please click here. The SLRA Chairman has sent congratulations to our re-elected ward councillors, who have both responded.
4 April 2019
Election candidates
The forthcoming elections on 2nd May are being held for Borough and Parish constituencies. The official lists of candidates have now been published and are available through the following links, should you wish to see which borough candidates will be seeking your vote or (in the case of the two parishes below) which parish councillors have been appointed:
Ashford Borough:
One borough councillor to be elected in each of the following wards:
Downs West ward (including 99% of the SLRA area)
Goat Lees ward (including 5 dwellings in Faversham Road within the SLRA area)
Parishes:
Both parishes in the SLRA area are uncontested and will not require an election. The is because the number of nominations does not exceed the number of vacancies.
Numbers in round brackets indicate maximum number of parish councillors, numbers in square brackets indicate the number of nominations.
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell
(including 30.4% of the SLRA area):
Boughton Aluph ward (1)[1]
Eastwell ward (1)[1]
Goat Lees ward (6)[2]
Westwell (9)[9]
(including 69.6% of the SLRA area)
(Percentages calculated on number of dwellings)
2 April 2019
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Draft Neighbourhood Plan issued for consultation
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish have issued their Draft Neighbourhood Plan for a six week public consultation, closing on 19 May 2019.
The Draft Plan contains 10 local planning policies, each based on responses to the earlier household survey and supporting evidence researched by the volunteer Steering Group.
The 167 page draft Plan can be viewed on the BA&E Neighbourhood Plan website here and a summary of it may be viewed here. Feedback is sought via an online questionnaire.
During the consultation period, there will be three community exhibitions about the draft Plan, at which parish councillors will be on hand to answer questions. These exhibitions will be at:
- Sandyacres on Saturday 13 April, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
- Goat Lees Primary School on Saturday 27 April, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
- Iron Room, Boughton Lees on Saturday 4 May, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
A flyer about the consultation on the Draft Plan will be delivered to homes and businesses in the Boughton Aluph & Eastwell parish. The Parish Council will consider and respond to all comments and may amend the Neighbourhood Plan in the light of them. The amended Plan will be subject to further public consultation and independent examination.
The final version will be put to a parish referendum. If it has the backing of residents, it will be adopted by Ashford Borough Council as the Plan which must be used in law to determine planning applications in the BA&E parish.
21 March 2019
Main Post Office moves and has longer opening hours
The main Post Office in Ashford, which has been in Tufton Street since 1926, closed yesterday and re-opens today within the W H Smith store. The new Post Office has longer weekday opening hours (opening at 8.30 am instead of 9.00 am) and will also be open on Sundays. The new hours are: Mon - Fri: 8.30 am - 5.30 pm, Sat 9.00 am - 5.30 pm, Sun 10.00 am - 2.00 pm.
13 March 2019
SLRA Defibrillator installed
The SLRA has now installed a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD), also known as an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
It is located in a purpose-designed illuminated cabinet on the back of the low outer front wall of the Hare and Hounds public house at Potters Corner. It is available at all times, 24/7. To try to guard against theft and vandalism, the cabinet is locked, but can be opened with a four-digit code available to callers to 999 and from the pub.
We are grateful to the landlord of the Hare and Hounds for supporting this initiative and for providing the location and a power supply for the cabinet in which the PAD is housed.
We are also grateful to SLRA committee member Andy Peddle, Managing Director of ANP Security, for providing cabinet installation services.
Defibrillators, used in conjunction with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), can double the survival chances of a person suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Every year there are about 30,000 such cardiac arrests in the UK.
We are hoping to arrange training in the use of this equipment and details will follow in due course. However, using a defibrillator is very easy and straightforward. Please take a moment to watch the short training video by the British Heart Foundation, here, or St Johns Ambulance, here.
9 March 2019
Push for lorry parking ban to become permanent
The Joint Transportation Board (of Kent County Council (KCC) and Ashford Borough Council (ABC)) meets on Tuesday 12 March.
One of the papers for this meeting is a further update report on the Experimental Overnight HGV Enforcement and Clamping Trial 2017, which includes the A20 between Charing and the Drovers roundabout, together with a number of Ashford industrial estates.
Importantly for the SLRA area, this includes the old A20 side road at Potters Corner. (Note that it is technically incorrect to refer to this as a “lay by” as it is a through route used by buses).
The report states that, since the trial was introduced on 30 October 2017, there has been a 61% reduction in inappropriate parking elsewhere within Ashford borough. It also says that the Ashford Truckstop facility is at or near full capacity and a further 200 spaces are scheduled to become available there by the end of March.
The experimental trial is due to end on 30 April 2019. We are pleased to see from the report that KCC and ABC are now to push for the parking ban to be made permanent and this is strongly supported by other bodies including Westwell Parish Council and the SLRA.
The full report may be viewed here, but we reproduce below the final two paragraphs:
Next Steps
15. The ETRO ends on the 30th April 2019. KCC and ABC wish to make the trial areas permanent. We are currently seeking formal DfT approval to continue first time clamping on vehicles that contravene restrictions and an increased clamp release fee to ensure costs can be covered with no additional impact on KCC & ABC finances.
16. In agreement with ABC, KCC are planning to undertake a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation this month (March 2019) to make the trial area permanent to ensure continuation of enforcement. However this is dependent on the response from DfT.
(ETRO = Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, DfT = Department for Transport)
1 March 2019
Local Plan: Formal Notice of Adoption issued
Further to our news item of 27 February 2019 (below), Ashford Borough Council has now issued the formal Notice of Adoption of the Ashford Borough Local Plan 2030. The Notice may be viewed here.
1 March 2019
M20 East bound to be re-textured to "reduce noise"
In October 2014, the London bound carriageway of the M20 between junctions 9 and 8 was re-textured by cutting grooves in the concrete. Highways England said that this was to improve skid resistance and did not anticipate that it would have any significant effect on traffic noise.
The SLRA carried out an opinion survey after the works were completed and 57% of the 27 respondents thought there had been no change in noise levels, 39% thought there had been an increase and 4% thought there had been a decrease.
Some residents have recently received a letter from Highways England advising that the M20 coast-bound carriageway from junction 8 to 9 is now to be re-textured, but this time there is no mention of skid resistance or cutting grooves; Highways England claim that this re-texturing is "to reduce carriageway noise". It is not stated what form the re-texturing will take.
The works are to be carried out between 11 and 24 March 2019, with a 24 hour 50 mph speed limit in place. We know that Highways England have been monitoring noise levels recently from the garden of one of our members, and they have asked to repeat the measurements in the week after the works are complete (w/c 25 March 2019).
A copy of the letter from Highways England may be viewed here.
27 February 2019
Ashford Local Plan 2030 adopted
Further to our news item of 7 January 2019 (below), it is confirmed that the Ashford Local Plan 2030 was adopted at a meeting of Ashford Borough Council on 21 February 2019. The final version of the Plan, as adopted, may be viewed here.
20 February 2019
Charging for non-household waste to begin in June
As widely expected, the decision has been made by Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport, Highways and Waste, Mike Whiting, to introduce charging for disposal of non-household waste (soil, rubble, hardcore and plasterboard) at KCC waste disposal sites, starting on 3 June 2019. This is despite wide public opposition to the scheme.
The charges will be £4 per bag of soil, rubble or hardcore (maximum 5 bags/day) and £6 per bag or sheet of plasterboard. Asbestos disposal will remain free of charge.
The Record of Decision document may be seen here and all details of the issue may be seen here.
Our previous news item, giving details of the KCC Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee’s debate on the issue, is below, dated 27 January 2019.
18 February 2018
M20 noise
Thanks to members in the area, we have become aware that the Highways Agency have recently installed noise monitoring equipment next to the M20/Sandyhurst Lane. We have therefore written to the Highways Agency, copied to Damian Green MP, (see email below), stating that the resulting measurements will not be representative of the normal traffic noise levels and should not be used to attempt to justify any delays or cancellations of the implementation of noise abatement measures.
From: Sandyhurst Lane Residents' Association
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2019 3:51 PM
To: Highways England
Cc: Damian Green
Subject: M20 noise
Dear Sirs
I am writing on behalf of Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association which represents approximately 1,000 residents in and around Sandyhurst Lane, Ashford. This Lane intersects the M20 motorway just to the north-west of Junction 9. We have for many years been campaigning for noise reduction measures on the M20 in the vicinity of this area.
We are aware that Highways England have recently installed equipment to monitor noise, for a period of about 5 days, on the premises of one of our members living adjacent to the London-bound carriageway of the M20. Whilst we are not aware of the precise purpose of this noise monitoring, we wish to point out that the results will far from correctly represent the normal level of noise generated by traffic using this part of the M20. This is principally because there is currently a speed limit of 50 mph on the London-bound carriageway which is widely observed, due to the use of average speed cameras. It is also arguable that the traffic volume during the later part of the monitoring period will be reduced as it occurs in the school half-term holiday.
We trust, therefore, that these measurements will not be used in any attempts to justify further delays or cancellation of any plans to install noise reduction measures, such as resurfacing of the carriageways.
Kind regards
David Porter
Secretary
Sandyhurst Lane Residents' Association
16 February 2019
Emergency stroke services
After five years of deliberation, the Stroke Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups yesterday reached unanimous agreement on the future of emergency stroke services in Kent and Medway and has made the decision to implement the preferred option to establish hyper acute stroke units at the William Harvey Hospital, Darent Valley Hospital and Maidstone Hospital. The official letter giving details of the decision may be viewed here.
14 February 2019
Refill scheme for Ashford
On 31 January 2019, Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, launched the Government’s “Year of Green Action”. Amy Casey, Ashford Borough Council’s Waste & Recycling Education Officer is leading locally on a year-long events plan, with each month having an event/campaign/initiative.
A big plastic/waste reduction campaign is scheduled for the summer. Part of this campaign is to implement the Refill scheme in Ashford. Refill is a nationwide scheme providing a network of points offering the general public free tap water. The aim is to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles used, reduce litter of single-use plastic bottles and increase the availability of drinking water. The public can find which businesses have signed up to the scheme through a smart phone Refill app or by seeing the Refill sticker in the business windows. See https://refill.org.uk/.
The more people involved, the better the outcome will be and the more impact it will have. Therefore Amy is looking for volunteers who are willing to help in this project. It will consist of an initial meeting and then a series of ‘action days’ (probably 2 or 3) to canvass businesses in the borough and persuade them to join the fight. These action days will take place between March and June 2019.
If you are interested in helping, or know of anyone who would be interested, please contact Amy Casey at amy.casey@ashford.gov.uk by Monday 18th February.
14 February 2019
Planning permission granted for extension at Nyali, 354 Sandyhurst Lane
Retrospective planning permission was granted on 13 February 2019 for a single storey side extension at Nyali, 354 Sandyhurst Lane. Full details are available here (search for application number 18/01658/AS).
9 February 2019
M20 noise: Response from Damian Green MP
Following our letter to Damian Green MP (see news item of 30 January 2019, below), we have received a helpful reply from Damian Green MP, promising to pursue the case for resurfacing the M20 between junctions 8 and 9.
The reply from Damian Green may be viewed here.
1 February 2019
SLRA to install a defibrillator
The SLRA has recently successfully bid for one of 70 free redundant defibrillators from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
The defibrillator, which is in full working order, is to be installed in a purpose-made external cabinet outside the Hare & Hounds, Sandyhurst Lane. It will be a “Public Access AED” (Automated External Defibrillator), available at all times. The cabinet will be heated (to keep the equipment in good working order in all weathers) and locked and alarmed (to discourage theft and vandalism). The code for the lock will be available by dialling 999 and will also be sent to all SLRA members and will be also available from the pub when open.
The SLRA defibrillator will add to the growing number of such devices which are available locally. These include defibrillators at:
- Westwell Village Hall (unlocked, available at all times)
- Ashford Golf Club (available when the premises are open)
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council have recently decided to install 4 new defibrillators at the following sites:
- Sandyacres Sports & Social Centre (to replace the existing one, to be available when the premises are open)
- Goat Lees Community Hall (unlocked, to be available at all times)
- Boughton Lees Cricket Pavilion (unlocked, to be available at all times)
- The Iron Room, Boughton Lees (to replace the existing one, to be available when the premises are open)
Please note that there is currently no availability at the above 4 sites; existing defibrillators at Sandyacres and the Iron Room need maintenance and are out of service.
The new defibrillators at these 4 sites will have screens to facilitate use by all, including those without English as a first language.
30 January 2019
SLRA again calls for M20 noise abatement
The SLRA has once again written to the Rt Hon Damian Green MP seeking help in persuading Highways England to bring forward their long term plans to re-surface the M20 in our vicinity with 'quiet' tarmac.
This initiative was taken following the recent publicity that Highways England has generated for their programme of noise reduction measures which they are rolling out to over 1,000 motorway and major A road locations, supported by a special £39 million fund.
The letter and attachments from the SLRA Chair, Tony Bartlett, may be viewed here and the recent government press release about the Highways England programme may be viewed here.
27 January 2019
Charging for non-household waste a step closer
Following the consultation which ran from 6 September to 1 November 2018, Kent County Council’s Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee met on 17 January to consider proposals to introduce charging for disposal of non-household waste (soil, rubble, hardcore and plasterboard) at KCC waste disposal sites. The proposals are to charge £4 per bag of soil, rubble or hardcore and £6 per bag of plasterboard. Asbestos disposal will remain free of charge.
The committee heard that 10% of visitors to KCC waste disposal sites bring this type of waste and that there is a problem with “cross border” traffic now that neighbouring authorities in Bromley, Surrey and East Sussex have introduced charging. There has been typically a 75% reduction in this waste being taken to council sites which charge; people switch to commercial disposal such as hippo bags, skips etc.
The committee heard that the public consultation received 2,841 responses, 85% of which disagreed (66% strongly disagreed) with the introduction of charging. The most common comment was the perceived increase in fly tipping that would result. However, the KCC officers claimed that this was not a valid objection because 12 authorities which had introduced charging reported “little or no” increase in fly tipping and a further 4 authorities reported an increase “in line with national trends”.
At the end of the debate, the vote to endorse the Policy to adopt charging for non-household waste materials at Household Waste Recycling Centres was carried by 9 votes to 2, with 5 abstentions.
In view of the high level of public opposition and the the significant degree of opposition and abstention by the committee, despite the vote to endorse, the Cabinet member responsible was asked whether this would make any difference. He said that he would “take all of that away and consider it carefully” before making decision, though another committee member could be heard saying “I think this decision was made 6 months ago”. The final decision will be made by KCC in February, but there seems little doubt that it will be to introduce charges.
The full debate is available as a video on the KCC website here.
26 January 2019
Road closures for 10k run, 10 February 2018
Confirmation of the road closures for the 10k run on 10 February has now been published by Kent County Council. As expected, Sandyhurst Lane itself will not be closed, but it will probably be very busy between Faversham Road and Lenacre Street as participants make their way from the base at Towers School to the start/finish in Lenacre Street.
Road closures will officially start at 1030 (though the organisers have said 1015 as the race starts at 1030) and end by 1230 at the latest. Roads affected include the entire lengths of Lenacre Street, Kingsland Lane, Eastwell Lane (Tumbledown Hill), Gold Hill and the following parts of Westwell Lane:
- Between the junctions with Eastwell Lane and Gold Hill
- Between the junctions with Gold Hill and Watery Lane
- Between the junctions with Watery Lane and Kingsland Lane
The official road closure notice may be viewed here.
We are aware that some residents wish to access the church in Westwell village for the service at 11.00 am and/or the Wheel Inn afterwards. We have been in touch with the organisers who have assured us that they will be mindful of this situation, which will be discussed at their next committee meeting with a view to ensuring that they have adequate coverage by marshals to facilitate access.
24 January 2019
Appeal against Lenacre Hall Farm planning application refusal
The recently amended ‘hybrid’ planning application for up to 79 dwellings on land at Lenacre Hall Farm (including full planning application for 21 of these dwellings) is awaiting decision by Ashford Borough Council (ABC). This is application number 17/01613/AS.
There was another, separate, full application for the 21 dwellings which was refused by ABC at their planning committee meeting on 18 July 2018 (application number 18/00413/AS).
The applicants, Millwood Designer Homes, have now lodged an appeal against this refusal. This can be seen on the website for the application here (search for application number 18/00413/AS), though there are, as yet, no appeal documents to view.
19 January 2019
Retrospective planning permission granted for summer house/store
at Bears Corner, Westwell Lane
Planning permission was granted retrospectively on 18 January 2019 for a summer house/store at Bears Corner, Westwell Lane. Full details are available here (search for application number 18/01729/AS).
14 January 2019
SLRA responds to third consultation on Land at Lenacre Hall Farm
The SLRA has submitted a third set of objection comments to the hybrid application for residential dwellings on land at Lenacre Hall Farm, following further amendments to the application. The comments submitted may be viewed here.
8 January 2019
GPDE decision for extension at Ashdale, 364 Sandyhurst Lane
A General Permitted Development Extension application, made for a larger single storey rear extension at Ashdale, 364 Sandyhurst Lane has been decided as 'Prior Approval not Required'. Full details are available here (search for case number 18/00022/GDPE/AS).
7 January 2019
Ashford Local Plan to be adopted
After several years of preparation, the Ashford Local Plan 2030 is now ready for adoption.
The final stages of preparation were the public hearings by independent Inspectors last summer followed by the Main Modifications consultation in September and October 2018. The Inspectors have now issued their post hearing report which concludes that, subject to Main Modifications, the Plan is sound and capable of adoption.
The SLRA and many of its members contributed to all stages of public consultation. Of the 7 development sites in the SLRA area originally submitted for inclusion in the Plan, only one (Eureka Park) was eventually included. One of the Main Modifications is the deletion of 7 unsuitable sites, which include the A20 Corridor sites, one of which is Land East of Hothfield Mill.
The full text of the Inspectors’ report may be viewed here.
6 January 2019
10k run to have new venue
The annual 10k run is scheduled to take place on Sunday 10 February 2019.
Last year the event was taken over by new organisers, Sporting Events UK, and this year they have decided that, after 25 years of the event being held at Sandyacres, it will now be based at the Towers School.
We have written to the organisers asking for details of road closures but it appears from the published route (see here) that:
- the race will start and finish at or near the junction of Sandyhurst Lane and Lenacre Street
- the whole of Lenacre Street will be affected
- apart from the start/finish point, the race will NOT be routed along Sandyhurst Lane
Details of the event on the organisers’ website may be seen here.
Sandyhurst Lane
Residents Association
Residents Association
Protecting the rural character of Sandyhurst Lane and the adjoining area
News Archive for Jan-Jun 2019