30 December 2015
Listed building consent granted for boiler replacement at
2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane
Listed building consent was granted on 29 December 2015 for the removal and replacement of a gas-fired central heating boiler with flue extending from the roof at 2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01140/AS).
22 December 2015
Planning permission sought for extension at Holmleigh, 314 Sandyhurst Lane
A planning application has been made for the erection of a two storey side extension with integral garage with front canopy and single storey rear extension at Holmleigh, 314 Sandyhurst Lane. The closing date for comments is 14 January 2016. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01656/AS).
13 December 2015
Operation Stack: Public consultation
Following the announcement on 25 November of funding to relieve Operation Stack (see News item below), Highways England has launched a public consultation on proposals for permanent lorry waiting areas near junction 10 of the M20.
SLRA sees the measures to relieve Operation Stack very much as an opportunity also to deal with the ongoing problem of anti-social long-term parking of trucks in laybys, on verges, in residential areas, in business parks, etc.
Full details of the consultation may be found on the government website here. The consultation runs from 11 December to 11.45 pm on Monday 25 January 2016.
In addition, there will be a series of public exhibition events, hosted by Highways England, whose project team will be present to answer questions. The Ashford event will take place from 2 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday 6 January 2016 at The New Ashford Market, Monument Way, Orbital Park, Ashford, TN24 0HB.
10 December 2015
Outcome of the Community Governance Review
Ashford Borough Council met this evening to decide its final recommendations resulting from the Community Governance Review.
The Council has decided to accept the results of the ballot of residents in unparished areas of the Borough. This means that only the following two of the urban councils have been recommended for creation:
Kennington
South Willesborough & Newton.
More importantly, from the perspective of the SLRA, the Council has included in its final recommendations the SLRA proposal to realign the boundary of Westwell Parish to include the even numbered side of Sandyhurst Lane from the A20 to number 196, together with Potters Close, Hoads Wood Gardens and Crossways to Hawthorn House, Maidstone Road.
This will mean that all properties currently in the unparished area will be included in Westwell Parish. The map here shows the changed Westwell boundary.
SLRA welcomes this decision; the proposal was overwhelmingly supported by residents who expressed their view in our ‘referendum’ last May.
These final recommendations, if implemented by the Boundary Commission, would come into effect in 2019, when the next borough and parish elections take place.
28 November 2015
Planning permission granted for extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane
Planning permission was granted on 27 November 2015 for the erection of a two storey rear extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01326/AS).
25 November 2015
£250 million to relieve Operation Stack
SLRA was one of many voices throughout Kent lobbying this summer for an end to Operation Stack, which caused misery for residents on 32 days. Our MP, Damian Green, together with Damian Collins MP (Folkestone) and other Kent MPs has succeeded in convincing the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, of the need to commit resources to this problem. Today George Osborne has announced the allocation of £250 million to relieve Operation Stack. We await details of exactly what measures are proposed.
21 November 2015
Planning permission granted for annex and pool at Kingsland Barn,
Kingsland Lane
Planning permission was granted on 20 November for the erection of an an annex for relatives, gym and outside pool at Kingsland Barn, Kingsland Lane. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01309/AS).
20 November 2015
Bridge works in Sandyhurst Lane
There will be some traffic disruption in Sandyhurst Lane on Sunday 22 November between the hours of 0800 and 2000.
Contractors working for Network Rail will be carrying out brickwork repairs on the bridge over the railway (adjacent to the M20). This will involve a half road closure for the duration of the works, which are scheduled to be completed on the same day.
17 November 2015
Christmas Recycling & Refuse Collections
Ashford Borough Council has published details of the Christmas and New Year refuse and recycling collection schedules, together with information and advice on Christmas & New Year recycling. A copy is available here, but there is no need to print as the Council is intending to send one by post to every household in the two weeks commencing 30 November.
For the SLRA area, with normal collections on Thursdays, the schedule is as follows:
Refuse collection Thursday 24 December – unchanged
Recycling collection Thursday 31 December – moved to SATURDAY 2 JANUARY
Refuse collection Thursday 7 January – moved to FRIDAY 8 JANUARY
There will be no garden recycling collection or bulk waste collections in the weeks commencing 28 December and 4 January (so the garden collection otherwise due on Thursday 7 January will not take place).
Further information on Christmas recycling is available on the Council’s website here.
16 November 2015
Kent County Council - Winter service provisions
Kent County Council have issued a letter giving details of their Highways and Transportation winter service provisions. It may be viewed here.
7 November 2015
Listed building consent sought for boiler replacement at
2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane
An application for listed building consent has been made for the removal and replacement of a gas-fired central heating boiler with flue extending from the roof at 2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane. The closing date for comments is 30 November 2015. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01140/AS).
6 November 2015
Planning permission granted for pitched garage roof at 98 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 5 November 2015 for a pitched roof over the existing single storey flat roofed attached garage at 98 Sandyhurst Lane, to accommodate a fourth bedroom. Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01236/AS).
5 November 2015
Community Governance Review consultation - statement by
Ashford Borough Council
Consultation on the Ashford Community Governance Review, including the recommended creation of five new community councils, closed on 30 October. Ashford Borough Council will now consider the responses and make their final recommendations in December 2015. Any changes would not come into effect until 2019.
Meanwhile, the Council has today issued a statement, together with the results of the non-binding ballots held on the creation of the community councils. The statement reads as follows:
Community Governance Review – urban area consultation outcomes
Local people and groups around Ashford commented throughout September and October on draft proposals for changes to the governance arrangements for the parishes and urban areas of the borough.
Creating community councils in the currently unparished urban areas of Ashford was one of the options put up for consultation.
Borough councillors felt that it was important to ensure that every registered elector in these areas had the opportunity to have their say on the proposals through the ballot and so every household in these areas received a leaflet and yes/no ballot paper on the matter through the post. The results of the five ballots have now been confirmed by the Electoral Reform Services and the council is formally releasing the results.
Over 11,000 votes were cast across the five wards, with a further 90 detailed comments being made online in relation to community council proposals and general parishing arrangements across the borough.
As stated in the original literature sent to residents in the relevant areas, the results of the ballot (for and against) are non-binding on the council and are one part of the consultation process. However, the result will inform the decision of council members in December.
When taking that final decision on whether to recommend the creation of community councils, councillors will take into account a number of important factors, including:
The turnout of the ballot
The margin of the result
The responses received to the wider consultation that gave residents the opportunity to comment in greater detail on the proposals
All of these matters will be taken into account and considered carefully by Councillors before a final decision is made.
Cllr Neil Bell, Ashford Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “The purpose from the outset was to review the way communities in the borough are represented. We have provided a balance of information to inform everyone’s decision-making and will now look in detail at the results and consider this information in each context further before conclusions are drawn next month. I would like to stress again that the ballot results, either way, do not necessarily reflect what the council’s final decision will be but we felt it was important to let everyone know now what the feedback was to date.”
Ballot results
The full results for all five proposed community councils are available here. For the two which potentially impact on the SLRA area, the summary results are as follows (the ballot question was “Do you want a community Council for your area?”):
Central Ashford
Number voting YES: 1,098 (39.0%)
Number voting NO: 1,719 (61.0%)
Turnout: 28.6%
Kennington
Number voting YES: 1,522 (53.3%)
Number voting NO: 1,336 (46.7%)
Turnout: 34.9%
5 November 2015
Planning permission granted for extension and alterations
at 178 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 4 November 2015 for the following at 178 Sandyhurst Lane: A ground floor rear extension. Insertion of three front facing dormer windows. Demolition and rebuilding of existing attached garage. Extension of house roof over garage forming a barn-hip. Conversion of existing opposite hip end to barn hip. Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01244/AS).
30 October 2015
SLRA makes final submission to draft recommendations on Community Governance Review
Following the publication by Ashford Borough Council of their draft recommendations on the Community Governance Review (see news item 31 July 2015), SLRA made an initial response on 3 August. A further and final response was made today, the closing date for submissions. This submission may be viewed here.
13 October 2015
Planning permission sought for extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane
A planning application has been made for the erection of a two storey rear extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane. The closing date for comments is 5 November 2015. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01326/AS).
8 October 2015
Planning permission sought for annex and pool at Kingsland Barn, Kingsland Lane
A planning application has been made for the erection of an an annex for relatives, gym and outside pool at Kingsland Barn, Kingsland Lane. Comments are due by 31 October 2015. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01309/AS).
1 October 2015
SLRA supports Lenacre Hall Farm renovation proposal
Following discussion at the recent committee meeting, SLRA has lodged a supporting comment to the planning and listed building consent applications to restore and renovate oast buildings at Lenacre Hall Farm, 393 Sandyhurst Lane.
The comment reads as follows:
Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association represents the collective interests of local residents and the principal tenet of our Constitution is to protect the rural environment of Sandyhurst Lane and the adjoining area.
The Association fully supports the proposed restoration and conversion of these oast buildings as we believe it will significantly improve the local environment as well as lending support to rural business.
The comment will be added online, within the next 5 days, to those already submitted. Details of the applications appear in the news item for 17 September, below.
29 September 2015
Update on KCC Electoral Review
Back in July, we made a submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Electoral Review of Kent County Council. This was to propose that the boundary between Ashford Rural West division and Ashford Central division should be realigned in the same way as we have proposed for the boundary between Westwell parish and the presently unparished Bockhanger ward.
The timescale for this Review was originally such that the final recommendations were to be published today, 29 September 2015.
However, the Commission has received many submissions (22) on the county divisions in the Sevenoaks area, as a result of which there will now be a further period of consultation, specifically on the Sevenoaks area. This will delay the whole review and the publication date for the final recommendations has been moved back from today to 19 January 2016.
27 September 2015
Road signs cleaned
The state of the road signs in Sandyhurst Lane has been deteriorating for many months and KCC has shown no inclination to clean them, in the light of present budgetary constraints.
The signs had become very dirty, creating a neglected impression throughout the Lane. SLRA has therefore arranged for the signs to be cleaned and this has recently been completed. We are grateful to Medash Signs for carrying out this work professionally at very reasonable rates.
23 September 2015
Planning permission sought for extension and alterations at 178 Sandyhurst Lane
A planning application has been made for the following at 178 Sandyhurst Lane: A ground floor rear extension. Insertion of three front facing dormer windows. Demolition and rebuilding of existing attached garage. Extension of house roof over garage forming a barn-hip. Conversion of existing opposite hip end to barn hip. Comments are due by 16 October 2015.
Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01244/AS).
21 September 2015
Consultation on street lighting
Kent County Council, which is responsible for providing street lighting, has today launched a consultation. This is about options for operation of the existing street lights throughout Kent – it is NOT about provision of street lights in areas presently without them.
KCC is planning to replace all street lights with LED lamps as a cost saving measure. This will start in early 2016 and will be completed in 14 months in residential areas.
The consultation seeks views on whether respondents prefer part-night lighting (as at present) or all night lighting and seeks views on the further possibility of dimming lights at specific times. There is a link to a map which shows the present way in which each street lamp is operated.
For the few lights in the SLRA area, this shows the following:
Sandyhurst Lane: All 5 street lights are all-night
Potters Close: 2 street lights all-night, 4 street lights part-night (off from 0000 to 0530)
Hoads Wood Gardens: All 15 street lights all-night
Watsons Close: 2 street lights part-night (off from 0000 to 0530)
Lenacre Street: 1 street light part-night (off from 0000 to 0530)
Passage from Sandyhurst Lane to Dunnock Road (opposite Sandyacres): All 4 street lights all-night
Passage from Sandyhurst Lane to Freathy Lane: All 4 street lights all-night
Should you wish to see/respond to the consultation, please follow this link. Responses are accepted up until 29 November.
19 September 2015
Planning permission sought for pitched garage roof at 98 Sandyhurst Lane
A planning application has been made for a pitched roof over the existing single storey flat roofed attached garage at 98 Sandyhurst Lane, to accommodate a fourth bedroom. Comments are due by 12 October 2015.
Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01236/AS).
17 September 2015
Planning permission & listed building consent sought for
Lenacre Hall Farm, 393 Sandyhurst Lane
Applications have been made for planning permission and listed building consent to convert and restore oast buildings at Lenacre Hall Farm to office use, incorporating rebuild of the oast kiln and cowl; rebuild of roof to stowage and side barns; repair to existing brickwork and repointing with lime mortar; glazed doors to southeast & northwest elevations; half glazed timber replacement door to northeast elevation; replacement windows to southeast, southwest and northwest elevations; rooflights to southwest elevation, internal partitioning and replacement staircase. Full details may be viewed here and here (search for applications 15/01214/AS and 15/01215/AS).
11 September 2015
Consultation on Community Governance Review
Ashford Borough Council is asking residents to respond to the consultation on the Community Governance Review. The draft recommendations, which will be finalised in December, include the proposed creation of five new 'Community Councils' in presently unparished areas of the borough, together with some boundary changes.
THESE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD AFFECT MANY RESIDENTS IN THE SLRA AREA.
In our area, two new urban Community Councils are being proposed, covering around 8,000 residents each. If these are created without any other changes, they will include all properties on the even-numbered side of Sandyhurst Lane from the A20 to number 196. Also included will be Potters Close, Hoads Wood Gardens and the properties in Maidstone Road just south of Potters Corner. The two Councils would be for Central Ashford (for properties between the A20 and M20) and Kennington (properties from the M20 to 196 Sandyhurst Lane).
This is why, after consulting residents, we proposed that the Westwell Parish boundary be realigned so that the properties which would otherwise fall under the new urban councils would become part of Westwell Parish. This would take the boundary which runs presently runs down the centre of Sandyhurst Lane, dividing our community, to a new position just to the south-east of these properties. Ashford Borough Council has included this proposal in their draft recommendations.
SLRA supports the creation of the new urban councils, which will provide a local voice for Central Ashford and Kennington, but we believe that local residents affected in the SLRA area should be part of the rural parish of Westwell – and both the proposed new urban councils agree.
Those directly affected by the proposals are being balloted to ask if they support the creation of the new urban councils. We suggest that residents support this, BUT that they also support the boundary change by responding to the consultation before 30 October 2015.
Responding is quick and easy - there is an online questionnaire here to vote/comment on the proposed boundary change (follow through to Westwell parish) and an online questionnaire here to vote/comment on the creation of the new urban councils. By following this link you can, if you wish, support the creation of the new Community Councils but comment that their proposed areas should not include properties in and around Sandyhurst Lane.
More information: An open evening is being held on Monday 28th September between 4pm and 8pm in the council offices in the Civic Centre, Ashford, for residents to find out more information or ask any questions that they may have.
More information is also available on the Council's website here.
Residents living in Boughton Aluph & Eastwell parish are not directly affected by these proposals.
12 August 2015
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Neighbourhood Plan
We have been asked by the Chairman of Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council to draw the attention of residents to the importance of the development of the Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Neighbourhood Plan.
A Neighbourhood Plan is a document that sets out planning policies for the parish. Planning policies are used to decide whether to approve planning applications. It is written by the local community, the people who know and love the area, rather than the Local Planning Authority, in this case, Ashford Borough Council.
The Neighbourhood Plan must integrate with and not conflict with local or national planning policy. It must be a blueprint for sustainable development in our parish and must not block development. It is not a wish list of projects but a planning policy document for future development. A Neighbourhood Plan cannot change the past but it can help to ensure that we learn from it and do not repeat past mistakes.
There are several ways that residents can be informed about and/or get involved with this project:
1. There is a dedicated website, www.parishplan.uk, which contains a wealth of information about the Neighbourhood Plan.
2. On that website, residents can sign up to receive email newsletters about the development of the Plan.
3. There is a series of consultation meetings to be held in September. The purpose of these is to find out what residents think should be covered in the Neighbourhood Plan. The drop-in events will take place in the evenings and at weekends to maximise attendance. Everyone is welcome; call in at a time to suit you. Residents may attend any of the four events at any of the four locations:
Thursday 17 September, 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Goat Lees Primary School
Friday 18 September, 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Goat Lees Community Hall
Saturday 19 September, 11.00am - 2.00pm, Iron Room, Boughton Lees
Sunday 27 September, 11.00am - 4.00pm, Sandyacres, Sandyhurst Lane
5 August 2015
Planning permission granted for extension at Elden, 61 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 4 August 2015 for a proposed rear and single storey extension with replacement window to first floor rear wall at Elden, 61 Sandyhurst Lane. There were no objections to the application. Full details may be viewed here. (Case number 15/00867/AS).
3 August 2015
SLRA responds to draft recommendations on Community Governance Review
Following the publication by Ashford Borough Council of their draft recommendations on the Community Governance Review (see news item 31 July 2015), SLRA has responded, welcoming the recommendation to realign the Westwell Parish boundary to include further parts of Sandyhurst Lane and Maidstone Road, together with Hoads Wood Gardens and Potters Close.
We are also urging the Council to ensure that the Ward boundary between Downs West and Bockhanger is similarly realigned and, in conjunction with Kent County Council, the Division boundary between Ashford Rural West and Ashford Central.
The SLRA response may be viewed here.
3 August 2015
SLRA proposes new traffic survey in Sandyhurst Lane
Following many concerns expressed by residents about the volume and speed of traffic in Sandyhurst Lane, we have today written to the two KCC councillors responsible for Sandyhurst Lane, seeking their support and financial assistance with conducting a new traffic survey in the Lane. This letter may be viewed here.
3 August 2015
SLRA lobbies Borough Councillors on property blight
Many residents have expressed concern that the delays in bringing forward a short list of the development sites submitted for consideration under the Ashford Local Plan to 2030 are causing property blight in parts of the SLRA area (eg Westwell Lane and parts of Sandyhurst Lane). In May, we were in touch with the Planning Policy Manager at Ashford Borough Council to emphasise this issue and the need to avoid further delays in the programme, the next stage of which is the publication of the first draft Local Plan for public consultation by the end of 2015.
Further to this, we have today written to the three Ashford BC councillors responsible for parts of the SLRA area, urging them to ensure that there is no further slippage in the programme. This letter may be viewed here.
31 July 2015
SLRA success in Community Governance Review
In May we responded to the Community Governance Review being undertaken by Ashford Borough Council. We argued that, rather than being incorporated into new Community Councils for Central Ashford and Kennington, the existing SLRA members who live in Bockhanger ward should be incorporated into Westwell Parish and that the artificial boundary presently running along the centre of Sandyhurst Lane should be moved accordingly. This was supported by 79% of residents who responded to our survey.
We are pleased to report that, in their draft recommendations published today, Ashford Borough Council have included our proposal. They have also included proposals to set up the aforesaid Central Ashford Community Council and Kennington Community Council.
This means that, if the draft recommendations are confirmed, residents in the following parts of our area will become parishioners of Westwell, rather than of one of the two new Community Councils:
Tollgate Cottage to 196 Sandyhurst Lane (even numbers only), Potters Close, Hoads Wood Gardens and Ambleside to Upper Hawthorns, Maidstone Road.
The recommendations are subject to consultation until 30 October 2015 and the final recommendations will be published in December 2015.
The text of the draft recommendations relating to our proposal is as follows:
“A submission was received from the Sandyhurst Lane Residents Association, requesting that the Westwell Parish Boundary be moved to include the residents of Sandyhurst Lane, as shown as shown on Plan 16 in the Plans pack. The residents association carried out a survey and asked the question of its 285 residents "Do you want to become part of Westwell Parish?" 145 responses were received of which 115 said yes to joining Westwell.
Currently the boundary runs down the centre of Sandyhurst Lane and residents on opposite sides of the road are in different parishes and borough wards. Central Ashford Community Forum also recommended transferring residents of Hoads Wood Gardens and Potters Corner [sic - Potters Close] to Westwell Parish along with those of Sandyhurst Lane.
145 properties and 319 electors would be affected. The Borough Council is recommending the amendment to the Parish boundary as shown on Plan 16.”
The original full text may be viewed here and the plans here.
30 July 2015
Response from Rt Hon Damian Green MP to SLRA lobby on Operation Stack
Dear Mr Bartlett
Thank you for copying me your letter to Paul Carter about Operation Stack.
I just wanted to pick up on one point where you suggest charging vehicles coming across the Channel and toll. I am happy to tell you that since April 2014 foreign hauliers are charged to use UK roads. This was widely welcomed at the time by the haulage industry as providing a level playing field.
Of course the wider issue of Operation Stack is worse than ever, and I believe Highways England are proving extraordinarily ineffective in coming up with any ideas for a better system. This fight will continue.
Yours sincerely
Damian Green
27 July 2015
Response from KCC Leader to SLRA lobby on Operation Stack
Dear Mr Bartlett
Thank you for your letter on behalf of the Sandhurst Lane Residents Association dated 14 July 2015 regarding Operation Stack.
I am very sorry to hear of the difficulties that people in your community are experiencing due to Operation Stack. I agree that the disruption that Operation Stack causes is totally unacceptable and a solution must be found.
All options are being considered by a multi-agency working group to try to find a solution to Operation Stack that allows the M20 to remain open when there is disruption at the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover. This working group consists of Kent County Council, Kent Police, Highways England, Eurotunnel, the Port of Dover, ferry companies, representatives from lorry park and logistics operators, the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association, as well as two Kent Members of Parliament.
This group is currently finalising a report to Government which will outline the solutions that need to be delivered. This is likely to require a package of measures in order to accommodate the sheer number of HGVs that use the Channel ports. Options include off-highway lorry parks and extra capacity on-highway to allow HGVs to queue on the motorway while it can also remain open for other traffic, so that vehicles do not need to be diverted onto the county’s roads and bring misery to communities like yours.
I remain fully committed to working with our partners to find a solution. It will then be for Government to fund and deliver the solution to a national problem which results in the closure of parts the Strategic Road Network. Last year the Government introduced a HGV Road User Levy, and in its first year raised £44 million from foreign HGVs using the UK’s roads. I believe that this money should be used to fund the solutions to this problem that affects Kent so severely due to our location as the Gateway to Europe.
Yours sincerely
Paul Carter, CBE
Leader of Kent County Council
17 July 2015
Home Affairs Select Committee
The Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee met on Tuesday 14 July on the subject of “Immigration – the situation in Calais” and its consequences, including Operation Stack (prior to its implementation yet again).
The committee took evidence from:
Alan Pughsley QPM, Chief Constable, Kent Police
Richard Burnett, Chief Executive, Road Haulage Association
James Hookham, Chief Executive, Freight Transport Association
John Keefe, Director of Public Affairs, Eurotunnel
Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, Minister for Immigration
Should you wish to view the committee session in whole or part, it is available here.
14 July 2015
SLRA lobbies on Operation Stack
Following the recent severe traffic problems caused by Operation Stack in Sandyhurst Lane, in Ashford and in other parts of Kent, we have today written to Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council, with copies to Damian Green MP and all County, Borough and Parish Councillors with constituents in the Sandyhurst Lane area.
The letter, from our Chair, Tony Bartlett, describes the inconvenience, frustration and fears of residents faced with the consequences of Operation Stack. It also draws attention to past evidence from the Channel Corridor Partnership (of which both Paul Carter and Tony Bartlett were Board members) to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport, despite which the Government has subsequently ignored the issue.
The letter discusses the wider context of HGV parking nationwide and draws comparison with the very different approach adopted in continental Europe. It also suggests reviving the idea of a small tax on vehicles using cross channel services as a way of contributing towards the costs of a solution.
The full text of the letter may be viewed here.
4 July 2015
SLRA submits response to KCC Electoral Review
Following our submission to the Community Governance Review, proposing the realignment of the Westwell parish boundary to include SLRA residents currently living in the unparished Bockhanger ward, we have made a similar submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Electoral Review of Kent County Council. This proposes that the boundary between Ashford Rural West division and Ashford Central division should be realigned in a similar way. The submission may be viewed here.
3 July 2015
New planning applications
Ashford Borough Council has published two new planning applications for properties in Sandyhurst Lane:
1. Elden, 61 Sandyhurst Lane
Proposed rear and single storey extension with replacement window to first floor rear wall.
Full details may be viewed here. (Case number 15/00867/AS). Any comments are due by 26 July 2015.
2. 178 Sandyhurst Lane
Erection of single storey rear extension and replacement garage with hipped roof extended to form gable ends to side elevations. Insertion of 2 dormer windows to front elevation and 2 dormer windows to rear elevation to facilitate loft conversion.
Full details may be viewed here. (Case number 15/00885/AS). Any comments are due by 26 July 2015.
Listed building consent granted for boiler replacement at
2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane
Listed building consent was granted on 29 December 2015 for the removal and replacement of a gas-fired central heating boiler with flue extending from the roof at 2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01140/AS).
22 December 2015
Planning permission sought for extension at Holmleigh, 314 Sandyhurst Lane
A planning application has been made for the erection of a two storey side extension with integral garage with front canopy and single storey rear extension at Holmleigh, 314 Sandyhurst Lane. The closing date for comments is 14 January 2016. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01656/AS).
13 December 2015
Operation Stack: Public consultation
Following the announcement on 25 November of funding to relieve Operation Stack (see News item below), Highways England has launched a public consultation on proposals for permanent lorry waiting areas near junction 10 of the M20.
SLRA sees the measures to relieve Operation Stack very much as an opportunity also to deal with the ongoing problem of anti-social long-term parking of trucks in laybys, on verges, in residential areas, in business parks, etc.
Full details of the consultation may be found on the government website here. The consultation runs from 11 December to 11.45 pm on Monday 25 January 2016.
In addition, there will be a series of public exhibition events, hosted by Highways England, whose project team will be present to answer questions. The Ashford event will take place from 2 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday 6 January 2016 at The New Ashford Market, Monument Way, Orbital Park, Ashford, TN24 0HB.
10 December 2015
Outcome of the Community Governance Review
Ashford Borough Council met this evening to decide its final recommendations resulting from the Community Governance Review.
The Council has decided to accept the results of the ballot of residents in unparished areas of the Borough. This means that only the following two of the urban councils have been recommended for creation:
Kennington
South Willesborough & Newton.
More importantly, from the perspective of the SLRA, the Council has included in its final recommendations the SLRA proposal to realign the boundary of Westwell Parish to include the even numbered side of Sandyhurst Lane from the A20 to number 196, together with Potters Close, Hoads Wood Gardens and Crossways to Hawthorn House, Maidstone Road.
This will mean that all properties currently in the unparished area will be included in Westwell Parish. The map here shows the changed Westwell boundary.
SLRA welcomes this decision; the proposal was overwhelmingly supported by residents who expressed their view in our ‘referendum’ last May.
These final recommendations, if implemented by the Boundary Commission, would come into effect in 2019, when the next borough and parish elections take place.
28 November 2015
Planning permission granted for extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane
Planning permission was granted on 27 November 2015 for the erection of a two storey rear extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01326/AS).
25 November 2015
£250 million to relieve Operation Stack
SLRA was one of many voices throughout Kent lobbying this summer for an end to Operation Stack, which caused misery for residents on 32 days. Our MP, Damian Green, together with Damian Collins MP (Folkestone) and other Kent MPs has succeeded in convincing the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, of the need to commit resources to this problem. Today George Osborne has announced the allocation of £250 million to relieve Operation Stack. We await details of exactly what measures are proposed.
21 November 2015
Planning permission granted for annex and pool at Kingsland Barn,
Kingsland Lane
Planning permission was granted on 20 November for the erection of an an annex for relatives, gym and outside pool at Kingsland Barn, Kingsland Lane. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01309/AS).
20 November 2015
Bridge works in Sandyhurst Lane
There will be some traffic disruption in Sandyhurst Lane on Sunday 22 November between the hours of 0800 and 2000.
Contractors working for Network Rail will be carrying out brickwork repairs on the bridge over the railway (adjacent to the M20). This will involve a half road closure for the duration of the works, which are scheduled to be completed on the same day.
17 November 2015
Christmas Recycling & Refuse Collections
Ashford Borough Council has published details of the Christmas and New Year refuse and recycling collection schedules, together with information and advice on Christmas & New Year recycling. A copy is available here, but there is no need to print as the Council is intending to send one by post to every household in the two weeks commencing 30 November.
For the SLRA area, with normal collections on Thursdays, the schedule is as follows:
Refuse collection Thursday 24 December – unchanged
Recycling collection Thursday 31 December – moved to SATURDAY 2 JANUARY
Refuse collection Thursday 7 January – moved to FRIDAY 8 JANUARY
There will be no garden recycling collection or bulk waste collections in the weeks commencing 28 December and 4 January (so the garden collection otherwise due on Thursday 7 January will not take place).
Further information on Christmas recycling is available on the Council’s website here.
16 November 2015
Kent County Council - Winter service provisions
Kent County Council have issued a letter giving details of their Highways and Transportation winter service provisions. It may be viewed here.
7 November 2015
Listed building consent sought for boiler replacement at
2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane
An application for listed building consent has been made for the removal and replacement of a gas-fired central heating boiler with flue extending from the roof at 2 Woodside Cottages, Westwell Lane. The closing date for comments is 30 November 2015. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01140/AS).
6 November 2015
Planning permission granted for pitched garage roof at 98 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 5 November 2015 for a pitched roof over the existing single storey flat roofed attached garage at 98 Sandyhurst Lane, to accommodate a fourth bedroom. Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01236/AS).
5 November 2015
Community Governance Review consultation - statement by
Ashford Borough Council
Consultation on the Ashford Community Governance Review, including the recommended creation of five new community councils, closed on 30 October. Ashford Borough Council will now consider the responses and make their final recommendations in December 2015. Any changes would not come into effect until 2019.
Meanwhile, the Council has today issued a statement, together with the results of the non-binding ballots held on the creation of the community councils. The statement reads as follows:
Community Governance Review – urban area consultation outcomes
Local people and groups around Ashford commented throughout September and October on draft proposals for changes to the governance arrangements for the parishes and urban areas of the borough.
Creating community councils in the currently unparished urban areas of Ashford was one of the options put up for consultation.
Borough councillors felt that it was important to ensure that every registered elector in these areas had the opportunity to have their say on the proposals through the ballot and so every household in these areas received a leaflet and yes/no ballot paper on the matter through the post. The results of the five ballots have now been confirmed by the Electoral Reform Services and the council is formally releasing the results.
Over 11,000 votes were cast across the five wards, with a further 90 detailed comments being made online in relation to community council proposals and general parishing arrangements across the borough.
As stated in the original literature sent to residents in the relevant areas, the results of the ballot (for and against) are non-binding on the council and are one part of the consultation process. However, the result will inform the decision of council members in December.
When taking that final decision on whether to recommend the creation of community councils, councillors will take into account a number of important factors, including:
The turnout of the ballot
The margin of the result
The responses received to the wider consultation that gave residents the opportunity to comment in greater detail on the proposals
All of these matters will be taken into account and considered carefully by Councillors before a final decision is made.
Cllr Neil Bell, Ashford Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “The purpose from the outset was to review the way communities in the borough are represented. We have provided a balance of information to inform everyone’s decision-making and will now look in detail at the results and consider this information in each context further before conclusions are drawn next month. I would like to stress again that the ballot results, either way, do not necessarily reflect what the council’s final decision will be but we felt it was important to let everyone know now what the feedback was to date.”
Ballot results
The full results for all five proposed community councils are available here. For the two which potentially impact on the SLRA area, the summary results are as follows (the ballot question was “Do you want a community Council for your area?”):
Central Ashford
Number voting YES: 1,098 (39.0%)
Number voting NO: 1,719 (61.0%)
Turnout: 28.6%
Kennington
Number voting YES: 1,522 (53.3%)
Number voting NO: 1,336 (46.7%)
Turnout: 34.9%
5 November 2015
Planning permission granted for extension and alterations
at 178 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 4 November 2015 for the following at 178 Sandyhurst Lane: A ground floor rear extension. Insertion of three front facing dormer windows. Demolition and rebuilding of existing attached garage. Extension of house roof over garage forming a barn-hip. Conversion of existing opposite hip end to barn hip. Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01244/AS).
30 October 2015
SLRA makes final submission to draft recommendations on Community Governance Review
Following the publication by Ashford Borough Council of their draft recommendations on the Community Governance Review (see news item 31 July 2015), SLRA made an initial response on 3 August. A further and final response was made today, the closing date for submissions. This submission may be viewed here.
13 October 2015
Planning permission sought for extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane
A planning application has been made for the erection of a two storey rear extension at Kingsland Grove, Kingsland Lane. The closing date for comments is 5 November 2015. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01326/AS).
8 October 2015
Planning permission sought for annex and pool at Kingsland Barn, Kingsland Lane
A planning application has been made for the erection of an an annex for relatives, gym and outside pool at Kingsland Barn, Kingsland Lane. Comments are due by 31 October 2015. Full details may be viewed here (search for case number 15/01309/AS).
1 October 2015
SLRA supports Lenacre Hall Farm renovation proposal
Following discussion at the recent committee meeting, SLRA has lodged a supporting comment to the planning and listed building consent applications to restore and renovate oast buildings at Lenacre Hall Farm, 393 Sandyhurst Lane.
The comment reads as follows:
Sandyhurst Lane Residents’ Association represents the collective interests of local residents and the principal tenet of our Constitution is to protect the rural environment of Sandyhurst Lane and the adjoining area.
The Association fully supports the proposed restoration and conversion of these oast buildings as we believe it will significantly improve the local environment as well as lending support to rural business.
The comment will be added online, within the next 5 days, to those already submitted. Details of the applications appear in the news item for 17 September, below.
29 September 2015
Update on KCC Electoral Review
Back in July, we made a submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Electoral Review of Kent County Council. This was to propose that the boundary between Ashford Rural West division and Ashford Central division should be realigned in the same way as we have proposed for the boundary between Westwell parish and the presently unparished Bockhanger ward.
The timescale for this Review was originally such that the final recommendations were to be published today, 29 September 2015.
However, the Commission has received many submissions (22) on the county divisions in the Sevenoaks area, as a result of which there will now be a further period of consultation, specifically on the Sevenoaks area. This will delay the whole review and the publication date for the final recommendations has been moved back from today to 19 January 2016.
27 September 2015
Road signs cleaned
The state of the road signs in Sandyhurst Lane has been deteriorating for many months and KCC has shown no inclination to clean them, in the light of present budgetary constraints.
The signs had become very dirty, creating a neglected impression throughout the Lane. SLRA has therefore arranged for the signs to be cleaned and this has recently been completed. We are grateful to Medash Signs for carrying out this work professionally at very reasonable rates.
23 September 2015
Planning permission sought for extension and alterations at 178 Sandyhurst Lane
A planning application has been made for the following at 178 Sandyhurst Lane: A ground floor rear extension. Insertion of three front facing dormer windows. Demolition and rebuilding of existing attached garage. Extension of house roof over garage forming a barn-hip. Conversion of existing opposite hip end to barn hip. Comments are due by 16 October 2015.
Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01244/AS).
21 September 2015
Consultation on street lighting
Kent County Council, which is responsible for providing street lighting, has today launched a consultation. This is about options for operation of the existing street lights throughout Kent – it is NOT about provision of street lights in areas presently without them.
KCC is planning to replace all street lights with LED lamps as a cost saving measure. This will start in early 2016 and will be completed in 14 months in residential areas.
The consultation seeks views on whether respondents prefer part-night lighting (as at present) or all night lighting and seeks views on the further possibility of dimming lights at specific times. There is a link to a map which shows the present way in which each street lamp is operated.
For the few lights in the SLRA area, this shows the following:
Sandyhurst Lane: All 5 street lights are all-night
Potters Close: 2 street lights all-night, 4 street lights part-night (off from 0000 to 0530)
Hoads Wood Gardens: All 15 street lights all-night
Watsons Close: 2 street lights part-night (off from 0000 to 0530)
Lenacre Street: 1 street light part-night (off from 0000 to 0530)
Passage from Sandyhurst Lane to Dunnock Road (opposite Sandyacres): All 4 street lights all-night
Passage from Sandyhurst Lane to Freathy Lane: All 4 street lights all-night
Should you wish to see/respond to the consultation, please follow this link. Responses are accepted up until 29 November.
19 September 2015
Planning permission sought for pitched garage roof at 98 Sandyhurst Lane
A planning application has been made for a pitched roof over the existing single storey flat roofed attached garage at 98 Sandyhurst Lane, to accommodate a fourth bedroom. Comments are due by 12 October 2015.
Full details may be viewed here (search for application number 15/01236/AS).
17 September 2015
Planning permission & listed building consent sought for
Lenacre Hall Farm, 393 Sandyhurst Lane
Applications have been made for planning permission and listed building consent to convert and restore oast buildings at Lenacre Hall Farm to office use, incorporating rebuild of the oast kiln and cowl; rebuild of roof to stowage and side barns; repair to existing brickwork and repointing with lime mortar; glazed doors to southeast & northwest elevations; half glazed timber replacement door to northeast elevation; replacement windows to southeast, southwest and northwest elevations; rooflights to southwest elevation, internal partitioning and replacement staircase. Full details may be viewed here and here (search for applications 15/01214/AS and 15/01215/AS).
11 September 2015
Consultation on Community Governance Review
Ashford Borough Council is asking residents to respond to the consultation on the Community Governance Review. The draft recommendations, which will be finalised in December, include the proposed creation of five new 'Community Councils' in presently unparished areas of the borough, together with some boundary changes.
THESE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD AFFECT MANY RESIDENTS IN THE SLRA AREA.
In our area, two new urban Community Councils are being proposed, covering around 8,000 residents each. If these are created without any other changes, they will include all properties on the even-numbered side of Sandyhurst Lane from the A20 to number 196. Also included will be Potters Close, Hoads Wood Gardens and the properties in Maidstone Road just south of Potters Corner. The two Councils would be for Central Ashford (for properties between the A20 and M20) and Kennington (properties from the M20 to 196 Sandyhurst Lane).
This is why, after consulting residents, we proposed that the Westwell Parish boundary be realigned so that the properties which would otherwise fall under the new urban councils would become part of Westwell Parish. This would take the boundary which runs presently runs down the centre of Sandyhurst Lane, dividing our community, to a new position just to the south-east of these properties. Ashford Borough Council has included this proposal in their draft recommendations.
SLRA supports the creation of the new urban councils, which will provide a local voice for Central Ashford and Kennington, but we believe that local residents affected in the SLRA area should be part of the rural parish of Westwell – and both the proposed new urban councils agree.
Those directly affected by the proposals are being balloted to ask if they support the creation of the new urban councils. We suggest that residents support this, BUT that they also support the boundary change by responding to the consultation before 30 October 2015.
Responding is quick and easy - there is an online questionnaire here to vote/comment on the proposed boundary change (follow through to Westwell parish) and an online questionnaire here to vote/comment on the creation of the new urban councils. By following this link you can, if you wish, support the creation of the new Community Councils but comment that their proposed areas should not include properties in and around Sandyhurst Lane.
More information: An open evening is being held on Monday 28th September between 4pm and 8pm in the council offices in the Civic Centre, Ashford, for residents to find out more information or ask any questions that they may have.
More information is also available on the Council's website here.
Residents living in Boughton Aluph & Eastwell parish are not directly affected by these proposals.
12 August 2015
Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Neighbourhood Plan
We have been asked by the Chairman of Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council to draw the attention of residents to the importance of the development of the Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Neighbourhood Plan.
A Neighbourhood Plan is a document that sets out planning policies for the parish. Planning policies are used to decide whether to approve planning applications. It is written by the local community, the people who know and love the area, rather than the Local Planning Authority, in this case, Ashford Borough Council.
The Neighbourhood Plan must integrate with and not conflict with local or national planning policy. It must be a blueprint for sustainable development in our parish and must not block development. It is not a wish list of projects but a planning policy document for future development. A Neighbourhood Plan cannot change the past but it can help to ensure that we learn from it and do not repeat past mistakes.
There are several ways that residents can be informed about and/or get involved with this project:
1. There is a dedicated website, www.parishplan.uk, which contains a wealth of information about the Neighbourhood Plan.
2. On that website, residents can sign up to receive email newsletters about the development of the Plan.
3. There is a series of consultation meetings to be held in September. The purpose of these is to find out what residents think should be covered in the Neighbourhood Plan. The drop-in events will take place in the evenings and at weekends to maximise attendance. Everyone is welcome; call in at a time to suit you. Residents may attend any of the four events at any of the four locations:
Thursday 17 September, 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Goat Lees Primary School
Friday 18 September, 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Goat Lees Community Hall
Saturday 19 September, 11.00am - 2.00pm, Iron Room, Boughton Lees
Sunday 27 September, 11.00am - 4.00pm, Sandyacres, Sandyhurst Lane
5 August 2015
Planning permission granted for extension at Elden, 61 Sandyhurst Lane
Planning permission was granted on 4 August 2015 for a proposed rear and single storey extension with replacement window to first floor rear wall at Elden, 61 Sandyhurst Lane. There were no objections to the application. Full details may be viewed here. (Case number 15/00867/AS).
3 August 2015
SLRA responds to draft recommendations on Community Governance Review
Following the publication by Ashford Borough Council of their draft recommendations on the Community Governance Review (see news item 31 July 2015), SLRA has responded, welcoming the recommendation to realign the Westwell Parish boundary to include further parts of Sandyhurst Lane and Maidstone Road, together with Hoads Wood Gardens and Potters Close.
We are also urging the Council to ensure that the Ward boundary between Downs West and Bockhanger is similarly realigned and, in conjunction with Kent County Council, the Division boundary between Ashford Rural West and Ashford Central.
The SLRA response may be viewed here.
3 August 2015
SLRA proposes new traffic survey in Sandyhurst Lane
Following many concerns expressed by residents about the volume and speed of traffic in Sandyhurst Lane, we have today written to the two KCC councillors responsible for Sandyhurst Lane, seeking their support and financial assistance with conducting a new traffic survey in the Lane. This letter may be viewed here.
3 August 2015
SLRA lobbies Borough Councillors on property blight
Many residents have expressed concern that the delays in bringing forward a short list of the development sites submitted for consideration under the Ashford Local Plan to 2030 are causing property blight in parts of the SLRA area (eg Westwell Lane and parts of Sandyhurst Lane). In May, we were in touch with the Planning Policy Manager at Ashford Borough Council to emphasise this issue and the need to avoid further delays in the programme, the next stage of which is the publication of the first draft Local Plan for public consultation by the end of 2015.
Further to this, we have today written to the three Ashford BC councillors responsible for parts of the SLRA area, urging them to ensure that there is no further slippage in the programme. This letter may be viewed here.
31 July 2015
SLRA success in Community Governance Review
In May we responded to the Community Governance Review being undertaken by Ashford Borough Council. We argued that, rather than being incorporated into new Community Councils for Central Ashford and Kennington, the existing SLRA members who live in Bockhanger ward should be incorporated into Westwell Parish and that the artificial boundary presently running along the centre of Sandyhurst Lane should be moved accordingly. This was supported by 79% of residents who responded to our survey.
We are pleased to report that, in their draft recommendations published today, Ashford Borough Council have included our proposal. They have also included proposals to set up the aforesaid Central Ashford Community Council and Kennington Community Council.
This means that, if the draft recommendations are confirmed, residents in the following parts of our area will become parishioners of Westwell, rather than of one of the two new Community Councils:
Tollgate Cottage to 196 Sandyhurst Lane (even numbers only), Potters Close, Hoads Wood Gardens and Ambleside to Upper Hawthorns, Maidstone Road.
The recommendations are subject to consultation until 30 October 2015 and the final recommendations will be published in December 2015.
The text of the draft recommendations relating to our proposal is as follows:
“A submission was received from the Sandyhurst Lane Residents Association, requesting that the Westwell Parish Boundary be moved to include the residents of Sandyhurst Lane, as shown as shown on Plan 16 in the Plans pack. The residents association carried out a survey and asked the question of its 285 residents "Do you want to become part of Westwell Parish?" 145 responses were received of which 115 said yes to joining Westwell.
Currently the boundary runs down the centre of Sandyhurst Lane and residents on opposite sides of the road are in different parishes and borough wards. Central Ashford Community Forum also recommended transferring residents of Hoads Wood Gardens and Potters Corner [sic - Potters Close] to Westwell Parish along with those of Sandyhurst Lane.
145 properties and 319 electors would be affected. The Borough Council is recommending the amendment to the Parish boundary as shown on Plan 16.”
The original full text may be viewed here and the plans here.
30 July 2015
Response from Rt Hon Damian Green MP to SLRA lobby on Operation Stack
Dear Mr Bartlett
Thank you for copying me your letter to Paul Carter about Operation Stack.
I just wanted to pick up on one point where you suggest charging vehicles coming across the Channel and toll. I am happy to tell you that since April 2014 foreign hauliers are charged to use UK roads. This was widely welcomed at the time by the haulage industry as providing a level playing field.
Of course the wider issue of Operation Stack is worse than ever, and I believe Highways England are proving extraordinarily ineffective in coming up with any ideas for a better system. This fight will continue.
Yours sincerely
Damian Green
27 July 2015
Response from KCC Leader to SLRA lobby on Operation Stack
Dear Mr Bartlett
Thank you for your letter on behalf of the Sandhurst Lane Residents Association dated 14 July 2015 regarding Operation Stack.
I am very sorry to hear of the difficulties that people in your community are experiencing due to Operation Stack. I agree that the disruption that Operation Stack causes is totally unacceptable and a solution must be found.
All options are being considered by a multi-agency working group to try to find a solution to Operation Stack that allows the M20 to remain open when there is disruption at the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover. This working group consists of Kent County Council, Kent Police, Highways England, Eurotunnel, the Port of Dover, ferry companies, representatives from lorry park and logistics operators, the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association, as well as two Kent Members of Parliament.
This group is currently finalising a report to Government which will outline the solutions that need to be delivered. This is likely to require a package of measures in order to accommodate the sheer number of HGVs that use the Channel ports. Options include off-highway lorry parks and extra capacity on-highway to allow HGVs to queue on the motorway while it can also remain open for other traffic, so that vehicles do not need to be diverted onto the county’s roads and bring misery to communities like yours.
I remain fully committed to working with our partners to find a solution. It will then be for Government to fund and deliver the solution to a national problem which results in the closure of parts the Strategic Road Network. Last year the Government introduced a HGV Road User Levy, and in its first year raised £44 million from foreign HGVs using the UK’s roads. I believe that this money should be used to fund the solutions to this problem that affects Kent so severely due to our location as the Gateway to Europe.
Yours sincerely
Paul Carter, CBE
Leader of Kent County Council
17 July 2015
Home Affairs Select Committee
The Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee met on Tuesday 14 July on the subject of “Immigration – the situation in Calais” and its consequences, including Operation Stack (prior to its implementation yet again).
The committee took evidence from:
Alan Pughsley QPM, Chief Constable, Kent Police
Richard Burnett, Chief Executive, Road Haulage Association
James Hookham, Chief Executive, Freight Transport Association
John Keefe, Director of Public Affairs, Eurotunnel
Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, Minister for Immigration
Should you wish to view the committee session in whole or part, it is available here.
14 July 2015
SLRA lobbies on Operation Stack
Following the recent severe traffic problems caused by Operation Stack in Sandyhurst Lane, in Ashford and in other parts of Kent, we have today written to Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council, with copies to Damian Green MP and all County, Borough and Parish Councillors with constituents in the Sandyhurst Lane area.
The letter, from our Chair, Tony Bartlett, describes the inconvenience, frustration and fears of residents faced with the consequences of Operation Stack. It also draws attention to past evidence from the Channel Corridor Partnership (of which both Paul Carter and Tony Bartlett were Board members) to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport, despite which the Government has subsequently ignored the issue.
The letter discusses the wider context of HGV parking nationwide and draws comparison with the very different approach adopted in continental Europe. It also suggests reviving the idea of a small tax on vehicles using cross channel services as a way of contributing towards the costs of a solution.
The full text of the letter may be viewed here.
4 July 2015
SLRA submits response to KCC Electoral Review
Following our submission to the Community Governance Review, proposing the realignment of the Westwell parish boundary to include SLRA residents currently living in the unparished Bockhanger ward, we have made a similar submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Electoral Review of Kent County Council. This proposes that the boundary between Ashford Rural West division and Ashford Central division should be realigned in a similar way. The submission may be viewed here.
3 July 2015
New planning applications
Ashford Borough Council has published two new planning applications for properties in Sandyhurst Lane:
1. Elden, 61 Sandyhurst Lane
Proposed rear and single storey extension with replacement window to first floor rear wall.
Full details may be viewed here. (Case number 15/00867/AS). Any comments are due by 26 July 2015.
2. 178 Sandyhurst Lane
Erection of single storey rear extension and replacement garage with hipped roof extended to form gable ends to side elevations. Insertion of 2 dormer windows to front elevation and 2 dormer windows to rear elevation to facilitate loft conversion.
Full details may be viewed here. (Case number 15/00885/AS). Any comments are due by 26 July 2015.
News Archive for Jul-Dec 2015