Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group

1. Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.
2. Matters Arising: See Any Other Business
3. Chairman’s Report:
The role of the TNCUG will also be to pursue two projects: and environmental competition and the issue of recycling as we seem to be so far behind in Thanet.
Another area of concern is the disposal of vegetable oil. Up to a year ago this was put into animal feed, the Environment Agency is now experiencing in-drain pouring disposal as a result.

4. Guest Speaker: Hilary Newport Director of CPRE Kent.

CPRE stands for the Campaign to Protect Rural England and is a registered charity aimed at promoting the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England. In Kent the old name has been retained until the committee votes for the formal acceptance very soon.
The organization is not a large one having about 40,000 members nationally and about 2,500 members in Kent, although the members are very active and vocal.
The CPRE campaigns on many different areas of concern: aviation, road transport, rail transport, light pollution… and these take up a lot of its time.
Tranquil areas, noise pollution is steadily eroding the tranquility of the countryside.
On aviation the CPRE questions the arguments put forward by the pro- lobby.
For example the passenger number figures used to calculate demand were a projection made some years ago based upon rate expected for today. ("predict and provide" response) However these predictions can be shown to have been over stated and demand turned out to be not so great and so this issue, of the need for a new airport, requires reassessment. CPRE also questions the idea of a "sustainable aviation" industry considering subsidies it requires.
The CPRE has also helped to focus minds on the real impact of an airport at Cliffe by showing over what a large area the "stacking" pattern for aircraft is likely to be. As far out as Ashford.
Housing sprawl. For the CPRE the priority is to utilize "brown-field sites" those that have already been developed previously. It points out that "green-field" sites are not infinite and proposals for development are on a large scale, for example Aylesham is targeted for 2,000 houses in the future. The CPRE believes that there are an increasing number of households where people are not living within reasonable walking distance of schools, the doctor public services and so people become alienated from their community. Development needs to meet he needs of people.
The result of some types of development are "evening regions" where people work away during the day and return in the evening. These, it is argued, are not sustainable communities.
Light pollution is also a focus for campaigning. Using a mapping system from satellite data it has been possible to develop maps of those areas from which it is possible to see the Milky Way. This makes it possible to draw comparisons between over different time periods, now only pockets of clear night vision left rural areas.
Much is caused by security lighting and lights that point upwards, which also waste energy. The Blue Water shopping center however, has a lighting system that points downwards showing what can be done to reduce light pollution.
The Countryside Character Campaign aims at fighting the erosion that certain features make on the uniqueness of the landscape.
Other campaigns include Farming Futures where the CPRE is keen to work alongside farmers to oppose rural decline. This aims to tackle problems such as rural public transport which is in a bad state and the erosion of roadside verges, which can leave no refuge for wildlife and preserving country lanes.
The power of the CPRE’s voice depends on the strength of its membership. They are always needed and do a valuable job, either in the office, or looking through planning applications.

Chairman: Do local planning committees and councils help?
Yes, the planning system is not actually aimed at destroying the countryside.

Muriel: Campaigning for membership of the CPRE is not obvious like it can be with organizations such as the National Trust. This is due to the low amount of money the CPRE has to spend in comparison with other charities.

Roger Gale: I would like to take issue with the campaign to promote high density of homes, what are we trying to achieve? In Herne Bay for example there are high density areas with nowhere for the kids to play. There is a lack of transport and primary health care, because of the planning laws planners cannot take this into account.
I live in Herne Bay and so I know what it is like to live there. The infrastructure for new developments must be in place before the development takes place.

Floor: It is difficult, how can one visualize this 80 dwellings per Hectare.?
New tows such as Stevenage were developed on about 25-30 dwellings per Hectare. The quality of design must be such as to allow as higher density as possible. Mousehole in Cornwall for example is about 80 dwellings per hectare, parts of Barcelona, I believe, are 300 dwellings per Ha.

Treasurers Report:

The account has £240.80 left which we need to allocate for the mailing of the minutes

Any Other Business:

Eileen: The Vodaphone mast and other such masts can be approved without public consultation. I discovered that other masts have been given permission to be erected. The policy in the Local Draft Plan is useless unless if it can be twisted.

Hilary: The CPRE is trying hard to promote a document published by the Office of the Deputy Prime minister that offers best practice through the existing guidance – I will give a copy to Eileen.

David There is a legal inclination towards development and for objections to be effective they require to adhere to highly specific categories with legal standing.

Eileen : My concern is this idea of "except in exceptional circumstances" which creates a loophole.

Mike Wilson: Rotting seaweed in Beresford Gap is not being collected, perhaps because it is not a holiday area, this is likely to be choking the life on the chalk reef.

Roger Gale: I believe the Roger Latchford is dealing with this.

The meeting closed at 8:56 PM

• Working towards trust status, Wendy Carr, received 4^th August
• Council Representation for the TNCUG, Member Services Manager. TDC
• Letter sent to The Director of Planning Services regarding opposition to a proposal to build on land adjoining 1, Coastguard Cottages, Pegwell Road. Eileen Martin

The following Meetings will be held on:
Thursday September 25th
Thursday October 2nd

Cpt. Nigel Collingwood: New Chairman (01843) 852216
Philip Bellingham: Secretary (01843) 223128