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THANET LOCAL PLAN WELCOME TO THE THIRD NEWSLETTER UPDATING PROGRESS ON THE NEW LOCAL PLAN. THIS IS THE FIRST NEWSLETTER SINCE WE PUBLISHED THE FIRST DRAFT VERSION OF THE PLAN IN JUNE 2001. FIRSTLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE TROUBLE TO WRITE TO US WITH THEIR COMMENTS ON THE NEW PLAN DURING JULY AND AUGUST 2001. THE NEW PLAN HAS CERTAINLY IGNITED PUBLIC OPINION. WE RECEIVED OVER 3500 LETTERS, RESPONSE FORMS AND LEAFLETS FROM INDIVIDUALS, LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND COMPANIES, EXPRESSING THEIR SUPPORT FOR AND OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSALS AND POLICIES IN THE PLAN. ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED, AND NAMES AND ADDRESSES ARE HELD ON A DATABASE SO THAT WE CAN NOTIFY EVERYONE OF THE NEXT STAGES. THIS DATABASE WILL BE REFINED OVER TIME AS WE CHECK FOR ANY MISTAKES OR DUPLICATION. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OR WOULD LIKE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE DATABASE. WE HAVE NOW FINISHED READING ALL THE COMMENTS AND ARE BEGINNING TO DISCUSS OUR RESPONSE. EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMENT WITHIN EACH LETTER OR FORM HAS BEEN GIVEN AN 'OBJECTION' NUMBER. THIS IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE CAN TRACE EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMENT. THIS IS A VERY TIME CONSUMING EXERCISE DUE TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF RESPONSES. THE TOTAL FIGURE FOR INDIVIDUAL POINTS OF COMMENT WILL BE AROUND 10,000. ALL THE COMMENTS ARE HELD IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LOOK AT THESE PLEASE TELEPHONE THE LOCAL PLANS TEAM ON THE NUMBER BELOW. THE REST OF THIS NEWSLETTER MAKES SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE ISSUES IN THE PLAN AND, AT THE END, TALKS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL ON 01843577591. COLIN FITT. WESTWOOD CROSS MOST PEOPLE WILL NOW BE AWARE THAT THE OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE SHOPPING DEVELOPMENT AT WESTWOOD CROSS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. THIS DECISION WAS TAKEN FOLLOWING THE DECISION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE NOT TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC INQUIRY. HOWEVER, THE NEW LOCAL PLAN SETS OUT THE COUNCIL'S WIDER STRATEGY UNTIL 2011 AND AT WESTWOOD THIS INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST THE WESTWOOD CROSS SHOPPING DEVELOPMENT. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH WORK MIGHT HAVE STARTED ON THE WESTWOOD CROSS DEVELOPMENT BY THE TIME THE LOCAL PLAN INQUIRY IS HELD, DISCUSSION ON THE STRATEGY WILL GO ON AND BE DEBATED AT THAT INQUIRY WHICH WILL CONSIDER THE WHOLE LOCAL PLAN (AS OUTLINED BELOW IN "THE NEXT STEPS"). THE AIM OF CREATING A NEW TOWN CENTRE AT WESTWOOD IS NOT A NEW IDEA AND WAS DISCUSSED PUBLICLY AT THE TIME OUR CURRENT LOCAL PLAN WAS BEING PREPARED BACK IN 1995/96. EVEN PRIOR TO THAT THE IDEA OF CONCENTRATING NEW SHOPPING AT WESTWOOD EXISTED WHEN THE CO-OP RECEIVED PERMISSION IN 1989 TO BUILD A LARGE NEW STORE AND SHOPPING MALL. THE PROBLEM FOR SHOPPING IN THANET IS THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SMALL COMPETING SHOPPING CENTRES, NONE OF WHICH ATTRACT SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THEM ATTRACTIVE TO THE MANY MULTIPLE RETAILERS OR DEPARTMENT STORE OPERATORS THAT ARE FOUND IN OTHER TOWNS SUCH AS CANTERBURY AND MAIDSTONE. IN TERMS OF CHOICE FOR FOOD SHOPPING AND FOR DIY GOODS WE ARE PRETTY WELL SELF SUFFICIENT AND NOBODY NEEDS TO GO OUT OF THANET TO BUY THESE THINGS. BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION GOODS.. CLOTHES AND SHOES WE ARE NOT VERY WELL SERVED. WE HAVE A FEW VERY GOOD SMALL SHOPS IN A COUPLE OF PLACES BUT NO REAL CHOICE OF SHOPS SUCH AS NEXT, GAP AND BALLY OR A DEPARTMENT STORE SUCH AS RICEMANS OR DEBENHAMS. THE RETAIL TRADE HAS CHANGED RAPIDLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THIS IS CONTINUING TODAY. MARKS AND SPENCER AND DIXONS CLOSED DOWN IN RAMSGATE AND BHS PULLED OUT OF MARGATE. THESE DECISIONS WERE NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING HAPPENING OR PROPOSED AT WESTWOOD BUT WERE TAKEN ON A STRICTLY FINANCIAL BASIS BY BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SEE A PROFIT AND FELT THE PEOPLE OF THANET COULD BE SERVED FROM CANTERBURY. THE CHANGES WE SEE IN OUR HIGH STREETS TODAY ARE THE RESULTS OF MANY FACTORS AND INFLUENCES SUCH AS THE MERGER OF MANY BUILDING SOCIETIES AND THE GROWTH IN MOBILE PHONE SHOPS. INTERNET SHOPPING AND THE OPENING OF THE NEW TESCO EXTRA AT WESTWOOD WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON SOME TOWN CENTRE RETAILERS. NOBODY DENIES THAT WESTWOOD CROSS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE HIGH STREETS BUT WE DO NOT CONSIDER IT WILL BE AS DRASTIC AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED. THE AIM IS TO ATTRACT NEW STORES WHO DO NOT OPERATE IN THANET AT THE MOMENT NOT TO RE-LOCATE EXISTING SHOPS FROM OUR TOWN CENTRES TO WESTWOOD. INDEED IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WESTWOOD CROSS WILL HAVE MANY BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ON THE WIDER ECONOMY OF THANET. THE PERCEPTION OF THANET BY VISITORS AND INVESTORS, AS A POOR QUALITY SHOPPING AREA, WILL CHANGE AND LOCAL SHOPS AND CENTRES WILL GAIN AS MORE PEOPLE ARE PERSUADED TO STAY IN THANET OR COME TO THANET TO SHOP. OUR TRADITIONAL HIGH STREETS ARE NOT DEAD AND WILL NOT BE KILLED BY WESTWOOD CROSS BUT THEY MUST CHANGE AND ADAPT TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES. THE NEW WHITEFRIARS DEVELOPMENT IN CANTERBURY WILL ATTRACT MANY THANET PEOPLE IF THEY CANNOT GET THE SAME GOODS HERE. THE PURPOSE OF WESTWOOD CROSS IS TO CONVINCE THOSE RETAIL INVESTORS IN DEPARTMENT STORES AND IN QUALITY FASHION GOODS THAT THERE IS A MARKET IN THANET AND THAT THERE IS A LOCATION WHICH WILL ATTRACT ENOUGH PEOPLE FOR THEM TO MAKE A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT. IN THE COUNCIL'S VIEW THE PEOPLE OF THANET DESERVE A BETTER QUALITY OF SHOPPING, AND THE ONLY PLACE THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED IS AT WESTWOOD, WHERE THE SHOPPING CATCHMENT IS BIG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORK. THE 24 HOUR ECONOMY THE COUNCIL'S AIM FOR THE TOWN CENTRES IS TO ENCOURAGE A GREATER VARIETY OF USES AND A VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE TO ENABLE THE TOWNS TO DIVERSIFY AND SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORT THEIR CORE SHOPPING FUNCTION. THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL HAS MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT INTENDED TO FILL OUR HIGH STREETS WITH PUBS AND CLUBS AND MOVE ALL THE SHOPS TO WESTWOOD. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITIES BY, FOR EXAMPLE, ENCOURAGING RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS TO STAY OPEN LATER SO AS TO GIVE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, MORE TO DO. IT IS HOPED THAT A VERY POSITIVE BENEFIT OF THIS WILL BE THAT HAVING A MORE VIBRANT ECONOMY EXTENDING INTO THE EVENING WILL KEEP THE TOWN CENTRE STREETS SAFER AND MORE SECURE AS IT WILL ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO STAY OUT LONGER. UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS THAT THE CURRENT WORDING IN THE PLAN HAS BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISREPRESENTED, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPRESENTATIONS, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THOSE PARTS OF THE PLAN WHICH REFER TO THE 24 HOUR ECONOMY TO MAKE THE INTENTIONS CLEAR. OVERALL THE COUNCIL DOES NOT ENVISAGE A WHOLESALE CHANGE TO THE CHARACTER AND APPEARANCE OF THE EXISTING TOWN CENTRES, BUT MORE OF A SUBTLE SHIFT IN EMPHASIS. IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT BROADSTAIRS WILL CHANGE IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY AS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE SUMMER, IT ALREADY EXHIBITS MANY OF THE BENEFICIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY RESORT. HOWEVER, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND A GREATER RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCH AS MAY BE FOUND ON THE CONTINENT THE COUNCIL WISHES TO ENCOURAGE MORE ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPS TO BE OPEN INTO THE EVENING, PROVIDING A FRIENDLY, HOLIDAY ATMOSPHERE. THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOCATE GREENFIELD LAND FOR 1,000 NEW HOMES AT WESTWOOD RESULTED IN OVER 2,500 RESPONSES. NEW HOMES HAVE TO BE PROVIDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW HOUSEHOLDS THAT WILL FORM, AND TO BRING MORE JOBS AND WEALTH INTO THANET. "NO MORE HOUSES" IS NOT AN OPTION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY COMPLEX ISSUES INVOLVED IN TRYING TO ASSESS HOW MANY HOUSES WILL BE NEEDED IN FUTURE AND HOW MANY OF THESE CAN REALISTICALLY BE MET ON PREVIOUSLY BUILT-ON LAND. IN VIEW OF THE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS RAISED TO THIS ASPECT OF THE PLAN, THE COUNCIL WILL BE REVIEWING HOW BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF HOUSES NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL PLAN PERIOD AND WHETHER TO TAKE THE WESTWOOD ALLOCATION FURTHER IN THE LOCAL PLAN. IT WILL ALSO REVIEW THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW HOMES TO BE PROVIDED IN THE DISTRICT AND THE QUANTITY OF GREENFIELD LAND NEEDED. OBJECTIONS WERE ALSO RECEIVED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOCATE A GREENFIELD SITE AS HOUSING AND AMENITY LAND AT MINSTER. THE COUNCIL WILL BE REVIEWING THIS PROPOSAL TO ASSESS WHETHER IT REMAINS AN APPROPRIATE OPTION TO BE TAKEN FORWARD. A NUMBER OF OBJECTORS HAVE SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SITES, AND WHILE SOME OF THESE WERE CONSIDERED BEFORE THE PLAN WAS PUBLISHED, SOME NEW SITES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AND THESE TOO WILL BE FORMALLY CONSIDERED. OTHER ISSUES APART FROM THE ISSUES OUTLINED ABOVE, WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMMENTS TOUCHING ON THE WIDE-RANGING ISSUES COVERED BY THE PLAN. IN BRIEF, SOME OF THESE ARE: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: CONCERN HAS BEEN RAISED OVER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE EXPANSION OF LONDON MANSTON AIRPORT . THE COUNCIL IS AWARE THAT WHILST THE EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT CAN BRING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THANET , THIS HAS TO BE BALANCED WITH THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOISE POLLUTION THAT MAY RESULT , PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE LIVING CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY. THE COUNCIL WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THE APPROPRIATE BALANCE. NATURE CONSERVATION: OBJECTORS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THE NATURE CONSERVATION CHAPTER COULD BE IMPROVED BY STRENGTHENING THE CONDITIONS AND PLANNING OBLIGATIONS THAT DEVELOPERS MUST MEET, IN ORDER TO PROTECT AGAINST POTENTIAL IMPACTS. TOURISM: MANY OBJECTORS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THANET SHOULD BE PROMOTED AS A GREEN TOURISM AREA, UTILISING THE FORMER HOVERPORT SITE AT PEGWELL AS THE BASE FOR A HERITAGE CENTRE. COUNTRYSIDE AND COAST: SUPPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO POLICIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE GREEN WEDGE AND THE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS WITH PARTICULAR SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE COASTAL PARK INITIATIVE. DESIGN: RESPONDANTS HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE EMPHASIS PLACED UPON DESIGN WITHIN THE NEW PLAN. THE NEXT STEPS ONCE ALL THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN READ AND ANALYSED THE LOCAL PLANS TEAM WILL RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE CHANGES TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE COUNCIL'S CABINET WILL CONSIDER THE COUNCIL'S REPLY TO ALL THE OBJECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. A SECOND DEPOSIT LOCAL PLAN WILL THEN BE PREPARED SETTING OUT THE COUNCIL'S NEW POSITION AND CLEARLY INDICATING CHANGES MADE SINCE THE 1 ST DRAFT PLAN. THERE WILL BE FULL PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THIS SECOND DEPOSIT PLAN. FURTHER OBJECTIONS CAN BE MADE BUT CAN ONLY RELATE TO THE CHANGES PROPOSED. OBJECTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFIED BY THE CHANGES MADE TO THE PLAN WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD TO A PUBLIC LOCAL INQUIRY WHERE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR WILL CONSIDER ALL THE OUTSTANDING OBJECTIONS. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS AND THE NEED TO VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDER CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE SECOND DEPOSIT PLAN WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 2002, AND HOPEFULLY THE LOCAL PUBLIC INQUIRY WILL START EARLY IN 2003. The Local Plans Team is based in the Council's Planning Department at Cecil Street in Margate and will be happy to discuss any of the issues or the process with you, if required. They can be contacted on (01843) 577591 or FAX (01843) 298610. Director of Planning Services: R. T. Herron Produced by |
