Hundreds show support to Protect the Green Gap

Hundreds have people have raised concern about developments on the Thanet Way as part of a campaign to “Protect the Green Gap” launched by Cllr Val Kenny.

Council Leader Ben Fitter Harding is bringing forward plans to build almost 2,000 new homes along the Thanet Way including a new mega-development behind TESCO. Whilst we appreciate the need for new housing, Labour believe that we need to protect our green gap to prevent urban sprawl and the character of Whitstable being lost forever. Green belts are the lungs of any town and this council has failed to consider whether our town can cope with so many new homes when sewage is being pumped into our seas on almost a daily basis.

Last December , developers indicated that they were bringing forward plans to develop another 200 homes opposite the new Whitstable Heights. The council’s planning failures mean central government has put it in ‘special measures’, stripping away many of the reasons local people can object to new development.

Labour believe that this council needs to link up open spaces across Whitstable to form a Green Gap along the Thanet Way and have consistently voted against development which is unsustainable here. In January we held a public meeting at Whitstable School with the support of Thanet Way Resident’s Association and attended by many Chestfield Residents concerned about 1,600 homes proposed for Brooklands Farm on South Street. The council are renaged on a promise made when the New Thanet Way was opened not to build between the two A roads.

If you wish to register your concern and get regular updates on applications in this area please sign up at www.savethegreengap.org