How a County Councillor Could Help Save Princes Parade

I've been mainly agitating in Sandgate, including working on convincing the Parish Council that they want to be consulted on (and likely to object to) any planning applications for the site despite it not being in Sandgate (if a development is outside the Council area but significant enough to impact on it, the Parish Council can be involved). The Council has requested that they are a consultree on any planning application, and have now been informed that will happen.

Although the District Council is "in charge" of this application, the County does have a key role in the final decision. As the Save Princes Parade website has published, the County Council has already given an opinion against the proposed development, and I would be working to ensure they retain that position, and see if there are ways they can strengthen it further. Clearly they will also (as Highways etc) also be statutory consultees to any planning permission - I'd work to ensure their objections were again restated at that time, from as many bodies as possible, and to see if there were any grounds for them to take action against development (on the grounds of damage to the setting of the scheduled ancient monument, danger of contamination from the ex-tip etc).

Above all, as I hope the earlier article on my website made clear, I'd act as a friend to those campaigning against the development, and do what WAS in my power as a County Councillor to pro-actively work with them, rather than against them.

The Shepway Lib Dems and I have been promoting the work of the Save Princes Parade Campaign for some years, dating back to when I was a County Councillor last. We don't claim to be leading the campaign - we think that the Save Princes Parade Campaign are doing a great job - but support it. I'd welcome the chance to work with you on this in any way I can whatever the result in May.

Finally, best wishes for the Rally on 22nd April. I'm afraid family commitments mean I can't be there, but I know Liberal Democrat Local Party Chair Ross Clark, former Mayor of Hythe Neil Matthews, Former Hythe Town Councillor Sam Matthews and former Cheriton District Councillor Peter Carroll are amongst the Liberal Democrat members planning to be there to support.

• https://shepwaylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2017/1204126/send-a-strong-message-against-the-development-of-princes-parade
• https://shepwaylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2015/1088090/princes-parade-hythe-boring-this-week
• https://shepwaylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2013/0685522/public-meeting-to-discuss-the-future-of-prince-s-parade
• https://shepwaylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2013/0646317/save-prince-s-parade-protecting-our-sea-front-and-the-adjacent-land