Matthews Backs Objections to Hythe Amusement Arcade

Hythe Campaigner Neil Matthews has welcomed a decision by Conservative Hythe Town Council to recommend the refusal to Shepway District Council's planning department of a planning application for an Amusement Arcade for Hythe High Street.

At its planning meeting this morning, Councillors argued rightly that the application was contrary to many Government and Local planning policies and as such it had no choice but to follow the guidelines and recommend refusal for the planning application of the Amusement Arcade.

Neil said:

"I'm pleased Hythe's planning committee resolved to object and not support the application. Hythe's historic High Street is a primary shopping area and situated in a Conservation area, as such it should not have such a business at its heart - it is just not the right place for an Arcade such as this. I welcome the Committee's decision and that it took into consideration the valid planning policies that govern applications such as this."

Neil added:

"I do hope however, this committee will not be diverted from this stance as later on at the same meeting it voted to overturn planning policies that protect listed buildings and allow uPVC windows to be fitted into one of Hythe's Listed buildings. Special buildings are protected by law and to allow this change would be totally wrong and against the wishes of Shepway's planning officers and also a raft of Government and local planning policies seeking to protect special building such as Listed ones."

"Hythe's Conservative Town Council has supported additional development that is to be squeezed into Hythe's conservation area and areas of special interest. I hope the Committee's objection of the Amusement Arcade today marks a change in its current thinking towards Hythe's future and that it now will take into account valid planning policies in the future."