Roman Way Allotment Devastation

Residents in Roman Way were devastated yesterday when the owner of the allotment site on Roman Way "cleared" the allotments and removed fences to the site effectively allowing free access to the area. Piles of spoil have also been left on the site, by the boundary fence to the railway cutting which directly by the allotments.

New Lib Dem Councillor for Cheriton, Tim Prater, joined residents in Roman Way and has spoken at length to the Health and Safety Inspectorate. They are now planning to contact him to notify him formally of his duty of care on that site. With no fence, access to area is now unmarked and potentially dangerous, especially to children, as it is covered with sharp items and rutted.

Councillor Peter Gane has contacted the Shepway Planning Department, which confirmed that the owner is within his rights to remove topsoil, but not to excavate the site.

A Planning Officer has also visited and spoken to the site owner. The owner has been asked not to leave large piles of earth (but has done so). In terms of planning, the position has NOT changed - there is NO planning permission for that site, after planning permission for a series of houses and flats on the site was rejected and an appeal against that decision refused.

Network Rail are also very concerned about the piles of debris being left by their fence being used as missiles onto the railway. Tim Prater has today given them the owners contact details, and they are keen to speak to him to ensure that all potential missiles are cleared.

Tim Prater commented:

"This site was home to many animals - with local residents who used to own the allotments here talking about Slow worms, foxes and even badgers using the area. This site clearance devastated devasted the area, and with no need.

"Local residents are now really worried that without a fence around the site, children will use the area and hurt themselves badly on the rutted ground, rubbish and spoil left on the site. Network Rail have been in touch concerned about the piles of rubbish by their boundary fence .

"When I spoke to the site owner yesterday, he claimed he wanted to work with local people to get a solution that everyone was happy with. This has to be the wrong way to go about that."