Consultation on the Dartford Borough Council Draft Windfall Sites SPD

Dear Consultee,

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 the Council is today undertaking consultation on the Draft Windfall Sites SPD.

An early draft version of the SPD was made available for comment in May 2014.  The draft Windfall Sites SPD has been updated based on the comments received during this early stage consultation, as well as feedback received in the course of using the Windfall Sites Practice Note for determining planning applications.

The draft version of the SPD was made available for comment in May 2014 and the draft Windfall Sites SPD has been updated based on the comments received during this early stage consultation.

The Windfall Sites SPD (attached) is accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Statement, which concluded that the SPD does not require an environmental assessment.  This Screening Statement, along with the Public Participation Statement and the Public Notice can be found on the web page at www.dartford.gov.uk/windfallsites

The revised Windfall Sites SPD was approved for consultation by Cabinet on 24th July 2014. You are invited to make representations on the Draft Windfall Sites SPD during the consultation period, which runs from Friday 25^th July until Friday 5^th September 2014, and ends at 5:00pm.   The online response form or the dedicated representation form should be used to submit your comments.  They contain important information on data protection issues and will help ensure that your views can be clearly recorded. 

Comments can be made by:

•     Completing an on-line response form at  www.dartford.gov.uk/windfallsites

•     Emailing a response form to LDF@dartford.gov.uk

•     Posting a response form to Planning Policy Team, Dartford Borough Council, Civic Centre,   Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent  DA1 1DR

Response forms and the Draft Windfall Sites SPD are also available on the Council’s website at www.dartford.gov.uk/windfallsites or can be viewed at the following locations (please check opening hours):

-          Dartford Civic Centre

-          Dartford Library

-          Ashen Drive Library

-          Fleetdown Library

-          Greenhithe Library

-          Longfield Library

-          Summerhouse Drive Library

-          Sutton-at-Hone Library

-          Swan Valley Library

-          Temple Hill Library

Response forms can be requested by emailing LDF@dartford.gov.uk or by calling 01322 343213.

After the close of consultation, the responses received will be considered and the SPD will be amended as appropriate prior to adoption. The key issues raised by respondents will be summarised in the Public Participation Statement including details of how the issue was dealt with in finalising the Windfall Sites SPD for adoption.

The key stages are as follows:

•   Early-stage consultation on the Draft SPD (completed)

            •      Comments reviewed and SPD updated (completed)

•   Consultation on the Draft SPD (this stage)

•   Consideration of comments and preparation of Public Participation Statement and final SPD

•   Adoption and Publication on the SPD (Autumn 2014)

Please can you acknowledge receipt of this email and address any other correspondence regarding this matter to LDF@dartford.gov.uk

If you are no longer the correct contact for the Council’s Development Plan documents, could you forward to the right person in your organisation and let us know so that we can update out records accordingly.

Thank you

Regards

Katie Gill

Planning Policy Team

Dartford Borough Council

01322 343213

Happy 15th Birthday Bluewater

Bluewater shopping centre turns fifteen 

News By Heloise Wood

Bluewater is celebrating its 15th birthday having welcomed six times the UK’s population into its stores over that time.

Bluewater shopping centre turns fifteen

The Greenhithe-based shopping centre has also launched 50 new brands in its lifetime and provided employment for around 40,000 people. More than 375 million shoppers have visited the store during its lifetime. 

On Monday morning (MARCH 17) there was a special breakfast for all those who worked there since the beginning. 

On March 28 the Learning Shop Awards will reward the people and companies who have shone at Bluewater. Dartford MP Gareth Johnson and Council Leader Jeremy Kite will be on hand to help with celebrations.

The centre’s general manager Robert Goodman said: "Fifteen years is a tremendous milestone and Bluewater has achieved a great deal since opening. 

"Key to our success have been the people that work here and the wider community. "Our celebrations, therefore, are both a recognition of their vital contribution to our success and an opportunity to look ahead to Bluewater’s next chapter." 

Shoppers have also been enjoying discounts, designed to celebrate the milestone.
For more information, visit bluewater.co.uk

Swanscombe residents breathe a sigh of relief at Thames crossing decision

Swanscombe residents breathe a sigh of relief at Thames crossing decision

By Melissa Hills, assistant news editor, Bexley and north Kent

The three crossing options the Department of Transport are looking into.

SWANSCOMBE residents have breathed a sigh of relief after plans for a new Thames crossing through the village were thrown out.

The Government threw out the proposal to connect the A2 to the A1089 road, north of Tilbury Docks, over fears it could jeopardise plans for the huge Paramount Park development which could create 27,000 new jobs. 

The news has been met with happiness but also frustration as North Kent residents continue to await a decision on Option A which would see another crossing built next to the current Dartford-Thurrock crossing and Option C, which would connect the M2 with the A13 and the M25 between junctions 29 and 30 and would land between Coalhouse and Tilbury forts and travel north towards the Orsett Cock junction of the A13.

The other two options are to be studied further by the Department of Transport and environmental impacts will be looked into.

Graham Blew, town clerk for Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council, said: "We are very pleased that Option B has been dropped, but annoyed extra options were not presented like links from the ports. 

"Option C is our preferred choice of the three but we are very frustrated at the timing and that there is going to be further delays.

"We welcome the application into Paramount Park because of its employment options for Swanscombe but we also have reservations. "It needs to be correctly and we need to make sure there is enough infrastructure in place." 

Dartford councilor Bryan Read, lead member for urban regeneration in Swanscombe and secretary of the residents association, said: "We have been pushing for this since day one.

"It was a silly option from the start especially with the plans for the theme park which we support. "We have considered all the options deeply and we get affected everytime there is something wrong at the Dartford crossing. "We are most supportive of Option C or something further down the estuary, we think that's the best thing for everyone in Kent." 

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "We had over 5,700 responses to the consultation and ruling out the least attractive option now gives some clarity for residents and businesses. 

"We are committed to making a decision on the location of the new crossing as soon as possible, but we recognise that whatever crossing location is chosen it will have significant impact for people in the area and the economy. "These are tough decisions to be made and must not be taken lightly." 

The Government remains committed to introducing free flow charging at the Dartford-Thurrock crossing by October 2014 to help with congestion in the short term. 

The new decision has been met with mixed reaction from local politicians and campaigners. Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford Council said: "I’m very pleased that the uncertainty over a crossing at Swanscombe has been lifted. "It will do much to reassure potential backers of the Paramount Park proposals as well as lift the worry from residents in the area. "Almost the entire growth and business community of Kent have made clear that Option C is the only sensible route." 

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: "The investment we are looking at for Swanscombe its great. "It would be wrong to bulldoze through Kent without looking at the environmental impact, getting the decision right is the most important thing." 

Gravesham council leader John Burden welcomed the news but made clear he still isn't happy with the options. He added: "Our position remains, that any decision on a new crossing is premature if it is taken before the effects of removing the Dartford toll booths are known.

"The other two options, at Dartford and east of Gravesend, are to be studied further by the Department of Transport. 

"The latter would have a devastating impact on the green belt and threaten the villages of Chalk, Shorne and Higham including one of Kent’s best country parks. "I want the government to show more common sense and put off the final decision until after the Dartford toll booths are removed to ascertain the real scale of the problem. "A crossing east of Gravesend would potential endanger important environmental sites and lay to waste historic communities. "Worse, it would open the door to developers who would use this new corridor to fill in the countryside. "Once such a disastrous decision is taken the area would be blighted forever." 

Gravesham MP Adam Holloway was disappointed a proper decision had not been made on the crossing and vowed to fight for local residents.

SGRA 2014 Calendar now on sale

Calendar

2014

 

2014 Calendar now on sale

Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association are proud announce that their Calendar for 2014 is available to purchase.

New for 2014, SGRA have published a 2014 calendar featuring 12 images from  postcards and photos of Swanscombe and Greenhithe largely from early 20^th century.  A chance for you and your friends to see what familiar places in your home town looked like then. 

Images Include

Swanscombe and Greenhithe fire brigade c1910

Whites Works c1900

McDonald’s Roundabout c1905

Plan of Ingress Abbey Parkc1698

Ingress abbey park c1920

Greenhithe promenade c1904

Swanscombe United FC c1910

All Saints Church c1925

St Peter and St Paul’s  Rectory c1915

Pier Hotel c1921

Greenhithe High Street c1902

Eastern Quarry c1970

The Calendar, page a month, cost £5.50. all profits going to the residents association.

To order your copy, email Lesley Howes at lesley_howes@talk21.com or text 07774802880

Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association

SGRA

SGRA is a fully constituted Residents Association that represents the local community/people living within the area. It aims to improve the general environment and amenities available to residents of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town.

In addition the association;

Produces a twice yearly News letter informing residents of issues that could concern them and campaigns for better facilities in the town

To Join contact secretary Bryan Read on 01322 383895