HELP KEEP GREENHITHE SAFE

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

Highest accolade for the community centre heroes Eddie and Angie Ward of Greenhithe

 By  Lizzy Massey lmassey@thekmgroup.co.uk

Knockhall Community Centre

A husband and wife team have been honoured for their tireless work transforming a community space.

The Greenhithe Community Centre in Alexander Road was draughty and cold, the toilets and kitchen were not fit for purpose and parking was a problem.

Cue Angie Ward, who began volunteering as the centre’s secretary in 2010 after illness forced her to give up her job as a secretary and payroll manager.

The 55-year-old convinced her husband Eddie to volunteer as the booking clerk, and he took over as chairman in 2011.

Straight away the couple, of Hasted Close, Greenhithe, began to turn the centre around.

Eddie, 76, said: “I hadn’t appreciated how much local charities struggle to get volunteers. I was shocked to see the state of the facilities.

“It has been a challenge but we now have a community centre to be proud of.”

The couple accumulated grants from Dartford council and Kent County Council totalling £32,000.

The centre now has double glazing as well as a new overflow car park, toilets, kitchen and energy efficient lighting.

It was reopened in all its glory on Saturday and Angie and Eddie were presented with Dartfordian Award – the borough’s highest accolade – at the same time. Angie said: “I have gained so much from the experience, from the challenge of learning how to fill in grant applications to the joy of seeing the transformation of the centre.

“These improvements have only been made possible by the support of our fellow trustees and local councillors.”

They were the first Dartfordian Awards presented this year.

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite (Con) and the town’s mayor Cllr Avtar Sandhu and Mayor of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Cllr Susan Butterfill all gathered for the ribbon cutting.

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

To receive your Bluewater e-news, please add comms@mailings.bluewater-communications.co.uk to your address book.

Make this your Hoppy-est Easter ever! Lindt brings Easter to life with a magical adventure trail for children in the Guildhall until the 21st April. Solve the clues in the Golden Bunny Warren and receive a golden Lindt chocolate reward at the end.

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

Stone Parish Council QUID PRO QUO... the art of making unacceptable development acceptable?

Stone Parish Council QUID PRO QUO 

...the art of making unacceptable development acceptable?

Ordinarily it could be argued that 16 4-bedroom houses at this location could be considered inappropriate, but we think what makes this development palatable is the inclusion of the multi-use community building. 

As is so often the case with developments, especially those in Greenhithe, is they are delivered without providing the community infrastructure which can be as  simple as a hall 'somewhere to meet', which we see as the essential building blocks  required to bring about community cohesion which is so often missing or left lagging way behind the growing communities needs. 

Many residents may not like the idea of 16 more homes but it can be seen from the application documents that much care and thought has gone into meeting the communities needs and more importantly how the development of these homes will provide the necessary funding for the delivery of a new community centre at no direct cost to residents.   

This is not a new or unique approach, developers often revert to this approach in order to justify higher densities or paying less S-106 contributions. However in this case it seems that Stone council have seized the initiative and the parish council are to be commended for their proactive approach and vision. Something we feel all local parish and town councils would benefit greatly from following Stone Councils example is a masterclass in how to get the most out of development in your area. 

Planning application Ref: 14/00028/FUL is for the Erection of 16 No. 4 bedroom houses in two terraces and erection of a multi-use community building with access road and ancillary works at  Land Adjacent The Lodges Cotton Lane Stone Kent.  

The full application and the link to lodge a formal comment regarding the application can be found Here...

Devastating weather wreaks havoc at Ingress Park Greenhithe

Wind rips open the top of a new build flat in Greenhithe

By Heloise Wood

The weekend's tempestuous weather wreaked havoc in Greenhithe as winds ripped a huge hole in a new build apartment complex. 

A gap is clearly visible under the roof of the building in Ingress Park, London Road, following extreme weather on Friday evening (FEB 14). 

The incredible pictures, showing gaping gaps where bricks should be, were captured by resident Tom Harris. 

The devastating weather is continuing this week with 16 severe flood warnings in place for southern England and the Met Office has issued a yellow (“be aware”) weather warning for certain parts of the UK.

Justice for Claire? Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith has been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in a "frenzied attack" in 1993

Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith has been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in a "frenzied attack" in 1993.

The 46-year-old stabbed Claire Tiltman from behind as she took a short cut through an alleyway to a friend's house in 1993, four days after her 16th birthday.

More follows...

Tragic loss: Claire Tiltman

Read the full story here: News Claire Tiltman Daily Mirror

Two minute Armistice Day silence brings Bluewater to a standstill

Chresti Dack, 84, pays her respects.

By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter
 

BLUEWATER was brought to a standstill as hundreds of shoppers observed a two minutes silence for Armistice Day today. 

Just before 11am on Monday The Last Post rang out from the bugle of former paratrooper Bob Cole and Dartford MP Gareth Johnson read from Robert Laurence Binyon’s famous poem For The Fallen. 

Left to right: Fusilier Baggett, Alan Nimmo, Elliot Tapping, MP Gareth Johnson and Paul Jacobs.

A crowd of around 500 shoppers gathered to watch as the standard of the Greenhithe and Swanscombe branch of the Royal British Legion was lowered by bearer Elliot Tapping. 

Standard bearer Elliot Tapping.

At 11am onlookers bowed their heads to honour British soldiers killed in war on the 95th anniversary of the end of the First World War which began 100 years ago next year. 

Remembering the fallen

                                            

Greenhithe and Swanscombe RBL committee member Graham Mentor-Morris said: "It all went incredibly well indeed. 

"The constant throb of Bluewater just suddenly stopped and it was quite strange. The vast majority of shoppers were very supportive. 

Bob Cole plays the last post.

"Having a live bugle call made all the difference." 

The poppy appeal at Bluewater has raised around £10,000 for the RBL.

Government shifts cycling up a gear

Photo: Nick Ansell/PA Images.

Organisations:

Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and Department for Transport

Page history:

Published 12 August 2013

Policies:

Making transport more accessible to all+ 2 others, Making roads safer and Improving local transport

Ministers:

The Rt Hon David Cameron MP and The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP

A nationwide drive to promote cycling in cities and national parks across England will be launched today.

The Prime Minister announces the biggest ever single injection of cash for the country alongside plans to make roads safer for those on two wheels.

£77 million will be divided between Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and Norwich, while the New Forest, Peak District, South Downs and Dartmoor will each share a slice of £17 million funding for national parks. With local contributions, the total new funding for cycling is £148 million between now and 2015.

The announcement includes a commitment from the government to cut red tape that can stifle cycle-friendly road design and to encourage changes to the way roads are built or altered. Councils will be expected to up their game to deliver infrastructure that takes cycling into account from the design stage.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:

Following our success in the Olympics, the Paralympics and the Tour de France, British cycling is riding high - now we want to see cycling soar. Our athletes have shown they are among the best in the world and we want to build on that, taking our cycling success beyond the arena and onto the roads, starting a cycling revolution which will remove the barriers for a new generation of cyclists.

This government wants to make it easier and safer for people who already cycle as well as encouraging far more people to take it up and business, local government, developers, road users and the transport sector all have a role to play in helping to achieve this.

Sign up for regular email updates from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Investment in ‘cycle proofing’

New trunk road schemes that have a significant impact on cyclists, such as junction improvements or road-widening, will be ‘cycle-proofed’ so they can be navigated confidently by the average cyclist.
Significant junction upgrades and other improvements will help cyclists at 14 locations on the trunk road network where major roads can prove an obstacle for journeys by bike. £5 million will be invested in upgrades this year and a further £15 million will be invested in 2015 to 2016, with plans in place for many more similar schemes.

This commitment to improved cycling facilities is intended to put Britain on a level-footing with countries known for higher levels of cycling like Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

We have seen a significant growth in the number of cyclists in London over the last few years. But cycling shouldn’t be confined to the capital. Today’s announcement shows we are absolutely committed to boosting cycling in cities and the countryside across the whole of England. I want to help open up cycling to more people and these measures to make cycling safer on our roads are an important part of that.

Making cycling safer in urban areas

The Prime Minister announced allocations from the government’s fund to make cycling easier and safer for people in the following urban areas which include the three largest cities outside of London:

• Greater Manchester £20 million
• West Yorkshire £18.1 million
• Birmingham £17 million
• West of England £7.8 million
• Newcastle £5.7 million
• Cambridge £4.1 million
• Norwich £3.7 million
• Oxford £0.8 million

This funding means that investment in cycling in the 8 cities is now in excess of £10 per head per year, as recommended by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group’s recent report. This will help these cities deliver a surge in cycling similar to that seen in the capital.

Read more... 

DIGNITY & GRACE... EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO LOVE LOST...

Dear GMRA members and readers,

Following the recent Kent County Council Elections we received a lot of emails from members who were concerned that by endorsing a political candidate, as we did, meant that we, the residents association would no longer be seen as a non-political group.

The Greenhithe Conservative Councilors have recently published and hand delivered their newsletter throughout Greenhithe and at the risk of further wrath from members we have copied it into this post below: This newsletter tell us that we endorsed the right man in Cllr Keith Kelly, who following his election defeat, didn't throw his toys out of the pram, no instead, he showed dignity and grace in accepting his fate.

We also admire the fact that both Cllr Kelly and Cllr Mote have openly opposed the proposed Lower Thames Crossing at the Swanscombe Peninsula which is of course a view we share as it is not only the correct decision its the right decision for Swanscombe & Greenhithe as well as for the whole of Kent Thameside and the Tames Gateway.

Apologies if this is political, but we need more local representation and thank goodness for people like Cllr Mote & Cllr Kelly who are not afraid to speak up for local residents.

Pier Pub Raft Race and Summer Fair - 13 July 2013

Community Event

Contact Details for pub The Pier Hotel: The Pier Hotel. High Street Greenhithe DA9 9NN Telephone: +44(0)1322 382291 

For Raft Race and Summer Fair. Please call 07773 254605 for full details.

Venue: The Pier Hotel Pub High Street, Raft Race off of Pier Road Public Causeway Greenhithe & Summer Fair at Ingress Park Riverfront Park.  

Date: Saturday 13 July, 2013  
Time: 13:00 to 18:00 

Development Update: Meeting set for 7pm Wednesday 28 November 2012

Paramount Pictures development

on the Swanscombe Peninsula

As we understand it there is to be a joint meeting of the Northfleet/Gravesend West and Gravesham East Neighbourhood Forums next Wednesday 28 November 2012. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7pm and is being held in the Council Chamber of Gravesham Borough Council. Doors will open at 6.45pm.

The subject of the meeting is the proposed Paramount Pictures development on the Swanscombe Peninsula. There will also be a discussion on other local regeneration initiatives and recent changes in planning.

However what we are not sure about is whether or not this meeting is open to members of the public not living within Gravesham. We appreciate this will be of interest to our members and in particular, Greenhithe & Swanscombe residents and although we applaud Gravesham Council for its proactive stance we feel a similar meeting in Dartford would be really valuable and Helpful.

Please contact your local Councillor if you agree and would like more information about the proposed Paramount Pictures development on the Swanscombe Peninsula.