100 signatures reached
To: Thanet District Council
Don't let TDC turn Thanet into one big urban sprawl!
So what do we want? Whilst acknowledging the need for further housing, provision needs to be made to preserve a Green Belt separating urban from rural Thanet.
Why is this important?
There is a large and thriving horse riding community in this area and ramblers and dog walkers use the footpaths. All these activities improve public health and improve wellbeing reducing the burden on an overcrowded NHS.
Thanet Local Plan talks about preserving 'green wedges' between the towns to stop them merging into one but THEN suggests building on most of the land at Manston so that Manston blurs into the Thanet Towns. The Manston Parkway extends the urban sprawl from Ramsgate to Cliffsend and further land will be designated along that strip as solar plant land. If the Airport was turned into housing the site would continue from Manston Parkway to Acol as further urban sprawl. There would be very little agricultural land left in Thanet.
Basically the Plan talks about the 'distinctive nature' of Thanet's villages and then shows how its going to incorporate them into one big urban sprawl
Highlighting and developing brownfield sites in Urban Thanet and run down areas should be prioritised over building on grade A agricultural land along with a local plan that acknowledges the importance of preserving a Green Belt between urban and rural Thanet.
The Thanet Local Plan has highlighted "Green Wedges" between the towns to help preserve their identity but has made no reference to developing further and further out across Manston until urban sprawl reaches out to the Wantsum. The Council needs to ensure that development leaves a distinctive band of green undeveloped land between the towns and villages such as Manston, Acol, Minster, Monkton, St. Nicholas. Not only is the land grade A agricultural land but it is criss crossed with footpaths and bridleways which encourage the residents of Thanet out into the countryside. If all the areas highlighted for planning were built on we would have:
Manston Green joining Manston to Ramsgate
Westwood joining Manston to Westwood
Westage extending out to Woodchurch
Birchington expanding out around the preserved green island of Quex estate
China Gateway Built up.
Manston Parkway at Cliffsend and further Solar developments.
Expansion of Thanet Earth (for which planning has been granted)
Building of entire Manston Airport site to encompass Manston Park to Minster and Acol
This would make the whole of Thanet an urban sprawl.
Thanet Local Plan talks about preserving 'green wedges' between the towns to stop them merging into one but THEN suggests building on most of the land at Manston so that Manston blurs into the Thanet Towns. The Manston Parkway extends the urban sprawl from Ramsgate to Cliffsend and further land will be designated along that strip as solar plant land. If the Airport was turned into housing the site would continue from Manston Parkway to Acol as further urban sprawl. There would be very little agricultural land left in Thanet.
Basically the Plan talks about the 'distinctive nature' of Thanet's villages and then shows how its going to incorporate them into one big urban sprawl
Highlighting and developing brownfield sites in Urban Thanet and run down areas should be prioritised over building on grade A agricultural land along with a local plan that acknowledges the importance of preserving a Green Belt between urban and rural Thanet.
The Thanet Local Plan has highlighted "Green Wedges" between the towns to help preserve their identity but has made no reference to developing further and further out across Manston until urban sprawl reaches out to the Wantsum. The Council needs to ensure that development leaves a distinctive band of green undeveloped land between the towns and villages such as Manston, Acol, Minster, Monkton, St. Nicholas. Not only is the land grade A agricultural land but it is criss crossed with footpaths and bridleways which encourage the residents of Thanet out into the countryside. If all the areas highlighted for planning were built on we would have:
Manston Green joining Manston to Ramsgate
Westwood joining Manston to Westwood
Westage extending out to Woodchurch
Birchington expanding out around the preserved green island of Quex estate
China Gateway Built up.
Manston Parkway at Cliffsend and further Solar developments.
Expansion of Thanet Earth (for which planning has been granted)
Building of entire Manston Airport site to encompass Manston Park to Minster and Acol
This would make the whole of Thanet an urban sprawl.
