|
Cllr Preston Annual Report No 29
To the Residents of Dymchurch and Burmarsh
Each year since the inception of Shepway (with the exception of last year), I have written what I call my Annual Report, and delivered a copy to each house in Dymchurch. My area is now so much bigger as it includes St Mary?s Bay, but as far as possible I still intend to visit each house to deliver this report. I believe that your elected councillors have an obligation to keep you informed of what they are doing on your behalf. I want to make it clear, as I do every year, that this is my personal report to you and is not in any way an official document. I do not seek to write on behalf of Shepway District Council, Dymchurch Parish Council or the Liberal Democrats. The views expressed are my own and may not necessarily be shared by other councillors.
2004 - The worst year in 36 years of service
We have been through some difficult times since the inception of Shepway in 1973, but nothing like as bad as 2004. I wrote about half of my Annual Report in February of last year, but things got so bad that I never finished it. I was on the verge of resigning many times during the year. I think it is right that I give you an honest appraisal of the events of last year from my perspective.
For the last few years Shepway District Council has been going through a rough time. There had been serious allegations of bullying between councillors and officers. The Council tried to take on more services than it could cope with and so out resourced itself. By May 2003 I can only describe the Council?s financial position as dire, and some of us knew that to take control of the District Council would be a poisoned chalice. However, in May 2003 a new Liberal Democrat administration was elected. I was appointed to serve in the Cabinet; and we were determined to make a difference and to improve to the quality of service. We set out our priorities, ?Clean, Green, Safe, Regeneration and Housing?. Before I proceed, it may help if I give some background information on the way Shepway works and carries out its business.
How Shepway works following the 2000 Government Act
As you know, the Local Government Act 2000 introduced great changes in the way councils operate. The old committee system, which had been in place for over 100 years, was abolished and council functions were to be clearly split between executive and non-executive functions. Most decisions are no longer made by full Council, but by the Cabinet.
The Cabinet
Each year the Council elects a Leader. The leader then appoints his or her cabinet that consists of up to ten councillors. In May 2003 Linda Cufley was elected Leader of the Council. Linda went on to appoint six councillors to serve with her in the Cabinet, and each councillor was given a special portfolio. However, the decisions of the Cabinet were made collectively and in public. In addition to being Leader, Linda had the portfolio for Opportunity and Regeneration. Paul Marsh, Deputy Leader, had the portfolio for Resources. Brian Copping had the portfolio for Care and Support (Housing). Councillor Carol Crees was the portfolio holder for Environmental Well Being. John Hughes had the portfolio for Public Space and Safety (which included responsibility for public toilets and grass cutting). I was given the portfolio of Citizenship, which included responsibility for human resources and staffing matters. The Cabinet made some incredibly difficult decisions, many of which were controversial.
What do councillors who are not in the Cabinet do?
Some non-executive councillors serve on one of the scrutiny committees. At the present time there are three scrutiny committees who have the job of scrutinizing the decisions made to hold the Cabinet to account; Cabinet Scrutiny, Performance Management Overview Committee and Community Leadership Overview committee. The Development Control Committee (or planning committee) operates outside of the political arena and has the extremely important role of ensuring that planning applications are considered in accordance with the Local Development Plan. The Council also has a Standards Committee, which is made up of district councillors including Fred Wood-Brignall and myself, two parish councillors, and two independent members. This committee is chaired by a Circuit Judge, Mr John Peppitt, and is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the ethical codes of the Council. There are a number of other committees including the Personnel & General Purposes Committee, and the Licensing Committee, which is responsible for granting Public Entertainment Licenses and shortly will have responsibility for liquor licenses throughout the district. I chair the Constitutional Advisory Committee, and there is also an Appointments Committee and a number of other smaller committees. That gives you a very brief insight into the internal workings of the Council.
The Council Tax has to go
The Council Tax is the most unpopular tax in Britain today. The Council Tax?s unpopularity springs from its basic design fault, its unfairness. Most significantly, the banding system puts a ceiling on what the richest pay, and a floor under what the poorest pay. People on low incomes can pay more than many top earners. Nationally, the poorest 10% pay 4 times more of their income in Council tax than the richest 10%. The poorest 20% of pensioners pay nearly 6 times more than the richest 20% of non- pensioners, as a proportion of their income. Liberal Democrats have produced detailed proposals on ways of replacing the Council Tax with Local Income Tax. The Local Income Tax average rate would be 3.75%, cutting the tax burden for most pensioners, with no rise in the overall tax burden.
Shepway Council?s critical financial position
When we took control of Shepway the finances were, frankly, in a mess. I am not in the business of apportioning blame - there were a number of reasons for this. Over the years central government had failed to give Shepway the money needed to carry out its services properly. Shepway has never been a wealthy authority and its balances had got down to a dangerously low level. The budget the new Liberal Democrat administration inherited was undeliverable. There just wasn?t sufficient money to carry out all the commitments. Shepway was in the region of ?700,000 overspent. ?350,000 of this was due to poor returns on investments as a result of very low interest rates.
How we tried to rectify the financial problem
Labour people will tell you that the government has given Shepway thousands of pounds in additional grants. It is true that Shepway has been successful in attracting additional government grants, but this money has been given for specific projects such as Waste Recycling, Major Coast Protection Scheme, Phase 2 of the Folkestone Coastal Park, and the Hawkinge Management Scheme. There has been no additional money to offset the Council Tax. Did you know that Shepway collects ?30 million in non- domestic rates (business rates) but we are only allowed to spend ?2.6 million in Shepway - the rest is returned to the Government. It would make a great deal of sense if the total amount of business rates could be used locally. The members of our Cabinet believe it is very important for the Council to have adequate reserves in case there is a local emergency such as a major flood or some other unforeseen disaster. We believe it is essential and prudent for the Council to build adequate reserves. We believe that the financial management of the Authority is of vital importance.
The Cabinet met on many occasions, sometimes with officers and sometimes on our own, to find ways of overcoming Shepway?s financial crisis. A moratorium was placed on the engagement of staff, so that if a member of staff left they were not replaced. We carefully examined all the hundred services that Shepway provides and tried to prioritise them. We initiated a medium-term financial strategy. We somewhat reluctantly agreed that in the first year, we would need to make a substantial increase in the Council Tax in order that in following years the Council Tax increase would be little above inflation. We believed that this would establish adequate balances and allow us to put some money into the growth of some of the services that we regarded as priorities, particularly housing and regeneration.
Planned Council Tax increase 2004 /05
Understandably many of you were horrified when you saw on television news that Shepway Council Tax was to increase by an incredible 39%. However, I think it is important to consider this in perspective. The District Council has a responsibility to collect the tax not only for its own use but also for Kent County Council, Kent Fire and Rescue services, the Police, and the Parish and Town Councils. Of the 48 million pounds Shepway collects through the Council Tax only 3 million would have been available for use by Shepway. The increase that we would have had to pay on the bill that came through the door would be an increase of 11.3% not 39%. In line with the Council?s four-year financial plan, we calculated that increases in Shepway Council?s element of the Council Tax would be around ?1.30 per week for the average band D property.
The District Council?s budget was approved by the full Council. However, a few days afterwards the Local Government Minister, Nick Rainsford, called Shepway?s Chief Executive and Deputy Leader Paul Marsh to a meeting at Westminster, where they were told that the Council Tax had to be reduced. The Minister gave no indication of how much the Council Tax had to be reduced by. The previous November council officers had sent full details of Shepway?s financial position to Whitehall, so Nick Rainsford should have been aware of Shepway?s financial problems. We carefully reviewed the budget, and reduced our expenditure by about 10%, believing that the government wouldn?t cap us. This of course turned out not to be the case.
What does capping mean?
Capping is a means by which central government can prevent local councils increasing their Council Tax beyond a certain figure. Many other councils, particularly coastal ones, face the same problems as Shepway in not having sufficient money to provide the services that their people require.
The day when things went seriously wrong
The government tried to make an example of Shepway and capped the Authority. As a result the Cabinet had a very short time in which to make savings of ?600,000. We had already made substantial cuts, including ?100,000 from the grounds maintenance budget, which meant that many of the flowerbeds in Shepway would either have to be grassed over or planted with shrubs. Officers presented us with a list of possible savings and we spent many hours carefully scrutinizing the budget book in order to find additional savings. Making savings of ?600,000 was far from easy, particularly in view of the timescale we had been given. Most of the services that Shepway provides are mandatory and cannot be cut.
So we met at 8.30am on that dreadful morning of Friday 5th March, and looked carefully at the options available to us. We considered closing the Hythe swimming pool - to have done so would seriously jeopardize the bid to obtain ?10 million from the government to improve sports facilities throughout Shepway. We considered closing all the one-stop shops at Lydd, New Romney and Hythe. This was particularly unpalatable to me, as I have been trying for years to get a one-stop shop in Dymchurch. Closure would mean that any one from the Marsh would have to travel all the way to Folkestone for information regarding Council services and to pay their bills, so I managed to persuade my Cabinet colleagues not to close the one-stop shops. We decided to make savings by reducing the Council?s involvement in tourism marketing and support for events and cultural activities, making a saving of ?186,000. We decided to reduce the budget provision for recreational sports grants by ?10,000, and to cut councillors allowances by ?25,000. Removing budget provision for providing highway verge cutting to a higher standard than that funded by the KCC Highway Authority saved ?56,000, and most controversial of all, ending the public convenience service from April 2004 was to save ?100,000. We hoped that people would understand that it was the Labour Government who had capped Shepway and forced us to cut local services. Of course that was not the case - people blamed us.
Why we decided to close the public conveniences
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and in hindsight, the closing of public conveniences was the biggest mistake we made, and was the beginning of the end of Liberal Democrat control of Shepway. Many of the 26 toilets owned and controlled by Shepway are antiquated, difficult to maintain and are in the wrong place. The previous Conservative administration had set up an all party working group that made recommendations, which were never acted upon. It was proposed to close all 26 toilets and reinstate 13 super loos, which meant there would be a flagship state-of-the-art new public toilet block in Dymchurch centre. We were told that none of the existing 26 toilets met the Disability Discrimination Act, which came into force in October of last year, and I concluded that as a result all the toilets would have to close in the autumn anyway. That turned out to be wrong, as many of the toilets could have been adapted to meet the provisions of the new Act. There was never any question in my mind that somehow or another, ways of providing toilet facilities must be found, particularly in our area in the summer.
Shortly after the decision to close the toilets was made I attended a reception at the House of Lords, where I met a number of Members of Parliament whose councils had also been forced because of cutbacks to close public conveniences. They included Poole in Hampshire, and Southport. However, the public outcry against the closure of the toilets in Shepway was so great that the council decided to reopen them all, and we had to use money we had set aside for improvements in housing.
The weeks and months that followed were quite dreadful.
I have spent half of my life trying to improve Dymchurch, working on projects including Romney Marsh House, the doctor?s surgery, the Village Hall, highway lighting from Burmarsh corner to the Redoubt, the establishment of flower beds - records will show I had a hand in all these things. Now, as a member of the Council?s Cabinet all I found I could do was to preside over the cutting back of services. Along with Liberal Democrat councillors throughout the district, I was almost afraid to go out, as people I had known for years would turn their backs upon me. It was difficult to communicate the extent of Shepway?s problems to fellow councillors, let alone members of the public, most of whom will not take the trouble to read a detailed report like this. When we met as a Cabinet we would often joke ?Well, it can only get worse? and behold it did. Many of the Liberal Democrat councillors were completely new to council work, and all were experiencing great difficulty in their wards. Some genuinely believed that the only way to overcome Shepway?s problems was to change the Leader.
No-Confidence Motion in Linda Cufley
15 members of the Liberal Democrat Group signed a piece of paper calling for a motion of no confidence in Linda Cufley. A properly constituted meeting of the Shepway Liberal Democrat Group was held on Thursday 15th July. This was a private meeting of elected Liberal Democrat District Councillors, and yet when I arrived a television crew were waiting outside. This indicated that there were those who were prepared to use the media in a disgraceful attempt to remove Linda from office. It was my view that everything should be done to heal the breach in the Group, and it would be unwise to allow a vote of no confidence, which would inevitably split the group. I argued that the worst was over, and given three months people would begin to see the benefits of some of the policies that we had implemented. Paul Marsh proposed an amendment to the motion of no confidence, which we felt addressed the concerns that many members had. The amendment was carried, 15 to 11.
After this meeting we hoped that things would settle down and we could look to the future. Unfortunately there were those not prepared to accept the democratic decision of the Group. At 10:30pm on Sunday 18th July a letter was delivered to Linda at home, signed by 15 members of the Group, calling for her resignation. On 26th July Linda Cufley and her Cabinet resigned. On Tuesday 27th July the 12 District Councillors who remained loyal to Linda met and formed the Independent Liberal Democrat Group. At the full Council Meeting on Thursday 5th August Robert Bliss, Leader of the Conservative Group was elected Leader of Shepway District Council. It is sometimes said that fact is stranger than fiction, but what a bizarre situation.
New Conservative Cabinet carries on with many of the Liberal Democrat initiatives Policies and strategies that were put in place by the Liberal Democrat Cabinet early after the election in May 2003 are only now coming to fruition, and I am grateful that the new Conservative Cabinet are carrying on building on those initiatives. Here are just a few of the initiatives and achievements of Linda Cufley?s Cabinet:
Housing and Homelessness
In May 2003 there were 50 families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Shepway. By March 2004 there were none. For many of us, improving the quality of the housing stock in both the public and private sector is a very high priority, for inadequate housing leads to every social problem known to man. It would take many hundreds of thousands of pounds to bring all the properties in Shepway up to standard, but we made a significant start. My friend and colleague Councillor Brian Copping tirelessly brought forward initiative after initiative. For instance, with its very limited resources the Council was able to buy derelict sites, and using its powers was able to convert them into housing land that was then sold on to Housing Associations. Instead of using limited resources in giving improvement grants, Brian Copping brought forward a policy of giving loans to enable derelict property to be put back into use. The loans can then be repaid and used further to refurbish other properties. I am delighted that the Council has appointed Keith Cane as Housing Director who will have responsibility not just for Council owned properties, but also for all aspects of housing throughout Shepway.
Waste and recycling
Early in 2003 Carol Crees introduced a pilot scheme of brown bin collection for garden waste that proved so popular that it has now been extended throughout the district and throughout the year. I hope that you agree with Ena and I - we think it?s wonderful, and wonder how we managed without it. The green waste material is taken to a local farm composting facility provided by KCC near Hawkinge. Once on site the green waste is shredded and laid out for windrow composting. The end product is used to nourish the fields. We were successful in gaining a government grant of ?1.6 million, which can only be used for recycling projects. I am delighted that the present Cabinet is to continue with the Liberal Democrat initiative on recycling. Extensive consultation has taken place throughout the district. In about June of this year each household will be issued with a black plastic box for the weekly collection of items for recycling, which will include tins, bottles and plastics. A new waste management service will be introduced, based on the weekly collection of dry recyclables sorted to the kerbside, supported by a fortnightly collection of garden waste and landfill waste. I know that the move to a fortnightly collection of landfill waste will be controversial. However, in reality, if we compost our kitchen waste, put garden waste in the brown top bins, and recycle our tins, bottles and plastics, the amount for infill sites will be considerably reduced. There is of course a valid concern regarding rotting waste, particularly in a hot summer, but this can be overcome by double wrapping it. I hope that you will give the new service your support. We cannot just go on dumping tons of household waste into landfill sites. We must continue to find ways of protecting the environment.
?Shepway Today?
?Shepway Today?, the news magazine for residents and businesses in Shepway has been published for some years. However, at times it has been pretty mediocre and was only available to some parts of the district. Linda Cufley re-launched this magazine, which will now be distributed to all the residents of Shepway. I think you?ll agree that it is now an excellent publication.
Shepway transferred over 100 staff to the County Council
Kent County Council made an offer to Shepway that is claimed will save ?300,00 in the first year and up to ?600,000 in following years, by transferring some Shepway services to the County Council. In Shepway?s present financial position it was an offer that could not be rejected. In July of last year, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet made an agreement with the County Council to transfer just over 100 people from the Street Scene Department to the KCC. It will still remain a Shepway service, and the County Council will act as the contractor to carry out the work.
Highway Management in Shepway
As I am sure you are aware Kent County Council is the Highway Authority responsible for the maintenance of all roads within the district, with the exception of trunk roads, which are the responsibility of the Department of Transport. For a number of years the County Council has had what is known as a highway agreement with Shepway, and Shepway has carried out the highway function on behalf of KCC. However that highway agreement has now ceased and highway matters will be dealt with directly by a unit of the County Council, which at the present time is still located at Ross Depot, Military Road in Folkestone.
New Chief Executive
Following the retirement of Ron Thompson, who served Shepway with distinction for very many years, we appointed Mr Brian McAndrew as interim Chief Executive. Mr McAndrew looked carefully at Shepway?s financial position and organization, while we began a long and detailed process to find the right person to succeed Mr Thompson. The Chief Executive is of course a key role in any organization, and it was extremely important that we got the right person for the job. The Council was unanimous in approving the appointment of Alistair Stewart as Chief Executive, who comes to us with a wealth of experience and a proven track record. Until his appointment with Shepway, Alistair was Director of Corporate Resources at West Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire.
Shortly after Alistair came to Shepway he recommended a new management structure of six Directors, who along with himself will manage Shepway?s organization. The Appointments Panel on which I serve made the following appointments: Director of Organizational Development, Mr Jonathan Lund; Director of Democratic Services, Mr Peter Wignall; Director of Regeneration, Mr. Andy Jarrett; Director of Housing, Mr. Keith Cane; Director of Regulatory Services, Mr Jeff Stack. At the time of writing the post of Director of Customer and Commercial Services is being advertised. This new management structure will make savings in the region of ?200,000 per year. I have to say that I am more confident about the future of Shepway than I have been for a long time. However, I forecast great changes in local government in future. I believe the time will come when District and even County Councils will be abolished and more responsibilities given to town and parish councils, along with some form of regional government. There are arguments for and against this, and there will be long debates before any changes are finally made.
This year?s Council Tax increase of 5%
I am sure that you will be pleased to know that this year?s Council Tax increase will be only 5%. This is in line with the Liberal Democrats? medium-term financial strategy, and is only be possible because of the 20% increase in last year?s Council Tax. Shepway?s financial position is far healthier than it was this time last year, largely due to the measures introduced by Linda Cufley?s Cabinet.
Coast Protection Scheme
The Hythe to Folkestone Harbour Coast Protection Scheme is now complete. This scheme cost about ?17 million and was overseen by Shepway District Council. The area from the Redoubt to Dungeness is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, who are now anticipating spending ?50 million over a period of 16 years to improve the sea defences on Romney Marsh. Practically every year in my Annual Report I have referred to the importance of maintaining the sea defences. There is nothing more important to Marsh people than maintaining the sea wall. I have often quoted the old maxim, ?Love God, serve the King, and maintain the Wall?. As part of the earlier consultations one option being considered by the Environment Agency was replacing the famous Dymchurch sands with shingle - clearly that is not an option acceptable to local people. The economy of the area depends a great deal on our sands. I am delighted that the Environment Agency recognize that in the centre of Dymchurch beach feeding is not an option.
High Knocke to Martello Tower 23
For as long as I can remember local people who know a lot more about sea defences then I do have been calling for the reinstatement of groynes. This has always been rejected on the grounds of cost. Therefore I am particularly pleased that the Environment Agency are now planning to construct timber groynes across this section to help to accumulate sand material. The sea wall will be upgraded by covering the existing apron with concrete steps, replacing the existing wave wall at the top of the apron, and resurfacing the promenade behind. The rear wall will be raised to a level consistent with the St Mary?s Bay frontage, so maintaining an amenity beach.
Martello Tower 23 to Dymchurch Redoubt
The sea wall through this section will be upgraded by covering the lower apron and toe with rock revetment, a new wall will be added and the promenade resurfaced. Undoubtedly there will be a loss of sand in this area, but I think we have to recognize that this is one of the most vulnerable sections of the wall that must be strengthened to protect the homes not only at Beach Estate but also throughout Dymchurch. Babtie, Brown & Root will act on behalf of the Environment Agency and their engineers have promised to keep your local councillors informed as the project proceeds.
Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Projects
Each year since the year 2000 I have tried to give an update on the projects which have benefited from SRB funding, which was a government grant to help rural areas. Some of the projects on Romney Marsh are as follows:
The Romney Warren Project. This is based upon a partnership between South Kent College, Shepway District Council and Kent County Council, and provides agricultural training opportunities for young people. It was good to attend the opening of the Visitors Centre, which was opened by Councillor Ted Carey in the summer of last year. There are many interesting information panels and illustrations in the Centre, interpreting the history and wildlife of Romney Marsh. It is well worth a visit and is open each weekend, even in the winter.
Southland Sports Centre, The Wheels to Work Project, and the excellent work that is carried out at Lydd House, the scheme that provided wheelchairs for the disabled.
The Romney Marsh Website (www.romneymarsh.org) is another recipient of SRB funding - have you clicked on recently? I think you will find it is very good.
The A259 Roadside Corridor Environmental Enhancement Scheme, which included the controversial chambers on the sea wall and art project, which are certainly a talking point. The chambers representing Wind, Lightning, Rain, and Mist were created by Nayan Kulkarni and constructed by Cook Fabrications Limited. Stephen Turner of the Regional Arts Council opened the installation. Although the SRB scheme is now nearing completion, I have been given an assurance that additional funding will still be available for projects in rural areas.
Martello Tower 25 Project (the one in the car park)
In my Annual Report number 28 I reported that due to the cost it was decided not to proceed with plans to convert Martello Tower.25. However, a new scheme has been brought forward, which is looking at the feasibility of turning the Tower into a cyber caf?/ Youth Drop in Centre. We understand that this project meets all the criteria for a National Lottery Grant. The project is supported by Marsh Forward, and Tasman Jarrett, Shepway?s Youth Engagement Officer and involves local young people. The project is very much in its infancy, but I hope to be able to report to you on its progress in my next Report.
Jefferson Lane Improvements Scheme
My colleague Councillor Julie White and I are very concerned about the appearance and indeed the road and footway surfaces surrounding the shops in Jefferson Lane. The state of the carriageway in Teelin Close is quite appalling and is frankly dangerous for people trying to access the Post Office. I asked Shepway?s design team to look at the site and they have produced a scheme of landscaping and resurfacing. Kent Highways engineers have looked at the project and costed the highway part of the scheme. If the project were to go ahead it would depend upon a partnership between Shepway District Council, the shopkeepers, landowners and the Parish Council. I have to say that I have been very disappointed in the response to this project. People have objected to public money being given to support private business, but I see no other way of improving the area for the benefit of residents without some public involvement. A great many large projects are achieved these days by what is known as public private partnerships. I would be interested in your views on this project.
Dymchurch Parish Plan Project
During the year a considerable amount of work has been done by the Parish Plan Group. I haven?t had any personal involvement in this project, but it certainly has my full support. All kinds of exciting ideas are being put forward for the improvement of the community. I hope that when the Plan is published there will be funds available to act upon its recommendations.
De-trunking of the A259
I must have bored many of you to tears by going on year after year about the need to de-trunk the A259. The main road through our area is now the responsibility of Kent Highways and not the Department of Transport as it was previously. Some of you will say well, what?s the difference? Well, I think there has been a reduction in traffic, as heavy commercial vehicles are encouraged to use the B270 Brenzett to Ashford road, which has now been renamed the A259. I cannot understand why our road is not being given a new name - it is still referred to as the A259 which must be confusing to people. The downside of reducing the number of vehicles using the road is that it seems to have increased the speed of traffic, which is something that is not adequately being dealt with. Work that is at present being carried out on the Hythe Road adjacent to Burmarsh corner is causing yet more delay and frustration. However, this is urgent work that needs to be done as the carriageway was gradually slipping into the Horn sewer. The work is being carried out by Inter-Route on behalf of the Department of Transport, who will pay for the project. This should have been done before the road was de-trunked.
Pelican Crossing at New Beach Holiday Camp
Now that the A259 has been de-trunked, the KCC has agreed to put in its long-term program a scheme to provide a pelican crossing at New Beach. This is good news - many of us have been campaigning for an improved crossing in this location for many years. I appreciate that there are other locations along the A259 that would benefit from a crossing. However, a crossing at New Beach is very much to be welcomed.
Campaign for a cottage hospital on Romney Marsh
Shepway?s Primary Care Trust have carried out a consultation on a proposal that two wards in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone be closed in order to divert services to care in the community. I support the concept of maintaining and keeping people in their own homes wherever possible. However, there is always going to be the need for some intermediate beds after people leave hospital following surgery. Parish Councillor Sue Turner and I in different consultation meetings outlined the need for a cottage hospital to serve the people of Romney Marsh. This idea seems to have got wide support from Marsh people. Although I think it is extremely unlikely in the immediate future that a cottage hospital will be provided, there is a strong case to be made for the creation of intermediate care beds somewhere on Romney Marsh, perhaps connected with the excellent work carried out by Age Concern in New Romney.
Housing for local people.
In my last Annual Report I referred to a scheme to provide affordable housing for local people either to rent or to buy. A site has now been identified and I very much hope that the project will go ahead. Clearly there is an identified need to provide housing for local young people who stand very little chance of being able to purchase a property in the ordinary housing market with the high prices at the present time.
A wind farm on Romney Marsh
The National Wind Power Company wants to develop a wind farm on Romney Marsh. When I first heard of the project I thought it must be a good thing, providing pollution free electricity. However, when I came to look in detail at the proposal to site 26 turbines, each twice as high as Nelson?s column, I found the idea totally unacceptable and out of keeping with the unique character of Romney Marsh. I am also concerned about the effect the project would have on the many species of wild birds inhabiting Romney Marsh. If they were to fly into the turbines, many of them could be destroyed. Shepway DC and Kent County Council strongly opposed the planning application. As I am sure you have seen in the press, there has been a public inquiry, the outcome of which has not yet been published.
New trees are being planted in Dymchurch
Dymchurch Parish Council has been successful in obtaining a grant of ?500 for tree planting. Under the careful guidance of Tree Warden Councillor Don Gordon, trees have been planted in various locations in the village, which everyone I have spoken to thinks is excellent.
Lydd airport - ambitious proposals
The airport?s management is investing to accommodate 2 million passengers by 2011 and 6 million by 2022, compared to less than 5000 in 2003. While I welcome the employment prospects and prosperity that this could bring to the area, I have serious reservations with regard to its impact upon the environment and the potential noise factor. I therefore support those who are calling for public inquiry.
The end of my scribble
Thank you for taking the time to read my Report. There are many things I haven?t referred to owing to the length of my explanation of the bizarre situation we found ourselves in last year. However, if you have concerns with regard to any matter in this Report or local concerns I haven?t mentioned, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
We are here to help.
Your District Councillors are:
Shirley Maile, 3 Brookside, Dymchurch, Romney Marsh TN29 OQQ Tel: 01303 872428
Julie White, 27 Orchard Road, St Mary?s Bay, Romney Marsh TN29 ORA Tel: 01303 872709
Terry Preston, 63 Hythe Road, Dymchurch, Romney Marsh TN29 OLW Tel: 01303 873647
Top Of Page
|
 |
|
