Agenda item

This report advises the Committee of petitions received by the Council which fall within the remit of this Committee including a summary of the response sent to the petition organiser by officers.

 

There is one petition referral at this meeting.

Discussion:

 

The Committee received a report setting out petitions received by the Council which fell within the remit of this Committee, including a summary of the response sent to the petition organiser by officers.

 

The Committee noted that there was one petition referral to be considered at this meeting requesting the rejection of plans to build a relief road on Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex.

 

The Committee welcomed Mr George Crozer to the meeting as the petition organiser and invited him to address the Committee:

 

Petition calling for the rejection of plans to build a relief road on Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex

 

Mr Crozer referred to the background to the rejection of the Medway Local Plan by the Planning Inspectorate in 2013, and reminded the Committee that

a substantial part of the land under administration by the Council was subject to statutory nature conservation designation including land at Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill, which was designated for supporting a nationally important population of (red-listed) nightingales along with rare grasslands. These sites were home to a large population of nightingales and were highly regarded as a protected habitat by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Therefore, the Council had a custodial duty to conserve and enhance the natural environment and in particular, the designated habitats and landscapes in this area.

 

Mr Crozer stated that until its closure in 2018, Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex had been a much loved resource and outlet for the social wellbeing and interests of the local community. However, since the closure of the adjacent Lodge Hill Army Camp and its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) it had also provided an environment that had allowed nature to thrive by providing a buffer between Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI, and the built environment.

The RSPB had recently expressed concern that the Council appeared to be promoting a substantially smaller buffer of 150m to mitigate the effects of any proposed new housing in the area and the RSPB was concerned as to the effectiveness of any complementary mitigation measures, such as anti-predator fencing. The RSPB was of the opinion that allowing substantial numbers of new houses to be built within 400m of the boundary of the SSSI would build in a new and entirely avoidable predation issue for the foreseeable future, leaving a significant and permanent legacy for the UK's most important nightingale population.

 

For these and the reasons stated in the original petition, Mr Crozer requested that the Committee uphold and support the petition of the Deangate Community Partnership and recommend that the 400m minimum buffer is respected in all future planning decisions as a matter of policy.

 

In response, the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive advised that the Council was delivering its Local Plan to meet the challenging Government housing targets and local demand for homes and, in doing so, was following an approach of sustainable development providing for homes, employment, services, shops, community facilities, parks and open spaces. The Housing Investment Fund (HIF) proposals sought to bring forward the vital infrastructure required to support those new homes.

 

He advised that the Government housing target was fixed, and therefore the HIF would provide improvements for travel and much-needed investment before the homes were built, thus easing the pressure on existing roads and transport links. 

 

Concerning the issue of land and, in particular, the former Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex, he advised that the Local Plan would set out the decisions on land uses, and the longer-term future of the Deangate site would be explored as part of that process. The next stage of the Local Plan, Regulation 19 consultation, would take place over the next couple of months. He further advised that theHoo Development Framework would inform the approach and provide a policy steer for sustainable growth and set out the principles underpinning future proposals.

 

The Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that Deangate Golf and Sports Complex was listed as an Asset of Community Value and this status would be taken into consideration when considering its future. Officers had made contact with the Deangate Community Partnership so as to ensure there was the opportunity for the Partnership to fully participate in ongoing consultations.

 

On the issue of the spur/relief road, he advised that the intention of this road would be to reduce traffic on Peninsula Way and he provided an assurance that the HIF proposals were not about providing access to the Deangate site.

 

The Committee discussed the petition referral and the following is a summary of the main points raised during discussion:

 

·        In the Strategic Land Assessment published in December 2019, land at Deangate had been identified for potential development and this had also been included in the consultation document published in Spring 2020 titled ‘Planning for Growth on the Hoo Peninsula’. As yet, no specific further information was available as consultations were continuing with individuals and organisations to gather a significant evidence base which would take account of all relevant aspects including environmental. When published, the Local Plan would be supported by a Sustainability Appraisal setting out opportunities and constraints.

 

A further piece of work had also been commissioned specifically relating to environmental matters for the Peninsula taking into account the sensitivity of the area.

 

·      It was confirmed that the fact that the Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex was designated an Asset of Community Value was a material consideration and would be taken into account when considering and balancing any planning application. However, such designation was not a binding constraint against future development.

 

·      The key purpose of the provision of the relief road was to be an alternative to enable traffic flow on the Main Road roundabout.

 

·      The provision of a buffer could involve a wide range of alternative options including swathes, ditches, fencing, roads and other infrastructure. All options were being pulled together into a Cumulative Ecological Impact Assessment.

 

·      Future use of the Deangate Golf and Sports Complex site would not be impacted by the temporary use by Medway Norse and it was confirmed that the site would be considered as a mix of brownfield and greenfield land.

 

·      It was confirmed that the vast majority of the Section 106 funding approved in 2018 for strategic recreational use, remained unspent and could be allocated for use at any site within 20 minutes drive time.

However, concern was expressed that the Deangate Golf and Sports Complex had closed 3 years ago with little notice or consultation and yet the Council could not yet confirm its plans for the future of the site and it was suggested that, if possible, the Section 106 funding should be ringfenced for the provision of recreational facilities for the local community in this area as opposed to elsewhere in Medway. In response, the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive advised that Section 106 funding was a matter for planning.

 

·      The Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that the petition which was the subject of discussion at this meeting would also form part of the consideration of the Local Plan and officers would be engaging with the Deangate Community Partnership.

 

The Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive stated that whilst the concerns of the community were understandable, lessons had been learnt from the previous Local Plan process and work was currently being undertaken on the production of the Local Plan so that it could come forward over the next couple of months and be considered in a comprehensive way and not piecemeal on a site by site basis.

 

He outlined the process by which the Local Plan along with its relevant polices and schedules would be considered by Cabinet and then by Council. Under the Regulation 19 Consultation, there would be a 6 week statutory consultation period following which the Plan would be submitted for examination which would take approximately one year.

 

Decision:

 

The Committee:

 

a)     thanked the lead petitioner for attending the meeting and addressing the Committee on his petition and noted the various contributions put forward.

b)     noted the petition responses and appropriate officer action in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the report.