Planning Matters

A NEW group has been set up to help residents understand future development plans for the borough.

A GROUP opposing Swale Council's plans for thousands of new homes in the borough is urging people to join its campaign. Swale Residents Against Housing Madness was formed to fight proposals that could lead to more than 15,000 homes built over the next 20 years.

BUILDING two new railway stations in Sittingbourne might prove to be an uphill struggle, after it was revealed the proposed site for one of them is on a slope.

A vision of creating a metro system for Sittingbourne to encourage more people to travel by rail is being considered by Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Transport.

TWO new railway stations on the edge of Sittingbourne are part of ambitious multi-million pound plans to persuade people to ditch their cars and turn to trains.

REPRESENTATIVES from ten parish councils who have joined forces to speak up against Swale Council’s plans for development in the borough are to meet again tonight (Wednesday). Iwade Parish Council instigated a meeting last month to discuss the results of the Pick Your Own consultation into proposed housing and employment growth over the next 20 years.

TRAFFIC jams in and around Sittingbourne will be worse after the town is regenerated, according to a new transport study. With 13,500 new homes planned before 2031, congestion could be 25 per cent worse than it is now, councillors were told last week.

ALL four development options for thousands of new homes and business space put forward by Swale Council proved unpopular with the public, so a mixture of them all will be pursued.

THE needs of the whole borough, not just those of lobbyists, must be considered – that was how councillorsresponded to results of a two-month consultation on how Swale should develop in the next two decades.

Pete Raine is currently the Director of Regeneration for Swale Borough Council, a position which encompasses planning and given his remuneration package the second most important position within the Council after the Chief Executive.