MONKS HORTON PARISH MEETING
12th June, 2016.
Dear Mr. Clark,
I am writing to you as the Vice Chair of Monks Horton Parish Meeting in Kent.
I have great concerns over our local District Council, Shepway, misrepresenting the views of the local electorate.
On May 6th Shepway District Council (SDC) announced that they were going to be expressing an interest for a new Garden Town of 12,000 houses to central Government.
On the evening of 7th June SDC invited local Parish Councils to the Council Chambers in Folkestone to garner support for the development. In all, 27 Parish Councillors, including myself, attended.
The Leader of the Council, David Monk chaired the meeting with Alistair Stewart, CEO and Susan Priest, Corporate Director Operations, in attendance.
It was clear from the outset that Parish Councillors didn't share the view that building a 12,000 unit new Town between 3 small Kentish villages was a good idea. As the meeting progressed arguments became heated with accusations of mistrust, lies and untruths aimed at all SDC members.
It was at this juncture that I respectfully asked, through the chair, can we have it on record to have a show of hands as to who, out of all the 27 Parish Councillors in attendance, thought that building Otterpool Park New Town was a good idea. David Monk Said 'No'. I asked again. He repeated, waiving his hands back and forth 'No, No'. I addressed the Parish Councillors and asked the simple question. 'Can I have a show of hands please: Who thinks that building a New Town in our area is a good idea'. All hands remained down.
I don't know whether SDC recorded the vote or had anything on record come to that.
The meeting went on with shouts of Contemptible and Resign. It wasn't a pleasant scene.
The very next day, 8th June at 5pm. The SDC Cabinet met at the Civic Centre Chambers with the full cabinet in attendance to debate whether the Council should be expressing and interest to central Government for the building of a New Town as already mentioned.
Three councillors spoke in support of a New Town, a motion was put forward and seconded and a vote taken to go ahead with the official expression of interest. No mention was made of the meeting or the dissent shown by Parish Councillors the previous evening and no mention was made of the vote taken. The public gallery was full of local angry residents showing their disdain of the proceedings. During the meeting, David Monk asked residents in the public gallery to leave the chambers as commercially sensitive information was about to be discussed. The residents wouldn't move and a sit-in followed. David Monk and his Cabinet eventually left the Chamber to the chants of 'Shame on you all'.
At the same meeting a document was distributed titled 'Feedback from the Leader's meeting with Parish Councils: 7th June 2016 (Sellindge,Stanford, Saltwood, Postling, Lympne) No mention of the Monks Horton parish was made. The document clearly gave an impression that some concerns were raised but overall a sentiment was created that going forward with the New Town was generally acceptable. For example, it states:
'All Parish Councils asked for greater more deeper engagement as the project progresses'
This is a downright lie. Not one Parish councillor made that request.
'There was some opposition to the scale of development (with some recognising the need for new housing)'
There was total opposition to the scale of development. Yes, there is a need for new housing that Sellindge has just agreed to: A total of 250 new homes in a village of some 700 existing homes.
I note that one of the criteria for approval of a Garden Town is local support. Our fear is that the conduit for that support will be relayed through our District Council. Shepway District Council do not reflect our views. Moreover, our MP Damian Collins, our local Councillors, Jenny Hollingsbee and Susan Carey do not, and will not, even after pleading with them, reflect our views.
Residents in this area are talking of corruption, done deals and secretive meetings with local land owners. It seems that our elected representatives are rotten to the core.
Here is just one example why residents are of that mindset: last Thursday, 9th June in The Herald, a local newspaper, Damian Collins wrote: 'Shepway Council has also put in an expression of interest to the Government to create a garden town on land close to Otterpool Farm, near junction 11 of the M20' How on earth did Damian Collins know that SDC were going to vote for that expression of interest when the vote was taken on Wednesday evening. The paper went to print before that meeting took place. Did David Monk tell Damian Collins that we are going for it, come what may, irrespective of local Parish's views? Given this, our communities will be meeting within the next week to seek legal advice.
As a Parish member can we be reassured that local views WILL be taken into consideration directly from the Parishes and local communities without the influence of Shepway District Council.
Moreover, we would respectfully ask that a meeting be arranged between delegates from our communities with DCLG to voice our concerns.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Leslie Barratt, Vice Chair, Monks Horton Parish Meeting.
