THE GREAT FOSSIL DEBATE

Dear Residents,

You may remember a previous application submitted to SDC in early 2015 to build a Wood Burning Power Station in Otterpool Lane from a Norfolk company called Iceni Energy 2.. 

Well, It's back. It will be aired at the Civic Centre, Folkestone on the 28th March at 7pm. Do try to attend.

Briefly, if successful, the applicant would be building a power station the size of the Dungeness unit with a minimum building height of 30 metres and a chimney stack height of 70 metres. Being wood burning, the effect on the population in terms of pollution wouldn't be too dissimilar from that of coal. 

So why here? Did SDC need a power source for the proposed 20,000 homes, or an increase in the Shepway population of 41%, with knowledge of it back then?

What's next? Fracking.? When will the entire population of Shepway wake up to the fact that the Civic Centre needs to cleared of the majority of Councillors supporting the ruination of our communities. 

S&DRA.

Here be the details:

Ref:             Y15/0751/SH / RA

Direct Dial:   01303 853538

E-mail:         planning@shepway.gov.uk

Date:           17th March 2017

               

Application Number:	Y15/0751/SH
Location:	Plot 60, Enterprise Way, Link Park, Lympne Kent
Proposal:	Erection of a 45MW combined heat and power (CHP) renewable energy electrical power station, comprising of a boiler house and turbine hall, control buildings, storage facilities, substation, plant (including 70metre stack), hardstandings, car parking, internal roadways, other ancillary buildings and hard and soft landscaping. Accompanied by an Environmental Statement

Please be advised that this application is to be considered by the Planning & Licensing Committee on 28th March 2017 at 7.00 pm in the Council Chambers at the Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone.  The Committee report and recommendation will be available five clear working days before the meeting and may be viewed at www.shepway.gov.uk. Supplementary sheets will be available the day before the meeting.

The Council encourages public speaking at Planning & Licensing Committee meetings and further information on this is set out at the end of this letter. Only one member of the public may speak against the proposal, and one in favour.  You may therefore wish to discuss with your neighbours whether it would be a good idea to elect a spokesperson.  If you are chosen as the person to speak, you will be notified as soon as possible before the meeting. 

The system operates on the basis of "first come, first served" - although priority can be given to people living closest to the application site. Where there is any dispute the final decision will be made by the chairman of the committee.  You will be notified as soon as possible after we have received your form whether or not you will be able to speak. The person who is able to speak can subsequently allow somebody else to speak in their place if they wish.The applicant, a representative of the relevant town or parish council and the ward member can also speak.

I would draw your attention to the fact that anyone wishing to speak must let me know in writing by e-mailing the request to planning@shepway.gov.uk or by sending it to The Head of Planning Services, Shepway District Council, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY by no later than 5.00 pm on the Thursday before the meeting.

You must include the information set out below with your request, failure to do so may jeopardise your chances of being able to speak. You may find it easier to fill out the form provided with the information accompanying this notification.

Application number

Your name and address

A day time phone number or email address so that we can contact you

Whether you wish to speak in support; in objection to; or on the application

For more information about the procedures of Public Speaking, please see below.

Yours sincerely

 

Mr Robert Allan

Senior Planning Officer

PUBLIC SPEAKING AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS

INTRODUCTION

Shepway District Council wants to make sure that the way it reaches its decisions on planning applications is fair and open. It therefore encourages public speaking at the Planning & Licensing Committee. Below are some questions and answers which are designed to help you make the most of this opportunity.

QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING

1. Who can speak at a committee meeting?

As well as members of the committee and council officers, one member of the public against and one in favour, a representative of a town or parish council, Shepway District Council ward members, and the applicant or his/her agent, may speak for up to three minutes each at a meeting. This is also the order in which speakers are taken. No discussion between speakers and the committee or officers is allowed.

2. How can I find out whether an application is to be considered by the committee?

The council deals with more than 1,000 applications every year and the Development Control Service does not have the resources to keep everyone informed about progress on all of them. If you have made written representations on an application you will be notified if it is to be considered by the committee. Most applications are determined by the Planning Manager under delegated powers.  Some applications are complex and take many months to determine and you can contact with the case officer if you wish to find out whether an application will go to a committee meeting.  A list of dates of meetings can be viewed at

http://www.shepway.gov.uk/moderngov/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

3. How and when do I have to let the council know that I want to speak?

If the application is to be reported to a committee meeting you will receive a letter giving you details about a week before the meeting. You will need to give written notice that you would like to speak by 5pm on the Thursday before the meeting using the form below or by providing the information requested on the form.  No late notifications can be accepted.

4. What happens if more than one local resident wants to speak?

If local residents have not chosen someone to speak on their behalf, the system operates on the basis of "first come, first served" - although priority can be given to people living closest to the application site. Where there is any dispute the final decision will be made by the chairman of the committee.  You will be notified as soon as possible after we have received your form whether or not you will be able to speak. The person who is able to speak can subsequently allow somebody else to speak in their place if they wish.

5. What happens at the committee meeting?

Planning applications where someone has given notice that they wish to speak will be considered first. A brief presentation of the application will be given by an officer of the council.  Each speaker will then be invited to address the meeting in turn. Please note that you will not be allowed to distribute any material at the meeting.  If you want to send in more information, it should be sent to the Civic Centre, ideally not later than the day before the meeting and officers will summarise it for the committee.

When the speakers have finished the committee will debate the proposal and reach a conclusion.  If you do not wish to speak or are unable to for some reason the committee will still take all the written views into account.

THE LAWS OF SLANDER

•       These laws are very strict.

•       If in public you say something about a person that is not true, even if you believe it to be true, you may be sued and have to pay compensation.  Therefore, you need to be very careful about any criticism you wish to make of people.

•       Councillors are able to speak more freely and bluntly while in council, committee or subcommittee meetings than members of the public.

•       You, as a member of the public, do not have the same protection.

DATES OF MEETINGS

1.     Meetings of the Planning & Licensing Committee are held in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, unless otherwise announced, and start promptly at 7.00pm.

2.     Agendas and reports for meetings will be available five working days before the date of the meeting from the Civic Centre and from the council's website.  Supplementary sheets will be available the day before the meeting and can be viewed at http://www.shepway.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=118.

• If you would like to speak at one of the Planning & Licensing Committee meetings please fill in the details below and send to:

The Head of Planning Services

Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue,

Folkestone

Kent, CT20 2QY

or email planning@shepway.gov.uk.

Please mark your envelope clearly with

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL

Date of Meeting ...................................................................................................................................

Application No. ....................................................................................................................................

Name and address ..............................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

Your daytime telephone number or other contact point in the event that we need to contact you .............................................................................................................................................................

Are you the applicant/agent/ward member/town or parish council representative/local resident – please delete as appropriate

.............................................................................................................................................................

Name of organisation (if appropriate)

............................................................................................................................................................

Brief details of your proposed comments i.e. in support or objection/other

...........................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 (Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary)