Press Releases for 2004
TOP GREEN IN VISIT TO CANTERBURY'S CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENT SITE
9th September 2004Brighton Councillor KEITH TAYLOR, Principal Speaker of the Green Party of England & Wales (1), will visit New Dover Road, Canterbury, the proposed site for a massive new industrial park to meet KEITH BOTHWELL (Barton Ward by-election candidate) and protestors on Friday Sep 10 at 11:00am. (MEET AT 11AM AT JUNCTION OF NEW DOVER ROAD & APPLEDOWN WAY) Proposals to reclassify land at the end of New Dover Road have been made as late submission to the Local Plan Inquiry, which would allow the Grade 1 agricultural land to be developed into a massive industrial park for 3500 staff. Concerns expressed by residents groups and supported by the Green Party include:
* that 3500 employees will create a massive increase in traffic in the area leading to increased congestion, pollution and traffic danger, the loss of grade 1 land and failure to recycle brownfield sites;
* the economic impact of the failure to target development strategically the undue haste with which the council and business sector is using to 'bounce' the development onto the community.
Keith Taylor said: "I am very concerned to see this Grade 1 agricultural land being turned into an industrial site when there is brownfield land laying unused elsewhere in the district, along the Thanet Way. Canterbury residents, notably those in Barton Ward, will be severely affected by the extra traffic the 3500 extra employees will create, and that's on top of the traffic increase already resulting from the Park and Ride scheme nearby. We need to target economic development to where it's most needed, and in comparing indicators like unemployment and incomes, Canterbury is much better off than Thanet or Dover. Let's get some strategic thinking and positive leadership here and target more effectively.
"A David & Goliath battle is brewing between the Council - who have sided up with the developers and the people worst affected by the development. Councillors from all parties have voted for the new industrial park. That's letting locals down and it's simply not good enough."
Keith Bothwell added: "Development in the city should reflect the needs of its residents, not those of big business seeking quick profits. If elected I will challenge this project at every turn, and I urge people to use the by election on October 7 as a referendum on whether they want to see this development go ahead". ENDS
Further Info/Arrange Interviews: please contact Geoff Meaden on 01227456806 / 767700 or Keith Taylor on 07780 528990 Links: www.greenparty.org.uk www.eastkent-greenparty.org.uk/ Notes: 1. Keith Taylor is a councillor on the Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority and one of two Green Party Principal Speakers. The other post-holder is Dr Caroline Lucas, South East Region Green MEP.
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