Minutes:
Update on the Development Plan
Working towards the next consultation stage, the Draft Plan eill go out to consultation in November and hope to submit to government next August.
It will be a public consultation and will be going out to meet the public as well as talking to interest groups and land owners. There will be a series of public meetings for people to express their views. We are looking at what other mechanisms are available. Need to take account of lifestyle changes, age etc.
Question and answer session
Q. You’ve explained the process very well – can you please tell us about the public consultation?
A. The next consultation due to take place around November 2009 with the plan being put to government in August 2010
Q. Can anybody respond to the consultation?
A: We will do all we can to encourage the public to participate and are open to
suggestions as to how we can improve this.
Q. How does the Transport Quarter fit in to the plan?
A: We are looking to submit a planning application – we are in the middle of a
consultation on the plans at the moment. There has been an exhibition in
Town centric and the scale model is currently in the Civic Centre foyer area.
Q. As you say the LDF is going to shape the area for the next 20 years – we have been here this evening discussing issues facing young people - How are you going to engage them as it is the future of their town being planned?
A. We looked at work that the Crime Reduction Partnership has done on the needs of
young people and open space currently but we are open to suggestions as to how
we might improve this. I would be happy to come along to any groups/meetings if
that would help.
Q. Mr Clay asked several questions but the following summarises the points he was making: -
The Council was criticised by the Audit commission about the delay in publishing its Local Development Framework. The Council is “putting the cart before the horse” and allowing major applications before the policies for these areas are confirmed. He felt that GBC are pre-empting any consultation and the examination in Public.
The view was expressed, by a couple of attendees that decisions should not be being made by GBC now in the absence of an adopted CS + DM DPD
A: Robust decisions can be made within the framework provided by national, regional
(SE Plan has sub-regional policies of relevance to us) and local policy, and the most
up-to-date evidence that will be underpinning the LDF.
The Town Centre Strategy does set out the four Quarter Themes and the Council
has often expressed its spatial intentions for the town
Q. How the town centre will operate in the apparent absence of this clear policy framework will be a challenge for any proposal for the town centre – TQ, HQ etc.
A GBC do not need a town centre AAP as the CS + DM DPD will contain area specific policies and strategic site allocations.
Q. In relation to the Transport Quarter –how it fits into the wider transport system. I feel that the Council is planning for today not for tomorrow. You should remove through traffic (West-East /East-West) from the Riverside area of the town.
A I acknowledge that the Riverside Area needs to be taken into account in plans for
transport in the area. There are overarching plans e.g. Thames Gateway Strategy,
Medway Plan and lots of agencies (including the Highways Agency and KCC) are
involved in transport modelling and design of major scheme. There are in fact 12
major schemes within the Borough that will still be completed.
Q. We should not be talking just about buildings – we need to consider life and living; open space and the public realm. Provision /access to open space etc north of the A2 is rapidly diminishing. We don’t just want quality we also want quantity.
A:We are looking at strategic allocation of space and including “linking space” as
public realm.
Q. While you are working on plans for the future the town is changing radically, You need to set out your Masterplan and also ensure that any plans take into account the character of an area. You need to involve people in a series of workshops to ensure their views are taken into account.
A:We are /will be preparing strategic policies for the areas but at the same time
cannot treat them in isolation as they fit into the whole.
Jackie Thompson I am from South East Planning Aid and we are here to help the
community engage with the LDF
Cllr Cubitt The Transport Quarter is rolling on. We will certainly look at whether or
not the vision for the Quarter will interfere with the wider vision that is the Local
Development Framework. Anyone who wishes can go and see the exhibitions and
submit their comments on the proposals.
Need to get the through traffic away from the riverside area. The current Transport Quarter plan is not doing this. There needs to be more vision and thought about the future.
Q. Open space within Gravesham, this side to the river, are diminishing with all the development going on. We need to create more open space. We now have more people living in a smaller space with no open space around them. The quality of the open space should be important. We know there are mental health problems associated with overcrowding.
A. It is part of the overall vision of the area. Quality is important.
Q. Has the council decided to hold back major planning development until the consultation has taken place?
A. Any planning applications that go through Regulatory Board can be deferred if we do not have sufficient information.