Author: Andrew Goddard

In support of shoppers across Thanet and Sandwich, today Laura Sandys MP introduced a Bill in Parliament to prevent local authorities granting planning permission on Grade 1 Agricultural Land.

“We have a lot of really good land in East Kent that must be secured for food production not development.  We need to ensure that locally we support our local producers and try where possible to buy local food.”

By safeguarding Britain’s agricultural land, the Bill aims to ensure the UK can produce food domestically. This will reduce its heavy reliance on international markets which has left consumers vulnerable to food price spikes. Last year alone, costs were passed directly onto shopping trolleys across Thanet as consumers bore the brunt of a 4.6% increase in the cost of food. The Bill aims to reinstate the protection that was in place when food production was part of our national security considerations and seen as a strategic asset.

Read the speech in the attached document.

[wpfilebase tag=file path=’Laura Sandys MP Speech.pdf’ /]

The current status of the Bill can be found here:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/planninggrade1agriculturallandprotection.html

[wpfilebase tag=file path=’Traffic Survey and Highway Document (Ltr).pdf’ /]

KEYFORD – Urban Extension Option

Bullet Points for consideration as displayed at pre-consultation

• This is grade 1 agricultural land. An increasing population will need more quality land to produce food, not less.

• Existing infrastructure e.g. hospital, college, schools facilities are already stretched.

• Is walking/cycling a reasonable way to get to town shops, work, etc.

• The escarpment to the south is steeper than the one to the north.

• Roads would be more crowded, no new ones are being planned and travel times would increase.

• No traffic surveys have been done to the north or south.

• Reaching the A303 would take longer because of increased traffic.

• Employment – Westlands, Yeovilton Town Centre etc., is mostly to the centre and north of Yeovil.

• Housing numbers given are questionable, as is the distribution within the district; Yeovil has 49% of the total. Therefore, an ‘Urban Extension’ may not be necessary at all.

• Development here would destroy an area of “intrinsic darkness” being able to have dark starry night sky.
• Dorset’s area of Outstanding Natural Beauty overlooks the area.

• Alternative land is available.

“Town and Country Planning Association and the Rural Coalition (Rural Challenge) documents express concerns over inappropriate urban extensions and a policy of urban bias. They support proportional development in rural settlements to meet the needs of the communities, enhance sustainability and protect the countryside”.

Their views can be found on their websites.