DOCSLIB.ORG

Sustainability Study of the Rural Settlements in Swale

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sustainability Study of the Rural Settlements in Swale SUSTAINABILITY STUDY OF THE RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN SWALE Swale Borough Council September 2001 Note for the Swale Borough Local Plan Review This study, which was first produced by the Council in September 2001, was prepared in order to inform early work on the preparation of the Local Plan Review. Its primary purpose was to explore to what degree the sustainability of a given settlement could be explained by the presence of a range of services. The sustainability of a given settlement is influenced by a wider range of socio-economic factors than could be covered by this study and as such the Council considers that the study shown be viewed more as a research document rather than as work that has fundamentally shaped the Local Plan. However, the study has nevertheless been published as a background paper to the Local Plan Review. It should be noted that much of the statistical data used by the study is based from the year 2000 and may, in some instances, be out of date. Local Planning Team, Swale Borough Council March 2004 1 SUSTAINABILITY STUDY OF THE RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN SWALE 3 Introduction 3 Current national planning policy and the role of rural settlements 3 Other studies 4 PART I: AN EXAMINATION OF TRANSPORT LINKS AND LOCAL FACILITIES 6 How the study was undertaken 6 Which settlements were studied? 6 What did the study examine? 6 Defining catchment areas 8 Components of the study 9 How the study used the information collected 12 How the study measured differences between the settlements 13 PART II: STUDY FINDINGS 16 By Category 16 Transport 16 Facilities 24 Education 28 By score of Sustainability 29 Transport Error! Bookmark not defined. Facilities Error! Bookmark not defined. Overall index of sustainability Error! Bookmark not defined. Conclusions 32 2 Sustainability study of the rural settlements in Swale Introduction 1. This study was undertaken to inform a review of the current Swale Borough Local Plan, which was adopted in 2000. With the Government encouraging local authorities to plan and locate development in such a way as to reduce travel by private car and to maximise the use of previously developed land, Swale Borough Council will need to consider the role that rural settlements will need to play in future development patterns, as well as existing urban areas1. 2. To inform this process, the Borough Council considered that a study should seek to provide an answer to the following questions: “How sustainable in their location and access to facilities are the rural settlements of Swale?2” “Which rural settlements should be looked at in more detail to assess their potential for accommodating future development?” 3. The study is in three parts: 4. Part I describes the approach which was used to undertake a survey of transport links and local facilities for each of the settlements and to then provide a relative comparison or index of sustainability across all the settlements studied. 5. Part II presents the study’s findings in respect of the individual components examined and by way of comments on an overall ranking of settlements in a sustainability index. 6. Part III seeks to provide a short-list of those settlements which should be subject to further analysis, together with some overall general conclusions and recommendations. 7. Annexes to the study provide in more detail the information collected on each of the settlements and summaries of the transport and local facilities present in each. 8. The survey, by use of simple techniques, provides an initial analysis and comparison between settlements. It will not be used solely to base policy decisions on whether or where to locate new development at any settlement, but will inform the process. In this way, this study should be seen as a first phase. 9. The completed study may also be useful in informing development control decisions on certain development proposals such the sustainability of smaller rural housing proposals and applications to change the use of existing rural facilities. It may also identify other areas of useful work to inform the preparation of the review of the Swale Borough Local Plan and other work being considered by the Borough Council. 10.Following this study, a second, more rigorous assessment will be carried out of those settlements short-listed by way of an examination of their character so as to assess what contribution, if any, they may make toward providing for further development, primarily from within their built confines. This would also take into account such factors as Government guidance, environmental limitations, and ultimately the views of the public and others. 11.Although not an original objective of the study, it emerged through the survey work on facilities that the decline of village facilities, particularly shops, was apparently commonplace in many settlements and the study therefore has provided some commentary and recommendations on this issue as well. Current national planning policy and the role of rural settlements 12.Planning guidance is issued to local authorities in the form of Planning Policy Guidance Notes, or PPG’s. Currently two such guidance notes, PPG’s 3 and 7, provide broad advice on rural settlements and the policies which should apply to them. 1 Planning Policy Guidance Note Nos.1, 3 and 7, together with DETR good practice guide ‘Tapping the Potential’ December 2000. 2 This is not a study of Parishes but in respect of the confines of built development and their environs. 3 13.PPG7, entitled “The Countryside - Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development”, published in February 1997, places sustainable development at the cornerstone of rural planning policy. This includes: • meeting the economic and social needs of those who live and work in rural areas; • maintaining and enhancing the character of the countryside; • improving the viability of existing settlements. 14.It suggests (para. 2.10) that development plans should focus new development on existing settlements, including networks of small villages where employment, housing and other facilities can be provided close together. This promotes sustainable development by strengthening villages, protecting the open countryside, sustaining local services and moving toward a better balance between employment and housing in rural communities, thereby reducing the need to travel. 15.When considering new housing, it states (para. 3.18) that the best use should be made of existing housing and land which has already been developed. New housing may be required in rural areas to sustain healthy economic activity and the viability of communities, having regard to the need to reduce travel patterns. New housing in the open countryside, away from established settlements, should be strictly controlled. 16.PPG3, entitled “Housing”, published in March 2000, introduced a new approach to planning for housing. It required local planning authorities to give a general presumption in favour of the development of previously developed land before greenfield sites and to phase the release of sites. In order to maximise the use of urban land, Local Authorities are required to carry out urban capacity assessments to rigorously examine all the opportunities which may be present. For rural settlements, the guidance states that most development will be infill or modest peripheral expansion, although local planning authorities may seek to designate some villages as Local Service Centres where development might be focused, so as to support local services. 17.In the Government’s good practice guide, published in December 2000, entitled ‘Tapping the potential - Assessing urban housing capacity: toward better practice’, guidance is offered on the preparation of the urban capacity studies referred to above. It makes clear that it will not just be towns that will need to be subject to this process. On page 9 it states that: “... in considering the areas in which to search for housing capacity local authorities could assume that ‘urban’ embraces all settlements that can contribute to sustainable patterns of development. Typically these would (or have scope to) contain shops and services, be accessible by public transport and be capable of having a sensible settlement ‘envelope’ drawn around them3. In many instances the envelope would already have been identified in a local plan.” 18.Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 13 ‘Transport’, published in April 2001 also promotes housing, jobs and services in rural service centres. 19.In November 2000, the Government published its Rural White Paper - ‘Our Countryside: The Future’. It sets out its vision under the headings of: a living countryside; a working countryside; a protected countryside; and a vibrant countryside. Of particular relevance to this study is its commitment to supporting vital village services, modernising rural services, providing affordable homes and delivering local transport solutions. Specifically it seeks assistance for village shops, pubs and garages and to retain and renew the rural Post Office network. Other studies 20.In March 2001, Kent County Council published its Kent Countryside 2000 - ‘Understanding Rural Change’ document. It brings together a concise overview of facts and trends about a 3 The good practice guide notes that settlement envelopes should be drawn to avoid significant tracts of open countryside. 4 range of rural economic, social and environmental issues. It notes that many people in rural Kent have access to fewer local services than urban residents. Whilst some settlements still offer a range of services a significant proportion lack key services. For rural transport and traffic, the study notes that dependence upon the car in the County is high with bus and rail services often non-existent at weekends. 5 Part I: An examination of transport links and local facilities How the study was undertaken 1.1.A number of methodologies were explored which would best address the questions raised (see para. 2 in the Introduction).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Syndale Valley Walk • Earth, Wind and Water Protect Plants and Animals, and Take Your Litter Home
    PEACE, SOLITUDE: Syndale A RURAL WAY OF LIFE Valley Walk faversham.org/walking NEWNHAM – EASTLING – STALISFIELD – DODDINGTON Peace, solitude: a rural way of life “Enchant, stay Escape to a land that time forgot, where farming, food and rural traditions remain the cornerstones of community life among the beautiful and graceful, unspoilt and picturesque scenery of the Syndale Valley. but do this, eat well” Running through the mid Kent Downs – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the chalk valley remains one of the few Charles Pierre Monselet timeless landscapes in this busy corner of Kent. Not without its own share of historic highlights and notoriety, your walk begins in the ancient settlement of Newnham, nestled in the Syndale Valley since at least the 12th century. Here the Romans grew grapes and James Pimm was born – creator of one of Britain’s best-loved summer drinks, the eponymous Pimms. The Revd. Granville Wheler proved the existence of electric current in 1725 at Otterden Place – just one of the grand homes that pepper your path as you make your way through ancient woods, working farmland and historic grazing pastures. Many of the woods on your route are still hunted by wildfowlers who sell their game to local butchers and restaurants, while others support the rural craft of coppicing - common in this area. Traditional coppicing of sweet chestnut shoots for fence stakes extends the life of the trees and floods the woodland floor with light in spring and summer, promoting an abundance of flowers and food for wildlife. As you pass back into sweeping open fields you may see kestrels and other birds of prey.
    [Show full text]
  • Swale Borough Council Planning
    SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING SERVICES Planning Items to be submitted to the Planning Committee 4 MARCH 2010 Standard Index to Contents DEFERRED ITEMS Items shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that meeting may be considered at this meeting PART 1 Reports to be considered in public session not included elsewhere on this Agenda PART 2 Applications for which permission is recommended PART 3 Applications for which refusal is recommended PART 4 Swale Borough Council’s own development; observation on County Council’s development; observations on development in other districts or by Statutory Undertakers and by Government Departments; and recommendations to the County Council on ‘County Matter’ applications. PART 5 Decisions by County Council and the Secretary of State on appeal, reported for information PART 6 Reports containing “Exempt Information” during the consideration of which it is anticipated that the press and public will be excluded ABBREVIATIONS: commonly used in this Agenda CDA Crime and Disorder Act 1998 GPDO The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 HRA Human Rights Act 1998 K&MSP Kent and Medway Structure Plan 2006 SBLP Swale Borough Local Plan 2008 INDEX OF ITEMS FOR PLANNING COMMITTEE – 4 MARCH 2010 • Minutes of last Planning Committee Meeting • Deferred Items • Minutes of any Working Party Meetings Deferred Items: Pg 1 - 23 BOBBING SW/09/0972 Land adj Upper Toes, Sheppey Way No Part 1’s Part 2’s: 2.1 SITTINGBOURNE SW/09/1219 83 & 93 Borden Lane Pg 1 – 9 2.2 SITTINGBOURNE SW/09/1282
    [Show full text]
  • 01 June 2010 Swale Borough Council List of Current Applications Received
    01 June 2010 Swale Borough Council List of current applications received by Swale Borough Council for determination which are available for inspection at the Planning Services, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent. Copies of applications are also available for inspection at the appropriate District Office (Please see notes). You may also view planning applications via our partnership with the UK Planning website (www.ukplanning.com/swale), but this may take up to 7 days to be completed. You may submit any observations on any application via the website. Please note that any observations that you wish to make on applications should be received either in writing (at the above address) or via e-mail to [email protected] within three weeks of the date of this list (please quote the full application reference in any correspondence or e-mail). In the interests of economy an acknowledgement will not be sent. If you do write to express an interest in an application, you will be informed of the decision in due course. On certain applications it may be some time before a decision is reached. Sittingbourne Application Ref SW/10/0089 ME Case No. 23918 Case Officer Martin Evans Location 32 Hamilton Crescent,Sittingbourne,Kent,ME10 1HZ Proposal Rear conservatory and detached garage. Applicants Name Mr S Austin Agent Mr S Austin, Classic Project Management, Culpepper Road, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4EB, Selling Application Ref SW/10/0429 CLD Case No. 23684 Case Officer Claire Dethier Location Stone Cottage, Perry Wood, Selling, Nr Faversham, Kent ME13 9RU Proposal Single storey side extension Applicants Name Mr P King Agent John Barber, TPFL Architects, Lime Tree House, The Street, Lynsted, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 0RJ Borden Application Ref SW/10/0459 ME Case No.
    [Show full text]
  • Faversham Town Application Ref SW/08/0387 HVM Case No
    14TH July 2008 Swale Borough Council List of current applications received by Swale Borough Council for determination which are available for inspection at the Planning Services, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent. Copies of applications are also available for inspection at the appropriate District Office (Please see notes). You may also view planning applications via our partnership with the UK Planning website (www.ukplanning.com/swale), but this may take up to 7 days to be completed. You may submit any observations on any application via the website. Please note that any observations that you wish to make on applications should be received either in writing (at the above address) or via e-mail to [email protected] within three weeks of the date of this list (please quote the full application reference in any correspondence or e-mail). In the interests of economy an acknowledgement will not be sent. If you do write to express an interest in an application, you will be informed of the decision in due course. On certain applications it may be some time before a decision is reached. Faversham Town Application Ref SW/08/0387 HVM Case No. 22951 Case Officer Heather Murton Location 25 St Mary's Road,Faversham,Kent,ME13 8EH Proposal Works to front of property area, new garden wall, new cellar cover with vent & gravel front area. Applicants Name Miss Lyndsay Wake Applicant Miss Lyndsay Wake, 25 St Marys Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8EH Faversham Town Application Ref SW/08/0441 CLD Case No. 12765 Case Officer Claire Dethier Location 62A Abbey Street,Faversham,Kent,ME13 7BN Proposal To create a domestic garden to the rear of our house, on land that is at present disused.
    [Show full text]
  • Good News Parish Magazine December 2020 High Downs
    Good News Parish Magazine December 2020 High Downs Parish Serving the villages of Eastling, Otterden, Stalisfield and Throwley for current and past editions go to: http://www.goodnews.rf.gd CHRISTMAS 2020 A Candlelit Carol Service will be held on Stalisfield, St. Mary’s 20th December at 5pm, We will be holding the following service at at our beautiful church St Mary’s Church and would be delighted for St Michael and All Angels, you to come and celebrate. Throwley. Midnight Mass The Throwley Choir will sing for us Thursday 24th December, (sadly congregations are not allowed to 11.30pm sing at this time) and there will be Covid safeguards will be in place for the Christmas readings. Please would you let safety of all and, for this reason, seating in me (gaynoremoss @hotmail.com) know if the church is limited. We would ask that you will be joining us and how many you inform Jean West if you would like to people are in your group. This will help attend the service by leaving a message on us work out how to arrange the seating 01233 712270 or email: to keep everyone safe. [email protected] We look forward to welcoming you all. Please include in the Also on message how many you Christmas Day at will be and your phone 10.00am n u m b e r i n c a s e o f for Family Communion cancellation. You are required to wear All services are subject to current a face mask in church Covid-19 government guidelines Further information: churchofengland.org/coronavirus EASTLING CAROLS IN THE CAR PARK Christmas Eve at 4.30pm Come and join us in the church car park on Christmas Eve for a service of Carols and Readings in the open air.
    [Show full text]
  • Planning Committee Report - 26 April 2018 ITEM 2.2
    Planning Committee Report - 26 April 2018 ITEM 2.2 2.2 REFERENCE NO - 17/506151/FULL APPLICATION PROPOSAL Construction of 6no. affordable houses and 2no. open market bungalows with new access. ADDRESS Land at Leaveland Corner Leaveland Faversham Kent ME13 0NP RECOMMENDATION – Grant SUBJECT TO: Completion of a Section 106 Agreement to secure the affordable housing tenure and local nomination arrangements, to appropriate conditions SUMMARY OF REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION Proposal is in accordance with policies regarding affordable housing REASON FOR REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE Local Objections WARD East Downs PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL APPLICANT English Rural Leaveland Housing Association AGENT Lee Evans Partnership DECISION DUE DATE PUBLICITY EXPIRY DATE 31/01/18 05/01/18 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF SITE 1.01 The site constitutes the corner of a ploughed arable field, situated immediately to the northwest of the junction between the A251 Ashford Road and Leaveland Lane. The front of the site facing onto Leaveland Lane has a line of mature trees and shrubs. There is also a water booster enclosure, bus stop and bus shelter to the front of the site. 1.02 To the southwest there is an existing linear development of former Airey houses fronting the lane. Once past the houses, the lane leads on to St Laurence Church and Leaveland Court, both of which are listed buildings. Across the field to the north, at a distance of approximately 200 metres, there are further existing dwellings in Bagshill Road and Millens Row 1.03 The site is outside any established built-up area boundary but within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
    [Show full text]
  • Highsted Park, Land to the South and East of Sittingbourne, Kent
    Quinn Estates Highsted Park, Land to the South and East of Sittingbourne, Kent Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report January 2021 Highsted Park, Land to the South and East of Sittingbourne, Kent Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report Revision Date Notes Author Checked Approved 2.0 20-01-21 E2165 Various Alison Banks Dr Nick Davey 2.1 07-02-21 E2165 Various Alison Banks Dr Nick Davey Entran Limited 7 Greenway Farm Bath Road Wick Bristol BS30 5RL T: 0117 937 4077 www.entranltd.co.uk ii CONTENTS PAGE 1 Introduction 1 2 Site Description 4 3 Proposed Development 6 4 ES Methodology 6 5 Key Issues to be Addressed by the EIA 10 6 Air Quality 11 7 Noise and Vibration 13 8 Landscape and Visual Impacts 16 9 Water Quality, Hydrology and Flood Risk 34 10 Archaeology and Heritage assets 36 12 Built Heritage 39 13 Ecology and Nature Conservation 45 14 Soils, Geology, Contaminated Land and Waste 50 15 Transportation 53 16 Socio-Economics, PopuLation and Human Health 55 17 Climate Change 57 18 Environmental Topics Scoped Out of the EIA 59 19 Conclusions 60 Appendix A - Proposed Visual Assessment Photograph Locations Appendix B - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Methodology i 1 INTRODUCTION Background 1.1 Quinn Estates Kent Limited (hereafter known as ‘the Applicant’) is seeking to obtain planning permission for a mixed-use development, including new infrastructure to create new junctions onto the M2 and A2 joined by a new relief road, at land to the south and east of Sittingbourne. This forms the southern part of the wider Highsted Park Proposed Development for which a separate Environmental Statement Scoping request has been submitted.
    [Show full text]
  • 13202 the LONDON GAZETTE, IST DECEMBER 1967 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTS Messrs
    13202 THE LONDON GAZETTE, IST DECEMBER 1967 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTS Messrs. E. C. Gransden & Co., Oak Lane, Upchurch. YEOVIL BOROUGH COUNCIL Any person desiring to question the validity of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1933—SECTION 25 definitive map and statement on the ground that the map is not within the powers of the Act or on the The Borough of Yeovil (Wards) Order, 1967 ground that any requirement of the Act or any Notice is hereby given that Her Majesty The regulation made thereunder has not been complied Queen in Council on the 13th November 1967, with in relation to the preparation of the map or made the above Order approving a scheme for the of the draft and provisional maps on which it was division of the Borough into six wards and for the based, may within six weeks from the date of this allocation of the existing Councillors of the Borough notice make an application to the High Court in to represent these Wards with effect from the said accordance with the provisions of Part III of the 13th November 1967. First Schedule to the Act. A copy of the Order is open for inspection during Dated 30th November 1967. normal office hours at the Town Clerk's Department, Municipal Offices, King George Street, Yeovil. G. T. Heckels, Clerk of the County Council. Dated 29th November 1967. County Hall, Maidstone. T. S. Jewels, Town Clerk. Municipal Offices, (336) Yeovil. (308) NATIONAL COAL BOARD COAL ACT, 1938 AND COAL INDUSTRY NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONALISATION ACT, 1946 ACCESS TO THE Notice is hereby given that pursuant to paragraph 6(2) of the
    [Show full text]
  • Faversham Conservation Area Character Appraisal (Extract from Report to Planning Committee 9 September 2004 (Agenda Item 1.1, Annex B.)
    Faversham conservation area character appraisal (Extract from report to Planning Committee 9 September 2004 (Agenda item 1.1, Annex B.) Chapter 1: General Introduction Location and geology 1.1. Faversham is situated towards the eastern end of the Borough of Swale at the head of a narrow tidal creek flowing north into The Swale waterway. The town of Sittingbourne lies some 11 kilometres to the west, whilst Canterbury lies some 14.5 kilometres to the south east. At Faversham low interfluves of Thanet Sands with brickearth are separated by shallow valleys that have been cut down through the chalk. The town centre is sited on a ridge of chalk overlain with brickearth; it then extends west into a valley where springs emerging from the chalk feed into the creek. To the south of the town is the gently rising dip slope of the North Downs, whilst the extensive alluvial flats of the Swale marshes lie to the north. History 1.2. From a very early date the small, but navigable, waterway made the higher ground at its southern end an ideal place for settlement which, the evidence suggests, happened in pre- Roman times. Archaeological finds have confirmed that later, in Roman times, a small roadside settlement existed at Ospringe and that a series of villa estates prospered in the agricultural lands between Watling Street and the Swale. However, firm proof of a settlement on the site of the present town centre has yet to emerge. 1.3. During Saxon times, from the C6 at least, Faversham appears to have been a royal estate centre, perhaps of comparable status with Milton Regis to the west.
    [Show full text]
  • Schedule of Decision Notices Issued by the Head of Development Services
    SCHEDULE OF DECISION NOTICES ISSUED BY THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES NOVEMBER 2005 Application Applicant Proposed Development Planning Decision Decision Date SW/05/1167 Mr & Mrs D Taylor Proposed two storey side extension – 1 APPROVED with 01.11.05 conditions (C21414) Canberra Gardens, Sittingbourne SW/05/1055 South East Holiday Parks Variation of condition (i) of planning REFUSED 01.11.05 (C4248) Limited permission NK/8/50/81 to allow occupancy of site from 1st March to 1st January – Elmhurst Caravan Park, Second Avenue, Eastchurch, Sheerness SW/05/0593 Mr A Hanmer Retrospective application for change of use APPROVED with 01.11.05 (C21308) of garage to storage and games room – 34 conditions Rettendon Drive, Milton, Sittingbourne SW/05/1138 Mr & Mrs Logan Single storey rear extension – 25 Coleman APPROVED 01.11.05 (C21565) Drive, Kemsley SW/05/1172 Mr Roy Reid Retrospective application for the erection of REFUSED 01.11.05 (C18240) a raised decked area to the rear and side of the property including access to the rear side and doors – 40 Cliff Gardens, Minster, Sheerness SW/05/1179 Mr Mark Hutchins Demolish existing chalet rebuild in brick – APPROVED with 01.11.05 (C1057) 122 Park Avenue Holiday Village, Leysdown conditions SW/05/1151 Mr E Reynolds Erection of white pvcu conservatory to rear – APPROVED with 01.11.05 (C21071) 17 Dane Close, Hartlip conditions - 1 - Application Applicant Proposed Development Planning Decision Decision Date TC/05/0072 Mr R O Linforth Removal of two conifers – Chestnut House, APPROVED 01.11.05 89 The Street,
    [Show full text]
  • Thanet Parkway Business Case 150127 V11.0.Docx Page Ii
    Thanet Parkway Station Business Case On behalf of Kent County Council Project Ref: 28470 | Date: March 2014 Office Address: Caversham Bridge House, Waterman Place, Reading, Berkshire RG1 8DN T: +44 (0)118 950 0761 F: +44 (0)118 959 7498 E: [email protected] Thanet Parkway Station Business Case Document Control Sheet Project Name: Thanet Parkway Station Project Ref: 28470-001 Report Title: Business Case Doc Ref: Date: 12.03.2014 Name Position Signature Date Darren Rawls Senior Engineer Prepared by: Paul Gebbett Principal Planner 12/03/2014 Alastair Mackie Associate Reviewed by: Leo Eyles Consultant 12/03/2014 Approved by: Bob Pinkett Partner 12/03/2014 For and on behalf of Peter Brett Associates LLP Revision Date Description Prepared Reviewed Approved Taking on board client comments 1 12.03.2014 PG AM BP on first issue 2 31.03.2014 Further amendments to text PG AM AM 3 28.01.2015 Further amendments PG AM AM Peter Brett Associates LLP disclaims any responsibility to the Client and others in respect of any matters outside the scope of this report. This report has been prepared with reasonable skill, care and diligence within the terms of the Contract with the Client and generally in accordance with the appropriate ACE Agreement and taking account of the manpower, resources, investigations and testing devoted to it by agreement with the Client. This report is confidential to the Client and Peter Brett Associates LLP accepts no responsibility of whatsoever nature to third parties to whom this report or any part thereof is made known. Any such party relies upon the report at their own risk.
    [Show full text]
  • Deal Town Council Transport & Infrastructure Committee Comments
    Deal Town Council Transport & Infrastructure Committee comments on KCC Rail Strategy November 2020 Thanks for the opportunity to comment on the KCC’s Draft Rail Strategy 2021. We are writing on behalf of Deal Town Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee with comments, observations and some suggestions. Overview Before we make some specific comments on specific paragraphs in the report we would like to present a reaction and some thoughts about the thrust of the strategy. The draft strategy kicks off with good intentions and aspirational words but then retreats into business as usual. There’s still a presumptive thread that runs through the strategy that train travel is about getting to and from London. The world has changed. The days when London Commuters financed the railways in Kent are over. Few if any organisations or corporations wants to go back to full time offices. The savings and convenience have been too great for everyone. The Mayor of London’s office is researching what the new future of Greater London will be. They know that this hiatus will change the way we work for good. It is wholly unrealistic to expect that commuting will be back to pre-pandemic levels by 2025. So, the strategy has got to think of train travel in new ways, which is tough for a hard fixed infrastructure. The strategy is doesn’t appear to be considering those every day journeys we want people to take by train and not by car. Again, with train travel at record lows, a re-nationalised operation, a desperate need to move away from road usage, now is the time to re-imagine our rail services, resolve the decades long problems of unbelievable dis-connectivity on and off the rails, poor safety & security, uncompetitive pricing, extreme peaks and troughs.
    [Show full text]