See Page11 The Only ‘FREE’ Newspaper To Cover The Romney Marsh, Hythe And Sandgate Issue 142 Wednesday 16th March 2016 Sands Motel Plan Faces Storm Of Protest The approval by Shepway’s District Council’s development control committee for development of 85 houses and flats on the site of the former Sands Motel in St Mary’s Bay has been met with a storm of protest. The site has planning approval for the development which would Concerns over increased air sea rescue flights spark debate include a ‘coastal park’ and car-park. The 8-acre site (3.3 Action Group Warns Of Nuclear Risk hectares) is offered for Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) has probability of a serious aircraft accident development by Caxtons found that a planning condition related at the Dungeness nuclear complex to Chartered Surveyors in to Lydd Airport’s approval for extension further exceed the nuclear regulator’s Canterbury for 59 houses and 26 in 2013 has been altered to allow threshold of acceptability. apartments. unlimited helicopter flights. However, Lydd Airport was keen to put The change allows for no restriction on the case to The Looker in support of the the number of Search & Rescue (SAR) importance of the SAR service. “HM helicopter flights at the Airport once its Coastguard’s SAR helicopter service runway has been extended. Bristow provides a 24/7 emergency response”, Helicopters Ltd currently operates the said a spokesperson. “Our aircraft will service, having been forced to relocate only fly either to conduct a lifesaving to Lydd from August 2015 after the SAR operation or to undertake the most closure of Manson Airport. essential crew training. Since the Lydd The SAR service uses aircraft types base launched in August 2015, they which LAAG believes have the critical have flown a total of 326 operational or mass to cause a serious radiological training flights. However, strong opposition to the release if an accident occurred at the “Our SAR aircraft operate in accordance proposal had been voiced by St Dungeness nuclear complex which is with the requirements of national Mary’s Bay’s villagers who had less than 3 miles from the airport. The airspace regulation and Lydd Airport’s witnessed the destructive effects service has also been granted access to agreed entry and departure routes. of violent winds on the previous flight paths denied to other aircraft due Every effort is made to minimise Sands Motel which was badly to nuclear safety concerns. In disturbance to the local community and combination with the increase in while our operation may have an damaged in the Great Storm of aeroplane activity once Lydd Airport’s alleviation to fly through the restricted 1987. runway is extended, the SAR service area surrounding Dungeness, we can Local campaigner, Louise Barton increases the potential for the assure the community that wherever Continued Page 2... Continued Page 3... Wednesday 16th March 2016 Because Local News Matters Continued from Front Page... possible, flights through this airspace will be avoided.” Caravan goes up in Helicopter flights at Lydd Airport are currently unrestricted until the runway is extended. A condition was put in place flames within the Government’s approval that helicopter movements Fire crews were called to the New Beach Holiday could not exceed 1200 each year - a figure based on Lydd Park in Dymchurch on Wednsday night, just after Airport’s claimed number of annual helicopter movements in 7pm. 2005. Two fire appliances However, this condition has now been changed to exclude were called to the SAR flights which LAAG believes means an unlimited scene, with fire- number of SAR flights could be made in addition to 1200 fighters doing their non-SAR flights. The Airport estimates that this could be best to contain the around 1800 SAR flights per annum (300 call out and 1500 fire, but it was too training). This would indicate around 3000 possible annual late to save the helicopter movements, compared to the historic figure of caravan. 1200 per annum. These flights will be in addition to the A Kent Fire and maximum permissible number of fixed wing flights of 40,000 Rescue Service per annum compared to the historic figure of around 21,000 spokesman said: “Crews were faced with a well per annum, most of which were by light aircraft (maximum established fire on arrival.” They used breathing take-off weight). apparatus, a main jet and compressed air foam What do Looker readers think? Do you believe that having an system to put out the blaze. There were no effective search and rescue service operating from Lydd casualties but the caravan was destroyed by fire, Airport is a vital contributor to our sea safety capacity, or do smoke and heat. Crews were at the scene for almost you think that some restrictions in frequency or times of an hour and 20 minutes and the cause of the blaze flights should be applied? Let us know via our usual e-mail: is not yet known. [email protected] or write to us. Page 2 www.thelooker.co.uk Wednesday 16th March 2016 Bay Planning Dispute Continued from Front Page.... raises some interesting points about the plan. “Although the site was included in the Local Plan, this proposal is nevertheless inappropriate in this configuration,” she said. “There will only be an allocation of seven affordable homes which is contrary to the 30 per cent required in modern developments. There also be no ‘In perpetuity’ clause on these homes so it means there is a good chance the properties will eventually pass out of the hands of local people.” However, Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee (Con) was delighted with the outcome. “I am really pleased this has come forward,” she said. “I know there is some concern about the intensity of the development, but I believe the benefits outweigh those concerns. It is only half the site that is being built on and the other half has the coastal park and a public car-park,” although The Looker wonders how much fun the residents of 85 homes will have in the 15 metres allocated for the ‘coastal park’. Cllr Mary Lawes of UKIP believes it will be a pull for tourists “who will have access to the coastal park and beach”. buildings on ground higher than the road so there The homes will have to be built on a five-metre will be an enormous difference as if they were high platform to mitigate against the effects of four to five-storey buildings,” she said. flooding - there were no objections from the main Although 66 local people made written objections flood regulatory bodies, the Environment Agency to the scheme, Council officers had and Kent County Council. recommended approval of the proposal, citing Residents have pointed out that high tides this that it was safe in highway terms and the car park year have thrown shingle over the sea wall where and coastal park would boost tourism. the homes are due to be sited. It is also alleged that the high nature of these three to four storey buildings will in themselves represent an extensive increase in the magnitude of wind against surface areas. Villager and retired government scientist points out that there is no develop - ment of this height on the A259 between Hythe and New Romney. “This current development on the north side of the road is two metres below the road and mainly has one or two-storey homes. On the other side there will be Page 3 Wednesday 16th March 2016 Because Local News Matters A soldier who was awarded Sandgate the Victoria Cross was remembered with a new Salutes memorial today – 100 years after the action which led to his recommendation. Local Corporal William Cotter, who was born in Folkestone and Hero whose parents lived in Sandgate, was recently By David Wimble honoured in a ceremony at the village church and war memorial. Parish Councillor Robert Bliss told The Looker: “This is a very important day for Sandgate and we felt that it was A letter signed by King George V to William's parents. an occasion to be marked with a special event like this, For two hours he steadied the men holding the crater, to have so many representatives from the armed forces controlled their fire and prepared them against a counter- and also relatives of Corporal Cotter with us helps tell attack. the whole story of this exemplary serviceman.” He only allowed his wounds to be “roughly dressed” Following the service at St Paul's Church, Sandgate Hill, when the attacks quietened down, according to the there was procession to the war memorial in Sandgate citation in the London Gazette published on March 28, High Street with dignitaries and guests awaiting the 1916, two weeks after his death, aged 33. arrival of a parade being led by the Band of the Princess Cpl Cotter lived long enough to know that his actions had of Wales’s Royal Regiment. been successfully recommended for the Victoria Cross Cpl William Cotter was awarded the Victoria Cross in the and Lt-Gen Sir Hubert Gough, commander of I Corps, First World War pinned the medal to his chest while he lay in hospital at The new paver was unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Lillers. Kent, The Viscount De L’Isle, at 3.15pm at the memorial. At the time, The Buffs were serving as part of the 37th Dozens of Cpl Cotter's descendants attended the Brigade in the 12th Eastern Division. commemorations. Cpl Cotter was born in Folkestone in 1882 and was the Cpl Cotter succumbed to the injuries he suffered eight eldest of six sons of Richard and Amy Cotter, who lived days after the action while serving with the 6th Battalion at Barton Cottages in Sandgate.