Last night councillors on SBC’s Policy and Resources Committee voted to build the lion’s share of their housing targets in the east of the Borough. How dare they? They had six options to choose from ranging from building the new homes in the west of the Borough or spreading them evenly across the it - and yet they chose the pile-on Faversham option.
Not only will this mean building on huge swathes of high-quality farmland, but it will mean forever changing the character of Faversham – a much loved, historic market town surrounded by beautiful countryside. The council owes it to future generations to conserve Faversham’s heritage and I urge councillors to reconsider this decision.
I have no idea how the councillors who voted for this think Faversham’s roads will cope with up to 4,000 extra homes. We all know traffic jams already plague the town at rush hour. This is all being decided at a time when the much-needed investment in Brenley Corner is uncertain under the new Government.
I am also furious with Swale Councillors for putting their heads in the sand and not getting on with progressing the Local Plan when the housing numbers were lower under the last Government. Now, Faversham residents face the worst of two worlds: higher housing numbers and most of the new housing located in and around Faversham.
It is not realistic to argue that Faversham should take zero housing; we must help the many local families who contact me every day needing somewhere to live. I’ve spoken to people who have moved into the new developments already built and they have told me how happy they are to be able to come and live somewhere so special. But the local plan needs to work for the whole borough, and on highways grounds alone, this focus on Faversham simply will not work.
Following last night’s vote the final decision will be made at a future Full Council meeting. We have between now and then to try to turn this around.
If you disagree with the proposals please scroll down to sign my ‘Don’t you dare build all over Faversham’ petition.
Please share this link with people you know who may feel the same way! ↓
https://www.helenwhately.org.uk/news/dont-you-dare-build-all-over-faversham
