Concerns about nearly 500 houses planned for Tenterden in the next few years were expressed at a public meeting. Residents raised fears over the effect on the town and questioned the town councils role in the southern extension development known as Tent1 One, Gill Whittaker, asked at the annual town meeting ” What are the benefits for us ? I have not heard anyone say what the benefits of a 475 house estate will be.” Residents packed into the Town Hall assembly room for the meeting on Monday where Tent1 ( as the scheme is known ) took up most of the evening. The town council was quizzed over its position in owning some of the land earmarked for the housing and over employing consultants to advise it over the development. After heated discussion lasting more than an hour and a half, Mayor Cllr Phil Carley called a halt, saying ”This is not a meeting over Tent1. There is no reason why we can’t have an open meeting once we have more information. ” The issue was raised under public questions by resident Roy Isworth. After hearing planning committee chairman Cllr Jennifer Crickmore-Porter say in her annual report the town council ” had the towns interests at heart ” over Tent1, Mr Isworth said ” I am pleased to hear that the town council wants to protect Tenterden We all know this vast housing estate was imposed on us. You now have the opportunity to put the brakes on this.The Localism Bill gives the opportunity to have a referendum on this. It seems that this housing development fails on every part of sustainability definition. The figure for jobs that are going to be created   in the town is fantasy ” Fears over roads ,water, schools  and healthcare were also raised.                                                                                                                                  Cllr Carley said the the council had employed consultants Batcheller Monkhouse because it did not have the expertise, but could take their advice or not. After referring questions to representatives from the company, a number of residents demanded to know what the council’s view was of Tent1. One, David Fenton, asked Cllr Carley: ” Don’t you have an opinion ? ” Nicholas Ide, a partner in Batcheller Monkhouse, said the allocation of land was based on a statutory adopted plan. He said phase one of the development was for 70 homes a year up to 2016, but Ashford council could look at that again. ” I would not say Tent1 is unstoppable, ” he said. ” All that has happenened is that the principal has been agreed. No application has been made.”                                                                          Royston Arnold the plan was a ”massive issue” where he lived and asked what weight the town council was giving to resident’s views. Cllr Carley said the council would listen to residents as well as its advisers. One resident asked about a planning application for a road in the SixFields area. Cllr Carley said the town council had made no commentabout it when it came before them, sparking a response from Mr Arnold who said ”Why is the council not making a decision? We are here to give you advice and you ignore us.”                    

Reproduced with kind permission of the Kentish Express