Action group resists development plan

More than 100 residents turned out at the first meeting of a new group opposing a giant development planned for Hillborough. But it got off to a rocky start after chairman Michael Britton turned away Reculver resident and former independent council candidate Phil Rose, claiming the meeting was for people from Beltinge only.

Mr Rose, who has been campaigning for the Downs to be given Village Green status, told the Times he had attended to offer his help with a website. Former Thanet North Labour candidate Mr Britton said:

"This is non-political. I've asked him to leave tonight. He wants to bring his political philosophy in here."

Those inside the hall voted unanimously to oppose the planned development outright after Mr Britton made an impassioned appeal. He said:

"No means no! If we say 'maybe' then that opens the door. There is no evidence that existing infrastructure would support the site. There is no evidence that the vitality of the town would improve. We have to oppose it, lock, stock and two smoking barrels."

The planned development would see up to 1,000 new homes built by 2026 in three phases. The first phase, if approved by councillors, would see 375 family homes built on land between the railway line and the Thanet Way. But residents, including Brian Squires, said the development was out of proportion. He said:

"GPs, dentists, local services will be absolutely overrun. It will exhaust the area."

And organiser Laura Calder, an IT business consultant, said:

"There is no evidence whatsoever that any money will go into the local area. The road structure around Reculver school is already appalling. Is it going to take a child getting run over for that to change?"

But some residents urged organisers to accept all the help that was offered, regardless of where it came from. Arthur Campbell-Walter, from Hoath, said:

"This shouldn't get personal. We're all working on the same track so I think in future a greater degree of organisation and a more collegiate approach are going to be necessary for our opposition to work."

HB Times 21st Oct 2011