Seems that not everyone enjoyed the meeting, then...

"We even had to ask who speaker at meeting was"

The meeting in the Beltinge village hall was by far the worst meeting, public or private, that I have ever attended (Villagers Vow To Fight £240m Housing Plan, Heme Bay Gazette, October 20). After an almost unending speech stressing that this meeting was non-political, 20 minutes in, my colleague was forced to ask for details of who was addressing us. The speaker, speaking from the body of the hall, was unknown to us.

Later a vote was sought without a clear mandate on whether we were voting in favour or against the proposed development. This possibly brought about the soundbites that “no means no” and “...we have to fight this lock, stock and two smoking barrels”.

During the meeting, we felt Michael Britton failed to accept all offers of help which included details of traffic flow etc across Blacksole Farm bridge and an offer of free leaflet printing. He failed to arrange a PA system or display equipment for What appeared to be a well-crafted report by Laura Calder and continuously talked over her report.

With his lack of leadership, we wondered if he was a Trojan horse for the developers as it seemed by the time they submit their planning application we will be at such a severe disadvantage, the proposal will be passed with no credible opposition.

There is an urgent need to mobilise all of villages in the area and exploit the required talents of the residents to make an effective cohesive force to oppose this application or we will be detrimentally affected.

Rohan Deane, Selbey Close, Beltinge

HB Gazette letters 27th Oct 2011

Comments

[Worried of Beltinge]

Some years back a proposal to build approx 2000 homes on a similar piece of land along the Thanet Way was introduced. They promised a railway station, schools, shops etc. It was opposed by the residents but then smaller developments went ahead. I don't want anymore new houses around this area but don't want to be unrealistic and say "not in my back yard" IF the development included a desperately needed SECONDARY school, its own road system without going through Beltinge Village then it might be more acceptable. I have no children at school but do see the need for another secondary school in the Herne Bay area. Children from the Beltinge/Hillborough end of Herne Bay are no longer in the catchment area for Herne Bay High and are being sent to schools further away.
I am against any large developments as the Beltinge/Hillborough area cannot cope with anymore homes/cars etc, unless the residents get more input into what is to be built. The developers are all about greed, more homes means more money for the big cats.