Otterpool Park Update: Archaeology and a conflict of interests.

The outline planning application for Otterpool Park is “very likely” to be put forward in January 2019, according to a senior Council officer.

Meanwhile on the 15th Oct at the Quaker’s meeting room in Ashford, Kate Clover the Archaeological representative of Arcadis, who are working for the promoters, Cozumel Estates Ltd and Folkestone & Hythe District Council gave a detailed talk on all the archaeology found to date within the Otterpool Park Site.

Ms Clover made it clear that the Roman Villa site found would NOT be built on and would remain as open space. In her talk Ms Glover spelt out that within the Otterpool Park boundary, Neolithic, Roman and Mediaeval artefacts had been discovered.

All in all the archaeologists have dug 300 trial trenches and undertaken Geophysical surveys over 300 hectares. Otterpool Park covers 765 hectares.

And of course we know in a number of these trenches Roman artefacts and building were discovered. The archaeologists discovered the underground heating system used by the Roman’s at the Villa they discovered.

Moving on there have been 16 contracts above £5,000 awarded to a variety of companies to undertake work on or relating to Otterpool Park. The value of these contracts is £2,269,633. 

It is clear that on the 23/04/2018 Savills were awarded a £30,000 pound contract. The contract started on 24/04/2018 and will end on the 31/01/2019. 

The contract  was for Otterpool Park and in particular the Negotiation of Options to Purchase Land (OPCB).  Further to previous advice (contract DN327056, purchase order CE00997) Savills valuers are appointed to negotiate with other landowners either options to purchase or outright purchases of land within the site of the proposed Otterpool New Town. Commission on behalf of the Otterpool Park Collaboration Board.

In our last update we told you about a Mr David Parry a Consultant for Savills (pictured) who in late April, early May 2018, made his way along the Ashford Rd between Barrowhill, Sellindge and Newingreen talking to business owners and home-owners who had received a letter from the Otterpool Park Collaboration Board in late March 2018. The letter made clear to the property owners if their property was within the Otterpool Boundary and if the promoters were intent of purchasing the properties and/or land or not.

Mr Parry of Savills:

“specialises in advising on options, promotion agreements, and sales and acquisitions of development land including mixed use schemes. His role includes the disposal of development land, including properties for conversion, as well as carrying out viability studies on all sizes of development sites, including strategic and proposed garden villages and towns.”

However, prior to this Mr Parry had been discussed at the Otterpool Park Collaboration Board on the 1st February 2017 meeting in London, the notes released and long since been in the public domain state at para 1.2:

Property owners our public face has spoken to, have said he, Mr Parry, made clear in his visit to property owners between Barrowhill Sellindge and Newingreen he was representing Cozumel Estates Ltd who are the one half of the promoters who sit on the Collaboration board. As we said 30 memories cannot ALL be wrong, nor thankfully can cctv.

So our question is to to Dr Susan Priest, Cllr David Monk and the Reuben Brothers, there exists incontrovertible evidence a clear conflict of interest has taken place, now what will you do about it.

The Shepwayvox Team – Dissent is NOT a Crime