So eight years and five months after Folkestone & Hythe District Council purchased the land at Otterpool Lane, from the Champney Brothers for £5m, the planning application Y19/0257/FH, has been given a provisional date of 4 April 2023 to go before the planning committee
The Council can continue to discharge its normal council business, during purdah (pre-election period) including determining planning applications, even if they are controversial.
On the 28 Feb Councillors who sit on planning had a briefing regarding the Otterpool Park Planning application for 8,500 homes, according to a tweet by Cllr Susan Carey.
The application extends to more than 6 million words and no elected Councillor has read every word, nor will they by 4 April.
Now of course, there is much history to Otterpool Park and over the next month we will be reminding you of it.
We know there are both statutory agencies, Parish councils, Town councils and members of the public who object to the application. That said our public face, who objects to the application, does so on two grounds, one being because the old Lympne/Ashford Airport, was once in the ownership of his great uncle, Eric Rylands (pictured). It was from this airport, Skyways Coach-Air flew to a variety of locations.
We know Folkestone Town Cllr Paul Bingham flew from this airport to an overseas destination.
However, that said, just because it was owned by a relative, and memories and the landscape will be altered forever, it is not a material planning objection, more’s the pity.
Image Dick Gilbert – circa 1970
Now we know at Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 14 Feb 2023, Cllr Carey suggested the Council might consider obtaining planning permission for the site and potentially sell it on to a developer.
However, according to a variety of sources this will not happen, as the Council as the sole shareholder in Otterpool Park LLP, wish to to keep control and ownership of the site.
There are local Parish Councils who too wish the site to remain in the ownership of the Council and will no doubt be relieved to know this will be the case.
If as intended the application is submitted on the 4 April, then you can attend the planning committee to watch in person, or watch online from the comfort of your own home.
It is the largest planning application the Council have ever had to deal with. It has literally cost tens of millions to get the application to the committee. Let’s hope sense prevails and the committee say NO to Otterpool Park.
The Shepway Vox Team
Dissent is NOT a Crime
