Princes Parade: No, No, No to any inclusion in any future local plan.
Yes, it’s true. Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee, Leader of the Conservative Group (pictured), has expressed her desire to retain the land at Princes Parade (Hythe) in any future local plan.
Tomorrow night, on 26 February 2025, Cllr Hollingsbee will pose the following question to Cllr Jim Martin, Leader of Folkestone & Hythe District Council:
“Will the Leader confirm that the Princes Parade development land, which has planning permission and is owned by the Council, will be included in the new local plan?”
For those unaware, on 9 December 2024, the Council invited residents to share their views on the future use of Princes Parade. This consultation closed on 16 February, but the results have yet to be published. Given this, it might be prudent for Cllr Hollingsbee to await the publication of these results before commenting on whether Princes Parade should or should not remain in any future plan.
Cllr Hollingsbee should, by now, be well aware that the Princes Parade issue was a significant factor in the Conservative Party’s major losses during the local elections in May 2023. Retaining the land in any future local plan risks alienating voters and could lead to further electoral setbacks for all local parties, if the land were to be included.
Setting politics aside, the Council’s 2023/24 accounts reveal a notable detail in Note 16 on page 64:
“The external valuer reviewed the value of the Council’s surplus assets as of 31 March 2024, resulting in a decrease of £17.2 million. This was due to the land held for the Princes Parade Project being reclassified from residential development land to amenity land.”
This revaluation reflects the clear sentiment of the district’s residents, who do not want the land to be developed. Despite this, Cllr Hollingsbee has described the revaluation as “unacceptable.” What is truly unacceptable, however, is the Conservative Group’s persistent determination to retain the land in future plans, potentially paving the way for development. As a famous Tory once said: “No, No, No.”
The Shepway Vox Team
Not owned by Hedgefunds or Barons
Wouldn’t expect anything else from one of Monks cronies . This is why they were voted out .
Surely this is the only council what would want to Preserve a dump, what even animals don’t want to live in
Can these people be anymore clueless? Read the room, Councillor.