News

Dear Editor,

Re: Councillors agree that Webster Way bollard should be removed 

Your recent piece regarding the meeting of the Parish Council in which they discussed the buffer strip behind De Havilland Close was factually incorrect.

The council did not vote to support the buffer strip being turned into a footpath. Their resolution was to - and I quote - 'provide a properly marked out footpath, away from the rear boundary fences of the properties in De Havilland Close, for the whole length of path from Swann Way to Killing wood.' That is not at all the same as turning the buffer strip into a footpath, and any suggestion of such a move will be vigorously fought by all 7 of the residents of De Havilland Close whose houses back onto the strip.

The buffer strip was designated as such in the original planning consents for the houses, and the residents would have no problem at all with a footpath being provided - as long as it is outside the perimeter of the strip.

The Parish Council cannot make any decisions regarding this matter, but can only recommend. This they have done, and so the matter is now in the hands of Shepway District Council.

Jean James

Editors note: The Gazette did not report that the council voted to support the buffer strip being turned into a footpath. The words we used which were reported to us by a member of the parish council were that they 'supported the idea that the 'Buffer Strip' at the rear of DeHavilland Close should be opened as a proper footpath.'

The main subject of the story was the important issue of the permanent removal of the bollard in Webster Way and the other subjects raised were used to highlight the way that the Parish Council were working together with the village. I hope that this optimism has not been misplaced.