Readers will know that I have consistently argued that Green Belt land must be protected and if a planning application is put in for the Green Belt without community support, the answer should be no.
At the end of last year the Government made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which will make it easier to protect Green Belt land and last week I met with Housing Minister Lee Rowley to discuss how these changes can be used locally when agreeing out Local Plan.
Despite both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party policies supporting compulsory targets for local areas, it is vital, we are not completely blind to the local geographical circumstance’s communities finds ourselves in. We must build houses people need, but in the right places and with the right infrastructure to make them sustainable.
I have also this week been focusing a lot on roadworks, which have been causing unacceptable disruption locally recently.
As you may know, Kent County Council provide permits for roadworks and seeks to ensure they are carried out in the most convenient way as possible. However, there is little that can be done when utility companies wish to carry emergency works – and nearly a third of all roadworks are carried out as emergencies.
Whilst it is of course important that urgent works can be carried out as quickly as possible, I along with many at Kent County Council are concerned these powers are being overused by the utility companies and I have therefore asked for a meeting with the Roads Minister to see what can be done to address this.
In more positive news however, many concerned parents wrote to me about works which were due to commence later this month on the A21 and A26 overbridge, which would affect students attending Tunbridge Wells schools during exam time. Working together with Kent County Council leader Roger Gough, we contacted National Highways raising these concerns and asked that the works be deferred until after the exam season.
I am delighted that they have agreed to do so. Another example showing when we work together, real results can be achieved.
