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Shepway

Shepway district features some of Kent’s most wonderful countryside, from the hidden valleys of the North Downs to the huge skies and profound tranquillity of parts of the Romney Marsh.

Despite the presence of the Dungeness nuclear power station, the M20 motorway and the Channel Tunnel terminal at Cheriton, much of the district is unspoilt and it remains a popular tourist destination.

There are developments and proposals, however, which have caused CPRE Kent major concern:

Lydd Airport
The Saudi Arabian owner of Lydd Airport, which currently handles only training flights and a small-scale scheduled service to Le Touquet, wants the airport to grow. The medium-term aspiration is for two million passenger movements per annum at the airport.

CPRE Kent cannot imagine a site less suitable for the operation of commercial jet airliners. The Dungeness nuclear power station is less than two miles from the runway, the airport is surrounded by internationally important wildlife sites and is hemmed in to the east and west by two of the country’s most sensitive military firing ranges, both of which have flying restrictions. Development of the airport would lead to the destruction of tranquillity across the marsh and of quality of life for residents in the landing flight path.

Planning applications were submitted for the airport’s expansion in March 2007, and will be decided by Shepway Council at some point in 2008. CPRE Kent advocates the rejection of the applications or their referral to public inquiry.

More information on CPRE Kent’s Lydd campaign and our response to the planning applications can be seen here.

Potential lorry park to end Operation Stack
Shepway could feature the site of a Kent County Council (KCC) scheme to end Operation Stack – whereby lorries bound for Dover are parked on the M20 when cross-Channel ferry services are suspended.

Though the scheme – to construct a large lorry park to keep the motorway free – is still evolving, it seems certain that KCC will choose a greenfield site either in or on the edge of the Kent Downs AONB. CPRE Kent fully agrees that the current Operation Stack system must be replaced. We have publicly argued, though, that the best solution would be a moveable barrier system, such as that already used in parts of the United States.

We are currently in discussion with KCC on this matter.

Dungeness C nuclear power station
Of the two nuclear power stations on the Dungeness peninsula, one, Dungeness A, closed at the end of 2006, and the other, Dungeness B, will shut down in 2018. Since the Government has declared (in January 2008) its official enthusiasm for a new generation of nuclear power stations, it seems likely that Dungeness will host another reactor, presumably to be known as Dungeness C.

Nuclear power is a divisive issue within CPRE. Some argue that its supposed advantages – such as cost effectiveness and safety (especially in terms of radioactive waste) – have not been proven. Others contend that in the middle of a full-scale energy crisis we should accept, however reluctantly, a powerful electricity-generating system which neither produces vast quantities of greenhouse gases nor forces us to trade constantly with dubious regimes.

CPRE Kent advocates a major reduction in our consumption of energy (download our article for Kent Life magazine at the bottom of our energy page) and an increase in energy contribution from renewable sources. It is these issues that should form the focus of energy policy in our county and our country,  not a vain attempt at finding less bad ways to keep up with our ever-increasing demand for electricity .

Romney Marsh wind farm
On the issue of Romney Marsh wind farm, however, we have campaigned very vocally indeed. The 26-tower wind farm, which will stand 116 metres above the marsh, offers only a small amount of renewable energy to the local population, yet will scar the horizon and pose a serious risk to birdlife. The scheme was opposed from the start by CPRE Kent, the RSPB, English Nature, Kent County Council, Shepway District Council and Camber Parish Council. Yet central Government, which has the power to overrule local opposition where renewable-energy infrastructure is concerned, decided the wind farm was ‘consistent with Government policies on energy and environment’. Work started on the wind farm in 2007.

CPRE Kent supports the need for urgent action to tackle climate change, and sees an important role for renewable energy in this regard. But we have been highly critical of the way in which the Government has looked to onshore wind to meet its renewables targets. We will continue to oppose strongly all application for wind farms and associated infrastructure which threaten landscape degradation and offer only small amounts of energy in return.

Nickolls Quarry
At the site of the 65-hectare Nickolls Quarry, to the west of Hythe, the developer Crofton has applied for permission to build 1,050 homes, despite the fact that Hythe’s entire allocation in its latest local plan is half that number.

As well as the potential for over-provision of housing, the development is of concern to CPRE Kent for a number of further reasons, including the following:
• The development as proposed would be visibly intrusive to anyone looking west from the Kent Downs AONB.
• Residents would suffer from proximity to the Ministry of Defence Hythe firing range.
• The development would generate excessive volumes of additional road traffic, from HGVs during construction (for up to five years) and from private cars once the scheme is completed.

Local Development Framework (LDF)
In February 2008 we submitted comments for Shepway’s LDF Core Strategy Issues and Options. These were put together by Brian Lloyd, CPRE Kent’s Senior Planner, in consultation with our Shepway district committee.  The comments can be downloaded below.

Attachments:

District Issues