Charing Parish Council

Parish Council Meeting
2018-04-24 19:30 - 21:30, 2018-04-10 19:30 - 21:30, 2018-03-27 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Top Room, Parish Hall
Meeting Agenda

Gladman Inquiry Resumes Day 1 Update
2018-04-24 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1PL, United Kingdom
The Inquiry resumed today. First Linda Harper from Poppyfields gave a statement outlining the problems experienced by Poppyfields with the sewage system and the fact that 40% of planning conditions had not been implemented until residents protested with some still not adhered to. The point was to demonstrate that merely imposing planning conditions will not necessarily solve problems and that serious problems can remain. Thank you, Linda.
Then the main event of the day was the evidence from Gladman’s transport witness. His evidence in chief took the rest of the morning. Richard Honey, ABC’s excellent barrister then started on his cross examination after lunch. We expected Richard to score a number of points and we were not disappointed!
Cross examination will continue tomorrow and once Richard Honey has finished our Richard will have his turn at cross examining. After that it is likely that Gladman’s planning expert will be on the stand.
The site visit will take place on Thursday – no need for public participation on that day. On Friday it will be back in the Council Chamber and if the timetable is adhered to that should see the closing speeches.

Songs of Praise
2018-04-22 15:30 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Charing Church Barn, Market Place, Charing, Kent, TN27 0LP, United Kingdom
Come and join us for tea, cake and choose your favourite hymns at a Songs of Praise.
Leave your money at home it’s all FREE!
Why not bring a friend?
Arranged by Charing Church of England and Methodist Churches.

Moat Lake & Woodland open morning
2018-04-14 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London)
The Moat Management Team will be holding open mornings once a month, commencing in April, and would welcome visitors to come along and enjoy the wildlife and see the work they do to maintain this hidden gem.

Knit & Natter
2018-04-13 14:30 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Charing Library, 5 Market Square,, Charing, Kent, TN270LR
Come to the newly redecorated library and join our Knit & Natter group

Horatio Nelson & Emma Hamilton, Talk
2018-04-12 20:00 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom
Charing & District Local History Society host a talk

The more human side of Admiral Lord Nelson – through his relationship with Lady Hamilton (postponed from 2017)

Doors open at 19:30 for tea & coffee, talk starts at 20:00
Members Free
Non-members welcome £3

Overcome Stress & Anxiety Workshop.
2018-04-10 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | Charing Surgery, Surgery Close, TN270AW
NLP & Health series workshop by Yvonne Fernando NLP Master Practitioner & Life Coach
To Book Tel:01233-878474

Parish Magazine Coffee Morning
2018-04-10 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Charing Church Barn, Market Place, Charing, Kent, TN27 0LP, United Kingdom
Would you like to help with the Magazine? Do you currently help with the Magazine?
We are holding a free coffee morning for all those people who want to help and currently support the Magazine.
Pop down for a coffee and find out more.
All welcome.
Sarah & Ray
01233-714686

Charity Cake Sale
2018-03-31 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London)
Treat Yourself For Charity Cake Sale.
10:00am – Midday Egerton Glebe,
in aid of Action Medical Research for Children
Big Cakes £8, Small Cakes £5 or by the slice.
Order cakes in advance from Louise Mills 07801-837852.
Local delivery can be arranged
Lemon Drizzle, Coffee & Walnut, Chocolate, Victoria Sponge, Brownies, Flapjack & many more.

Gladman Site visit postponed due to weather.
2018-03-28 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
The site visit planned for today has been postponed due to the weather and will now take place during the overrun week which is April 24th to 27th. Details of this week tba.
Thanks once more to those who attended the Inquiry.

Gladman Day 9
2018-03-27 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Today turned out to the last day before the break. The site visit planned for tomorrow has been postponed due to the weather and will now take place during the overrun week which is April 24th to 27th. Details of this week tba.
Today was entirely taken up with Gladman’s planning expert being cross examined and then re-examined. The big battle was over Ashford’s housing numbers and whether they have enough housing in the pipeline to satisfy the 5 year supply test.
Thanks once more to those who attended the Inquiry.

Dare to Dream - Creative Journaling
2018-03-25 13:00 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Clewards, Charing, Market Place, Charing, TN270LR
Use creative journaling techniques to explore some bigger and bolder questions for you and your life.
To book Tel: 01233-878474

Gladman Day 8
2018-03-23 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Today, Friday was a short day in the Inquiry finishing mid-morning with Gladman’s witness on housing supply numbers giving his evidence. He will be cross-examined on Tuesday and that will take most of that day.
NB: Tuesday’s meeting will now be in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre and not, as previously thought, at Ashford International Hotel.
Wednesday will be the site visit. This will simply involve the Inspector and a small number of people from the main participants so on this occasion public support is not needed! If anyone happens to pass the group while they are walking round, please note that it is not appropriate to try to speak to the Inspector.
Thanks once again for all the support so far – it really is appreciated.

Gladman Day 7
2018-03-22 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Today started with Jacky Langton adding competently to her previous botanical evidence on the site – no cross examination. Cross examination of ABC’s landscape witness then continued.
Then it was the turn of Gladman’s heritage witness giving his opinion of Broadway Cottages and other heritage buildings on Pluckley Road.
Tomorrow the Inquiry will end at Noon and will mainly feature Ashford’s housing numbers. This will then continue on Tuesday of next week followed by the site visit.
Note that Tuesday’s session will be in Ashford International Hotel not the civic centre.
April 24th -26th/27th look likely to be the dates for the overrun days.

Gladman Inquiry Day 6
2018-03-21 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
We heard today that the Gladman Pluckley Rd planning inquiry will not end next week but will overrun and have to be reconvened for a couple of days in April or May. Tba.
This morning was devoted to water issues with Gladman’s witnesses on the stand. This afternoon was the turn of their landscape witness who is being cross examined as I write. His interrogation will continue tomorrow and he will then be followed by Gladman’s heritage witness.
Do keep coming to the Inquiry we really appreciate the support!

Gladman Inquiry Day 5
2018-03-20 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
After dealing with traffic matters on Friday, today (Tuesday) was the main day for “our team” to be in action. I was the first on the stand pointing out that if this site were to be built either less harmful sites would not be developed or Charing would be faced with growth of over 50% between 2011 and 2030. I also pointed out that while some of the additional stress on Charing’s facilities were due to be offset by Section 106 money (money paid by the developer to improve facilities to cope with the additional need) there was no proposal for money to improve car parking in the village centre or at the surgery. Another point was that the proposed “enhancements” to the railway station did not include the most urgent need ie putting in lifts to enable Platform 1 to be reached without climbing stairs even though the bridge is designed to take such lifts. I was followed by Paul Crawley and his telling evidence about the difficulty of travelling in a wheelchair to and from the site along narrow and sometimes sloping pavements. Paul endured a surprisingly long cross examination but definitely held his own. Tom La Dell then gave evidence on landscape matters and after lunch it was the turn of Keith Oram on the importance of views to walkers, the health benefits of walking round Charing and the impact developing this site would have on the views. A long session on water matters followed with Graham Warren for CPRE highlighting the closeness of the site to the Charing boreholes that provide drinking water for so many and thus the risk of contamination. A longish tussle between him and Gladman’s barrister followed. After that Natalie Croome, aged 12, read out her evidence – a telling point being how often when walking to take the bus to school she was splashed by passing cars and arrived with a dirty uniform at school. Finally it was the turn of Lucy Simmons to talk about the fascinating history of Broadway Cottages, her experience of living on Pluckley Road and the views of residents on such matters as the problems of walking to the village. Two to three residents who are not formal witnesses have asked to make short statements and some or all of them could do this tomorrow (Wednesday). After that it will be the turn of the Gladman team not just to give their evidence but to be on the receiving end of cross examination by both ABC’s barrister, Richard Honey, and our advocate Richard Knox-Johnston. It has been really great for us all to have the support of so many Charing residents each day. Do please keep coming to the Inquiry!

Introduction to Creative Journaling Workshop
2018-03-18 13:00 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Clewards, Charing, Market Place, Charing, TN270LR
Learn about expressing thoughts and feelings using creative journaling techniques.

Gladman Day 4
2018-03-16 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Gladman, Friday, day 4.
The day started with the Borough’s housing supply to 2022 ending with cross examination by Gladman’s barrister. This ended at 2.47pm.
CPRE Kent then took centre stage with our Colin Burns talking on transport and highways issues, these included footpaths, unworkable schemes of traffic management, visibility at the entrance of the site at Eastlands, speed of traffic and the major risk of fatalities. Colin was on top of the subject and was well capable of the cross-examination that followed. Colin highlighted the inaccuracy in the ABC readings as they had used an American measurement to reach their results. Colin though had obviously put a lot of time into his presentation. He didn’t think much of the Gladman documents prepared for the Appeal or their figures either.
Our Chair of PC Jill Leyland came next with more on highways matters including the traffic counts and 3 CCTV cameras we had fitted in and around Station Road and the results from them. At cross-examination Jill and Colin worked together and did us proud. Throughout their presentations they were well supported by Richard Knox-Johnstone who is to be thanked for his support. The cross-examination ended at 5.15pm.
Jill and Colin are both to be congratulated for their professional work. The process continues on Tuesday morning at 10.00. Please come and support us.
Tylden.

Gladmn Day 3
2018-03-15 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Today started with a statement from Jackie Langton setting out her observations, as a botanist and qualified botanical recorder, of the plants on the site and her criticisms of Gladman’s recording.
The cross examination of ABC’s landscape expert took up the rest of the morning; as with the other ABC witnesses he held his own.
Then it was onto ABC’ s planing expert and housing numbers. No real idea from that as to how the housing supply numbers will play out.
He will continue in the morning and possibly overrun into the afternoon.
But then the first of OUR witnesses, Colin Burns, will be on the stand. Discussing all the Pluckley and Station road safety issues.
Do come and support Colin!

Gladman Day 2
2018-03-14 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Day 2 saw a continuation of the evidence from ABC’s transport expert and followed by their heritage expert. Both stood up extremely well to quite aggressive cross examination by Gladman’s barrister. The latter did not score many points.
ABC’s landscape expert is now on the stand and will be cross examined tomorrow followed by their planning expert and a battle royal over ABC’s housing supply numbers.
The bad news is that ABC have decided that they will no longer allow free car parking to those attending (other than formal witnesses). We protested but to no avail. Apparently it was a mistake that this was allowed for the Brabourne Inquiry in January.
Sorry everyone but PLEASE don’t let that stop you attending!

Gladman Planning Inquiry
2018-03-13 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1PL, United Kingdom
Day 1. After sorting out administrative arrangements and opening statements, there were two statements by first Tylden Reed of CPC and then by Katie Miller of AONB.
Both were then cross examined by Gladman’s barrister but held their own.
After lunch ABC’s transport consultant was on the stand.
The likely timetable for the rest of the inquiry is:
Tomorrow: ABC Heritage expert followed by ABC’s Landscape expert. This latter may go on into Thursday and will then be followed by ABC’s Planning expert. This will see crucial debate as to whether ABC has or has not got a five year housing supply calculated according to planning rules. If it is deemed to have a 5 year supply then it will be more difficult for Gladman to win and vice versa.
In each case each witness gives “evidence in chief” where they are led through their evidence by their advocate and then undergoes cross examination.
ABC’s Planner’s evidence is likely to go on into Friday but after that it will be the turn of our team starting with Colin Burns on Pluckley/ Station Road issues. Our evidence will continue into the following week to be followed by Gladman’s.

Great turn out by Charing residents this morning – thanks to all!! Please keep coming to the Inquiry!

Godinton House & Gardens Talk
2018-03-08 20:00 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom
Charing & District Local History Society host a brief history & a behind the scenes look at Godinton House & Gardens.
Doors open at 19:30 for tea & coffee, talk starts at 20:00
Members Free
Non-members welcome £3

Parish Council Meeting
2018-03-06 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom

Parish Council Meeting (Cancelled due to snow)
2018-02-27 19:30 UTC | Top Room, Parish Hall

Fun Train
2018-02-23 09:45 - 22:30 UTC | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom
Music & fun for under 5s

Special Parish Meeting
2018-02-17 10:30 - 12:00 UTC | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom
Tell us what you think about plans for 125 houses next to Poppyfields.
Plus: Update on The Oak.
Neighbourhood Plan Update.
Who was Fred Coppins?
What will happen in Charing on August 9th?

Fun Train
2018-02-16 09:45 - 22:30 UTC | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom
Music and fun for under 5s

Yoga
2018-02-15 19:30 UTC | Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent, TN27 0JA, United Kingdom
