Planning Issues, November 2011
The Deal Society monitors every planning application in Deal and Walmer and has coopted membership on the Deal Town Council Planning committee.
During 2011 we have objected to:
- Excessive advertising hoardings on the Pier entrance for the pier cafe. DDC agreed and refused the signage.
- A seafood stall in the area where historic fishing boats are on the beach and within sight of Deal Castle. Again DDC agreed that it was against planning policy for historic assets and refused it.
- We objected to both planning applications for extensive house building between Deal and Sholden because we believe that no consents should be given until the masterplan for North and Middle Deal has been completed in 2012. The applications are premature and have to be seen in a much bigger context about the future social and economic shape of Deal. They are also threatening to the integrity of Sholden as a village apart from the unresolved issues they raise about transport, flooding, community facilities, threats to the natural environment and a host of other matters.
This week by week monitoring of the planning process is absolutely integral to the Deal Society fulfilling its constitutional functions. Anyone who feels that a particular planning application in some way threatens the integrity of the town should always alert a member of the Society's executive committee so that they ensure the Chairman of the Planning sub committee investigates the matter.