Robert Marshall-Andrews

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Rochester East ‘Disappearing’ Under Developments

Shortly after the announcement that Copperfield was to be sold for £6 million for extensive housing, there has been another blow for the long-suffering residents of Rochester East ward.

Yet another housing development is planned for the area- this time on the site of the old police station.  And yet again, this site was not in the Local Plan.
Local ward councillors Nick Bowler and Teresa Murray were horrified to discover that not only were a massive 64 dwellings planned for this site, but also that there were no plans to take this to the planning committee.  The council had intended that officers deal with the matter under delegated powers.
Cllr Murray said,

“Cllr Bowler and I have long been telling officers and the Chief Executive that any development on this site needs to include a community facility.  Now there are virtually no community or recreation sites in the whole of the ward.  Residents desperately need somewhere to go now that Copperfields will shortly be turned into a building site and I am appalled that they have tried to slip this through.”

“I have now asked that the application come to committee, and I will speak as a ward member.  This is just another example of the ruling Tory group building on land in Labour wards whilst doing anything possible to protect the green spaces in theirs.”

Cllr Bowler added,

“I am glad that now this is going to committee we will have a chance to examine the proposals.  I hope that the many people who would be affected by this development will be able to come to this meeting, and perhaps even come to a site meeting.  This proposal needs to be carefully examined, especially as the development is in a conservation area.”
Bob Marshall-Andrews MP agreed that this site needed to be “sensitively re-developed.”

“Any development needs to reflect that the site is adjacent to Rochester's historical conservation area and the residential area of Troy Town that is crying out for a local community facility.  It is my hope that the council will produce a development brief for the site before any outline planning application is considered.  Such a brief should consider the incorporation of a community facility that will complement St Margaret's Primary School located alongside the site in King Street.”