Deadline for Public Responses to the LDF extended to 9am, 12th May 2008!
The deadline for Public Responses to be made to the Dover District Council (DDC) regarding the Local Development Framework (LDF) has been extended from midnight 7th May 2008 to 9am on Monday 12th May 2008.
This is as a result of some recent issues with the DDC Email Account (see details below). A similar message to this is also posted on the DDC website. The Sholden Action Group committee members welcome this extension and encourage everyone to take the opportunity to send any last minute LDF objections!
The LDF Process – What Happens Next?
Once the Public Response period to the Dover District Local Development Framework (LDF) is over (currently extended to 9am on Monday 12th May 2008 – see above), the question that everyone will be asking is “What happens next?”…
The LDF Submissions will be correlated and made public. The Sholden Action Group committee has recently heard that the number of objections made via our LDF Public Response Form is significant!
The LDF goes back into the Dover District Council (DDC) for consideration (called a Committee Cycle). The next Core Strategy / Site Allocations document set is produced and once it has been agreed by the DCC it is presented for Public Consultation. This will be in January 2009 and, as before, will last for a six week period.
The document set will then be submitted for examination by the Planning Inspector (public) in July 2009 and his binding report on the DCC is announced in January 2010, with implementation in March 2010
The Sholden Action Group committee will aim to post important updates on our website, during this lengthy LDF process
Hundreds protest at huge housing plans
Article posted on 30th April 2008 in yourdover.co.uk (
Problem with the Dover District Council Email Account
It has been brought to the attention of the Sholden Action Group committee members that there is currently a problem with the Dover District Council (DDC) Email Account. This is serious, as it is one of the key mechanisms for people to send their Local Development Framework (LDF) objections to the DDC!
Please note that I (Mark Lord) am investigating this and will post an update on the Sholden Action Group website as soon as I get clarity. The message I got back, when I recently sent a test message to the above address, indicates that you do not need to resend your message. I need to get confirmation that this is the case, to prevent people’s LDF objections being lost!
Stop Press: The DDC have now confirmed that there is a problem and that it is unlikely to be corrected until Tuesday (6th May 2008). We also are not yet sure if the 7th May Deadline will be extended – please watch this space!
Many thanks for your patience, The Sholden Action Group Committee
Please note the that the Dover District Council Forward Planing email account is now up-and-running, so please feel free to send in your LDF objections! The clock is ticking FAST...
Deal and Walmer Chamber of Commerce - What we think of the LDF
East Kent Mercury, Thursday 1st May 2008, page 31
"On April 10, Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade held a successful consultation breakfast meeting on the draft Local Development Framework (LDF) prepared by Dover District Council.
... While a comprehensive master plan is proposed for
This is unsustainable, not least because there are insufficient community facilities in middle and north Deal, and few employment opportunities in the town.
...”
The Sholden Action Group is encouraged by the above response to the LDF from the Deal and Walmer Chamber of Commerce. Please refer to the newspaper article for the full story, which lists the top five key messages that emerged from the above meeting.
Public Meeting, Tuesday 29th April 2008
Landmark Centre, Deal
Yet another successful event in which the Sholden Action Group committee members updated the residents of Sholden about how to go about making their official objections against the Local Development Framework (LDF) to the Dover District Council. This is the last public meeting before the Consultation period ends and, as such, it is very important for everyone to send off their LDF objection letters and emails ASAP!
The LDF is a journey and will be a long process, so we must take each stage separately but with an eye to the future in order to be prepared.
It should be noted that since 2002 approximately 300 new houses have been built in Sholden, making a total today of approximately 1000 homes.
Your committee would hope that we have managed this initial campaign to the satisfaction of our supporters and to the benefit of all who live in the village.
We are, obviously, open to receive advice, thoughts recommendations and even justified criticism as we are a democratic body formed for a specific purpose.
It will require the continued support of the residents of Sholden to achieve our objective, which we believe would be in the best interests of the current community and for the future generations of residents.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Yours sincerely,
The Committee of The Sholden Action Group
Meet Your MP, Friday 25th April 2008
Landmark Centre, Deal
Another very successful and well attended event in which the residents of Sholden, and surrounding areas, were told about the Local Development Framework (LDF) by Dr Stephen Ladyman (MP, South Thanet, including Sholden village), followed by a question-and-answer session. The turnout was good and the engagement levels were extremely high! To quote our MP at the end of the meeting, “…my assumption at the beginning of the meeting about the strong feelings of the Sholden residents against the proposed LDF housing developments in their area was spot on!!”
Dr Stephen Ladyman (MP,
A good turnout! Dr Ladyman started his talk by informing everyone about the background and purpose of the LDF and the items that need to be considered when one wishes to formally lodge an objection to the Dover District Council.
The audience interest levels remain high throughout the both open and frank address by our MP!
The feelings of the residents is clearly evident during the question-and-answer session!
Our Big Banner is proving to be a useful asset in the campaign!
The number of well thought out and clearly articulated questions was impressive! Also, our MP provided many useful and thought-provoking responses.
Almost at the end and the questions are still flowing…
Thank you very much from the Sholden Action Group committee for your support at this meeting, including the sizable donations made which will be well used during the on-going campaign!
A Photo Shoot was organised, in conjunction with the East Kent Mercury, to publicise the resident’s opposition to the Local Development Framework (LDF) proposals for Sholden. More than 200 people turned out on a grey and misty Sunday morning and had photos taken by Site 1 and Site 4.
Here is a message from your Sholden Action Group Chairman (Robert Jennings):
"On behalf of myself and the committee I would like to thank the residents of Sholden for turning out in such numbers this morning (Sunday 20th April). Although we don't have exact numbers, we estimate that there were more than 200 people supporting the campaign. GREAT SHOW!"
Whilst we wait for the formal East Kent Mercury photos to be published, here are a few unofficial and casual pictures taken by our very own unofficial photographer, Mark Lord...
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10 am on a cold Sunday morning and the residents of Sholden assemble for action!
Onwards to Site 1
On route up the Sholden New Road slope to locate the East Kent Mercury Photographer
John Morris and Bruce McArthur mean business!
Photos all taken by the professional at Site 1 and onwards to Site 4
The long trek to Site 4 continues
Outside the (Sholden village) entrance to the Site 4 greenfield
Residents and banner at Site 4
Big Banner makes a statement!
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Some of the committee, plus the new banner, outside the Sholden Parish Hall at the end of the successful event!