A petition opposing a big housing development south of Tunbridge Wells has reached 1,000 signatures.
The plans are for land currently owned and occupied by Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club (TWRFC), on the eastern side of Frant Road stretching over to Bayham Road.
The petition has been started by resident Emma Van Rooyen on change.org.
It states: "We’re not against development, but the Esquire Development is not thoughtful or sustainable. It threatens our community’s character, green spaces, and already overstretched infrastructure. Together, we can demand better planning and protect the future of Tunbridge Wells and Wealden".
In August, the developer submitted a plan to move Tunbridge Wells Rugby club. The rugby ground and nearby land would be used to build 360 homes, a care home and a children’s nursery.
Esquire Developments proposes the rugby ground moves further down Frant Road onto Chase Farm just over the border into Sussex.
Tunbridge Wells Borders Cricket club would also lose their existing ground.
Esquire Developments is proposing a housing development on land which is (almost entirely) in East Sussex which means that the Local Planning Authority for the majority of any development will be Wealden District Council.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will consider planning applications only on land within the borough, although some of the development site is within the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council boundary.
The petition argues that: "Tunbridge Wells and Wealden are known for their green spaces and rich biodiversity. The Esquire Development will destroy habitats, increase pollution, and undermine our ability to tackle climate change locally."
It also states: "This project threatens to replace the area’s unique rural charm with overcrowded, poorly integrated housing that does not reflect the needs or values of our community."
Meanwhile, Mike Martin MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells, (pictured below) has called on the Government to introduce effective cross-boundary planning mechanisms as part of the National Planning Policy Framework following a 305-property housing development proposal for Wealden District Council, which would expand Tunbridge Wells Town.
Addressing the House of Commons on Monday 2 December, Mike Martin MP raised local concerns saying, “Wealden will get the houses, but the infrastructure burden will fall particularly on my constituents who live in Tunbridge Wells”.
The Tunbridge Wells MP received assurances from the Minister for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, that the Government is hoping “to put in place the mechanisms that will allow [for] effective cross-boundary co-operation”.
The proposal has been brought forward by property developers Esquire Developments following a decision by Wealden District Council to allocate plots of land along their council border with Tunbridge Wells for development.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has published an FAQ document for residents in which it states that "all the housing development set out in Esquire Development's proposal is on land in Wealden district".
It goes on to say that Wealden District Council consulted Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on their proposed allocation of land as part of the statutory process involved in creating their Local Plan, and that "Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response was a clear and robust objection to the allocations".
It states that "the objections were that the proposals created an effective expansion of Tunbridge Wells town and that there was a lack of planning for the provision of infrastructure, the areas of education, health, leisure, retail, transportation, fresh water and sewage services."
No planning applications have been submitted by Esquire Developments yet. Both Councils has been asked to consider an Environmental Screening opinion by Esquire Developments to inform the process should a planning application come forward.
DANIEL ESSON, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER adds on Sunday 15th December:
Plans to relocate a rugby club to make way for a housing development have been met with huge opposition.
Esquire Developments wants to build a total of 355 homes south of Tunbridge Wells.
As part of the scheme Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club would move to a new site 1km down Frant Road and have its current pitch, on the Kent/Sussex border, turned into an estate of 166 homes and cricket pitch.
A further 189 properties would be built on the opposite side of the road, which is entirely in Sussex.
However, a petition against the plans had been signed by 1,000 people within days of being set up.
Tunbridge Wells council and the local MP also criticised the “infrastructure burden” it would place on the borough, despite most of the development being under the jurisdiction of Wealden District Council.
Esquire wrote in a statement: “Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club has grown significantly in recent years and has outgrown its current facilities.
“The current rugby club does not have enough parking spaces and causes a significant amount of parking issues on roads within the local area.
“The existing site is not suitable for expansion due to the site topography, land availability and any enhancements to the playing pitches is extremely costly.”
The developer said it would provide improved pitch provision, a new clubhouse, an artificial pitch and associated parking 1km away at Chase Farm, near Frant in Sussex.
Mike Rigby, chairman of the rugby club, said: “This gives us the opportunity to invest further in our pitches, invest further in our clubhouse, and importantly for our neighbours as well reduce some of the burden of parking on our local community.”
Esquire has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping request to Tunbridge Wells council to assess whether its plans will affect the local environment.
More than 100 residents have already commented on the application, many opposing it.
John Moulange wrote: “It seems wrong that East Sussex is able to build such a large development so close to the border with Kent which clearly will have major impacts on Tunbridge Wells without any financial support from the new development coming to the Tunbridge Wells council coffers.”
“Traffic will be flowing out onto the Frant Road and will cause immense congestion, as this area around the rugby club is already a death trap,” added Leslie Bowe.
Jane Fenwick wrote: “It will blatantly piggyback for free on the already over-stretched services and facilities provided by Tunbridge Wells and Kent County Council for its existing residents.”
A petition against the bid calling to “protect Tunbridge Wells and Wealden’s green spaces” was started on December 5, with more than 900 signatures within a few days.
Emma van Rooyen, who started the petition, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “All of the tax revenue and housing credits will go to Sussex but all of the infrastructure burden, the schooling, doctors, road and sewage will go to Kent.
“This is not about stopping progress it’s about making sure progress works for everybody.”
Resident of seven years, Daniel Dzenkowski, also opposes the plans, saying: “You take your life in your hands when you drive on the roads here, they’re full of potholes they’re not maintained very well.
“You put a bunch of huge trucks to move the rugby club and build the houses and it’s going to destroy the roads.”
Wealden District Council is currently in the process of compiling its Local Plan.
Tunbridge Wells council has offered “clear and robust objection” to the allocations of sites for housing under the Esquire plans.
They slate “a lack of planning for the provision of infrastructure, in the areas of education, health, leisure, retail, transportation, fresh water and sewage services.”
Tunbridge Wells’ MP Mike Martin (Lib Dem) even raised the issue in Parliament.
“Just over the boundary a large housing development is being proposed in Wealden district,” he told the House on December 2.
“So they get the houses but the infrastructure burden falls on particularly my constituents who live in Tunbridge Wells.”
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Minister for Housing, Matthew Pennycook MP (Lab), said that as part of the government’s planning reforms: “We are determined to put those mechanisms in place that allow that effective cross-boundary cooperation to ensure that the right infrastructure and housing growth takes place.”
As only part of the application is within Tunbridge Wells, the council will only get to vote on those aspects.
It is not yet known when a full planning application will go in.
A spokesperson for Esquire said: “Not only would this provide the club with facilities that are top in class for its rugby and cricket offerings, but it will also give them the ability to secure their long-term future.
“The rugby club is a very important and long-standing part of the community and the new facility will bring a host of benefits to local people.
“It is our full intention to bring forward a scheme that is designed sensitively within its setting, landscape-led and that delivers on the much-needed local housing needs across all tenures both private and affordable.”
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