• The post you are reporting:
   
  just received this from town councillor pat sherratt who has been working hard on this very issue, not just from being elected but in years previously.
  
  clearly a lot of work going on in the background.
  
  
  hi Howard
  
  Notice my pet subject re 215's on the go again.
  
  Thought I would bring you up to date.
  
  As you know I visited Hastings with DTC Town Clerk last November to ascertain how Hastings operate their successful enforcement using Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
  
  Having established that DDC do not have the resources for some of the "leg work" the Dover Society produced a list of properties that possible 215 notices could be served. This covered from minor repairs/painting to the big eyesores. This is the method in Hastings in order to clean entire areas rather than seek out isolated offenders. By doing this as one area improves so the action moves to another. Hastings have been exercising 215's since 2000 and to succeed continual action is required not just a "one off".
  
  DTC have obtained from Land Registry the details of registered land owners as shown on the Dover Society list, costs being borne by DTC as contained in 2012/2013 precept,
  
  DDC now have a person "on loan" from Canterbury who has enforcement experience. He has checked the Dover Society list together with the required photographic records and agreed (with the exception of I think one or two) to sending the initial "warning letters" as contained in the Town and Country Planning Act guidelines. This letter is a template as used by Hastings and taken as the practice for warning.
  
  DDC are bogged down with Olympic work and therefore to move things forward DTC have prepared the letters for DDC (as reported at DTC Planning Meeting on 14th May). It is a joint activity with DTC and DDC together with the input from the Dover Society.
  
  I am given to understand already some reaction from the owners who have received the warning letters. The next stage is the actual 215 notices and these are or are about to be served to 16 or so properties.
  
  Having been pressing DDC to use Section 215 since 2006/2007 I am pleased to see things moving forward. A lot of work to get this far has been done by both DTC and DDC and I must record my thanks to Nigel Collor who has been of tremendous value in seeking support from both Officers and Councillors.
  
  
  
  Pat

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