The post you are reporting:
It is noticeable that when politicians and ex-politicians who have their say on the Forum they prefer to attack than listen to what folk have to say - in other words behave like bullies - something that particular the folk from Whitfield and Deal/Sholden complained of during out two hours of petition signing on Saturday (#1059).
As Alexander is trying to point out (#1060 ++), but there is a deliberate failure to comprehend, besides the destruction of part of the Scheduled Ancient Monument which CGI propose there will also be environmental destruction.
The WCCP since 1989 has progressively improved the access and management of Western Heights and benefiting nature conservation by setting up the Western Heights Nature Reserve (WHNR). This is an internationally rare habitat and include in their list of fauna and flora:
30 species of British butterfly including the largest blue butterfly colony in Kent
Kidney Vetch - needed by the blue butterfly to survive.
More than 5,000 different types of orchids including the rare Common Spotted Orchid
In places as many as 30-40 different wild flowers for each square metre can be found.
Earliest forms of cabbage, chiff-chaffs, peregrine falcons other indigenous birds and many varieties of bugs and beetles lower down the ecological chain.
Due to the high summer temperatures of the areas outlined in the development, there is a nationally unique abundance of reptiles such as adders, lizards and slow worms. Finally, the areas contain sub-optimal habitats that can act as buffer areas that link to the wider East Kent Green Infrastructure network, providing migration corridors, which is particularly important due to increased pressures from climate change.
LDF-CP7 clearly states that the integrity of the existing network of Green Infrastructure will be protected and enhanced through the lifetime of the Core Strategy. In Fig 6.1 p40 of DDC's LDF's Green Infrastructure (LDF-GI) report, as one would expect both Farthingloe and Western Heights - that are within the Kent Downs AONB, are GI - covered.
The Kent Downs AONB is a nationally important landscape, legally protected to maintain its special character for now and for future generations. LDF-DM 25 states that Proposals for development that would result in the loss of open space will not be permitted unless the site has no overriding visual amenity interest, environmental role, cultural importance or nature conservation value. Both the Farthingloe and Western Heights sites boast all of these attributes. Further, the proposed developments would violate LDF-DM16, as it would be detrimental to the character of the landscape of both areas.
Finally, the Government attaches great importance to Green Belts (NPPF Section 9). The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. The essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence. By CGI's own admission to their shareholders in their earlier statements, CGI's final intention is a large-scale ribbon development along the Farthingloe valley and to purge Western Heights of its green infrastructure.
Lorraine