26th Jan 2010

Save the Trees at the Paddock

At least 18 trees are under threat in Chatham because of the new dynamic bus station. If you care about these trees please act quickly. Send a letter of objection to Amanda Hutchinson, Planning Dept., Medway council, Gun wharf, Dock rd, Chatham, ME4 4TR. Quoting planning reference No.MC/09/2545

There is a planning meeting on Wednesday 27th January at 7pm.

We believe there is enough space on military road, and/or elsewhere, for the bus station. The council has messed around with this plan without any regard for how people use buses, probably because the Conservatives don't use buses. It's time they considered who uses buses and how they use them before they stamp a new station down on a tree lined green space. Medway council continues on its path of 'regenerating' everything in sight, under the misguided idea that regeneration of this kind will increase job prospects and prosperity in the towns. Experience around the country shows this rarely happens.

What we really need is more green spaces, with park rangers to keep them in good order, not our existing green spaces being dug up, built on or left to degrade. Or worse 'redeveloped' into a 'park'. We have lost a large, free to use, public field in Gillingham as the new athletics stadium was built on it and we will no doubt lose a great deal more as new houses are built everywhere. Lets make a stand, at every opportunity, to save what green spaces and trees we do have and get more wherever new houses are built.