BREAKING NEWS...
COUNCIL LEADER ANNOUNCES
U-TURN ON KINGSMEAD FIELD!!!
PRESS RELEASE
From : John Gilbey, Executive Leader of Canterbury City Council
BREAKING NEWS...
COUNCIL LEADER ANNOUNCES
U-TURN ON KINGSMEAD FIELD!!!
Please find attached a statement from the office of Councillor John Gilbey, Executive leader of
Canterbury City Council. FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE.
Press Release - Monday 3rd February 2014
The Kingsmead Field.
Last week's excellent agreement on basic terms concerning the Kingsmead Development Area established an outline plan. I immediately initiated a review of the future of Kingsmead Field - a matter of some contention for a considerable period of time.
I have to emphasise that I reject the view that the council has no need of capital receipts as our ability to forge capital programmes is diminishing rapidly and virtually disappears in 2017. Council bank accounts are no different to those of a private individual, in times of crisis you make cutbacks or find ways to generate additional income. The Marlowe would have been impossible to finance without the receipt from the existing development at Kingsbrook Park.
However after reviewing the progression of the proposed development of the Field, assessing the open situation with regard to the Village Green application, the difficulties in even limited building, the opposition to any development and the need to uphold our commitment to replace any open space swallowed up by the new Development proposals, as portfolio holder I will be asking the Executive this week to agree that we do not proceed with the proposed development of Kingsmead Field.
Despite cries of protest that I have ignored public opinion on this matter, nothing could have been further from the truth. My primary concerns were preservation of our reserve capital and utilising the housing allocation as agreed in the last Local Plan. However I do feel that we would be taking the right decision on seeking to preserve the Kingsmead field and this is now to be discussed with those concerned.
The Kingsmead Field.
Last week's excellent agreement on basic terms concerning the Kingsmead Development Area established an outline plan. I immediately initiated a review of the future of Kingsmead Field - a matter of some contention for a considerable period of time.
I have to emphasise that I reject the view that the council has no need of capital receipts as our ability to forge capital programmes is diminishing rapidly and virtually disappears in 2017. Council bank accounts are no different to those of a private individual, in times of crisis you make cutbacks or find ways to generate additional income. The Marlowe would have been impossible to finance without the receipt from the existing development at Kingsbrook Park.
However after reviewing the progression of the proposed development of the Field, assessing the open situation with regard to the Village Green application, the difficulties in even limited building, the opposition to any development and the need to uphold our commitment to replace any open space swallowed up by the new Development proposals, as portfolio holder I will be asking the Executive this week to agree that we do not proceed with the proposed development of Kingsmead Field.
Despite cries of protest that I have ignored public opinion on this matter, nothing could have been further from the truth. My primary concerns were preservation of our reserve capital and utilising the housing allocation as agreed in the last Local Plan. However I do feel that we would be taking the right decision on seeking to preserve the Kingsmead field and this is now to be discussed with those concerned.
