Latest update on the Highsted Park Planning Inquiry

• The Planning Inquiry is moving at a pace, driven by a strict timetable set by the Planning Inspector.
• The Inquiry will start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 March, and will be held at Swale House.
• The Inquiry is split into 3 tranches. During each tranche, a number of different topics will be covered. The north and south planning applications will be considered at the same time.
• The Action Group represents 5 parish councils: Doddington, Lynsted with Kingsdown, Newnham, Teynham, and Tonge, and is a Rule 6 party.

To support our case and represent community views, we have a barrister - Simon Bell - plus can draw on two subject experts - Bruce Bamber (Transport) and Dr Nicholas Doggett (Heritage). In order to cut costs, we are sharing expenses in relation to Dr Doggett and Simon Bell with the Five Parishes Group.

• To date (16 February), we have raised £17,483. In addition, another £2,000 has been transferred from Newnham PC (expected to arrive on today). The objective is to raise £31,000. A detailed spread sheet of costs, and breakdown has been compiled. Engagement letters for barrister and subject experts will state work will only be permitted, within the available funds raised.
• A dedicated website provides updates, plus how to make a donation.
  • The home page is: https://teynham-highsted.org/
  • The news page provides a brief overview of recent updates: https://teynham-highsted.org/news/
  • The donate page can be found here: https://teynham-highsted.org/donate-page/
• The barrister and the subject experts are being contracted via Lynsted with Kingsdown PC (to simplify contractual arrangements, plus it means that the VAT can be recovered on the invoices).
• Updates on the totaliser will be published this week on social media.
• A flyer is currently being developed, with the intention of being delivered to some 3500+ households within the local area - via a network of volunteers.
• An initial public session - run by the Action Group - was held at Teynham Village Hall. Representatives from the five parish councils attended the update.
• A second public session will be held in Doddington on Sunday 2nd March 11 – 1pm.
• A number of people have volunteered their services, to help out in different ways.
• The Planning Inspector has requested that we (the Action Group) co-ordinate members of the public who wish to speak. We have created a simple form to capture requests to volunteer and requests to speak in the public sessions. The form can be found online: https://forms.gle/ay3tNGNW3dp6HxDJ8