Dover

The issues

Dover district features steep-sided North Downs valleys and the famous white cliffs, as well as less hilly countryside to the north that includes part of the Lower Stour Marshes and the area around the historic port of Sandwich.
With the world’s busiest ferry port, Dover has to cope with large volumes of traffic, especially HGVs, using the A20 and A2. It is therefore especially important that the district’s tranquil and unspoilt areas are safeguarded from inappropriate development as much as possible.

Committee

Chairman: Derek Wanstall 01304 363610

Peter Roffey (vice-chair), Mary Shaw (minutes secretary), Grace Jackson, Diana Haggerty, Margaret Walter and Jan Goodenough.

The committee meets every two months, with contact for weekly planning applications plus other documentation commuted to members for any views.

The issues

Local Plan examination hearings closed in December 2023. The inspectors’ initial report was received (in February 2024), with a number of main modifications to the Local Plan recommended to make it ‘sound’. Consultation on these modifications took place  in April and May 2024.

We have objected to a planning application for a 205-acre solar farm at East Street on the Ash Levels that would have a marked impact on the heritage site of Richborough Castle and the landscape and ecology of a largely unspoilt stretch of countryside. A decision was expected in July 2025.

In March 2024, Dover District Council planning committee granted planning permission for Quinn Estates to build a 120-bed hotel, spa and surfing lagoon on the protected open space and community asset of Betteshanger Country Park.
CPRE Kent had worked with Friends of Betteshanger, the RSPB, Buglife and Kent Wildlife Trust to protect this rewilded colliery site, so we were hugely disappointed by the decision.
The planning committee had in July 2023 agreed to refuse permission for the hotel and spa. After it had met, and without DDC posting the notice of refusal, Quinn Estates withdrew its planning application.
Almost two months later, the developer submitted a revised application with changes it said would benefit wildlife – these included relocation of the spa to allow the retention of two ponds; dropping the plan for an outdoor pool; and provision of an additional nine acres of managed land for turtle doves.
In a separate application, the developer also submitted a proposal to build a surfing lagoon on the site.
Both applications were heard on March 7, 2024 – and both approved. The decision by the planning committee to vote against its own Local Plan policies for designated open space in approving the schemes was baffling.

Anyone wanting to help protect our countryside would be very welcome. Please contact district chairman Derek Wanstall (phone 01304 363610; email d.wanstall22@btinternet.com)