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TRIANGLE OF LAND ON A225 AT FRANKS LANE
Since the last newsletter in June, much has happened on this land. The Tree Preservation Order has been confirmed. However, Sevenoaks District Council officers have agreed with the owner that a certain amount of tree felling can be carried out as part of the good management of the area. Some thinning is therefore being allowed so that the remaining trees can have more space to grow in good health and symmetry. In July, tree officer, Les Jones said: "If the island was still in the ownership of SDC, I would recommend this very same work. It is not my intention, however, to allow areas of trees to be felled or to open up larger areas within the island"
Since then a fence has been erected, a post box installed and a caravan and cars are parked on the land. SDC planning department comments: "The fencing is permitted development but the siting of the caravan and the access are breaches of planning control. As the land is Green Belt and a Special Landscape Area there is very little that the owner can lawfully do with it. An enforcement notice has been served to remove the caravan, cease the use of the land for residential purposes and stop up the access."
A planning application for a change of use to residential and stationing of one caravan/mobile home for a gypsy family has been submitted. This will no doubt be refused, but local people who are already maintaining a high level of vigilance, should still make their views known during the consultation period which ends on 9 October. .
Local Councillor demands answers from Director of Strategic Services
Tony Searles, District Councillor says: "I am working with local residents to achieve a result that no unlawful development is undertaken on the land. I have a meeting arranged with Jean Morgan, Sevenoaks'
Director of Strategic Services and a few local residents on 7th October and I want answers."
Our other District Councillor, Lib Dem Philip McGarvey adds: "Sevenoaks District Council should never have sold this land on the open market. It was a short-sighted short-term gain, and another bad
example of Tories selling the silverware without considering the future consequences. As I said at the time, the windfall would probably be wiped out within a couple of years by legal fees etc and the costs of
having to take Enforcement Action. Not only does this not balance the books in the long term, but more importantly it causes great distress to im
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