KFAS Conference & AGM to be held on Saturday 15th May

The award-winning eco conference centre Pines Calyx will be the venue for the KFAS conference. It is located at St Margaret's Bay, near Dover. The conference theme will be 'The Kent Coastal Network' .

for full details and booking form

Leaflet inviting societies to consider financial support for the Civic Society Initiative. A final invitation will be issued next month in February.

to down load the leaflet

OWN THE FUTURE

Tony  Burton, Director of the Civic Society Initiative, has summarised the main points that have come to the fore as a result of the consultation meetings and workshops that have been taking place across the country including the KFAS one on 15th August this year.
We have all been asked to consider this report and to comment, with particular reference, but not limited to, the five issues identified in section nine 'Next Steps'.

A copy of the document can be viewed as a PDF. It is also worth looking at the Civic Society Initiative website for further information and updates.
We have been asked to comment by 20th November 2009 with a view to Tony Burton being in a position to issue some initial proposals by the end of the year for the consideration/approval of the civic societies.

to see the full report

LAURA SANDYS TO BE NEW KFAS PRESIDENT

Laura Sandys, seen here addressing the Civic Society Intiative meeting (15th August), has agreed to be President of KFAS. She is the daughter of Lord Duncan Sandys, founder of the Civic Trust.
In accepting Laura Sandys says: "I would be delighted to take on this role and would so like the opportunity to work more closely with the societies across the county. It would be such a privilege! Sandy Bruce Lockhart, (previous KFAS president), was a towering figure and I know such a real asset to the Amenity and  Civic Societies in Kent and is a hard act to follow. But I will give it all my best efforts to support you all and work for our common good!"

To see copy of latest Bulletin 38

If you wish to receive the Bulletin by email please send your name and your society's name to: bulletin@kfas.org.uk

PPS 15 Consultation Planning for the Historic Environment - ends 30th October

This is unnecessary, weakens existing policy, which is well established understood, and ignores impact on amenity societies.

for copy of consultation document

KFAS response in full

Letter to Department for Local Communities & Local Government

KFAS MEETING TO CONSIDER CIVIC SOCIETY INITIATIVE WAS HELD IN ASHFORD ON SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST

THE MEETING was addressed by Tony Burton, who is managing the Civic Society Intiative, Laura Sandys and Dr Philip Whitbourn (President Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society).
The National Trust, CPRE, English Heritage and the RIBA have funded a nation-wide consultation exercise to find out from the civic societies across the country what sort of national body they would like to see in place, so this is our opportunity to influence the shape and direction of a new national organisation representing the views of the movement at national level. See www.civicsocietyinitiative.org.uk

Philip Kolvin's announcement on behalf of the Trustees

Civic Trust initiative to secure a positve future for the civic society movement

DATE FOR NEXT AGM & CONFERENCE 15TH MAY 2010

Please make a note for your diary - details to follow

Kent Design Awards 2009/10 - nominations open
Do you know of a project in Kent, completed in the last 24 months, that you think represents the best in design? Do you have your own project that you are particularly proud of?
Nominations are now open for the Kent Design Awards 2009/10. 
The Kent Design Initiative, led by Kent County Council, is calling for companies in the development industry to come forward and compete for one of this year's awards.

For details contact KCC

SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2009

KFAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE & AGM WAS HELD IN THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM

The morning conference theme was the 'Regeneration of Kent'. In the afternoon we boarded the Kingswear Castle steamer for lunch and a tour of some the major and impressive developments, which form part part of the North Kent Thames Gateway project.

For more details

The Bulletin contains report about Civic Trust being placed in administration and also letter of explanation from Philip Kolvin QC on behalf of the Trustees.

Bulletin 37

Kent County Council has launched a consultation on its draft 20-year vision for the future of the county - deadline was Friday 27th April 2009.

For more details

A HISTORY OF THE AMENITY MOVEMENT

Dr Arthur Percival delivered a history of the amenity movement at the KFAS Egerton Conference. He has now kindly made this available for general viewing. If you have any comments or additional material which you think should be added, please contact the Hon Secretary.

History of the Amenity Movement

IMPROVING THE STREET SCENE

Competition to improve Maidstone's High Street

RIBA is promoting an international competition for a scheme costing about £4m.
For more details

Ashford is adopting a 'shared space' design for town centre crossings following Dutch pioneering project. This gives every street user equal access, removes the clutter of signage and is said to make the road safer.
For a visual description of the Ashford scheme visit Kent TV

Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, President KFAS, sadly died on 14th August. He will be greatly missed by the Federation and throughout Kent. His successful political career started in the amenity movement and he kept in constant touch with these grass roots during his rapid elevation. Sir Simon Milton says: "His strong social conscience, wonderful sense of humour, and a passionate commitment to public service offered a template for all politicians from whichever party to aspire to".

A memorial service was held in Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 27th November 2008.
Kent TV report on the memorial service

CABE scheme for seaside resorts

Sea Change places culture at the heart of regenerating England’s seaside resorts by investing in arts, public space, cultural assets and heritage projects.

It will drive cultural and creative regeneration and economic growth in seaside resorts by funding inspiring, creative and innovative projects, bringing a sense of pride, enjoyment and celebration.

CABE Sea Change Project

Ebbsfleet sculpture competition
Wallinger, who won the Turner prize last year, has long been interested in racehorses. He said that he was thinking of "Watling Street [the A2], along which horses had travelled into Britain for centuries; about the white horses carved into chalk hills; about Hengist and Horsa in the sixth century, who landed as Saxon invaders near Ebbsfleet near Ramsgate. The source of our word "horse" is Horsa. And then, in a convoluted way, I came to discover that the white horse was in fact the symbol of Kent."
His horse has beenselected, and will probably be constructed in steel "like the hull of a ship" and then painted. He said his proposal would be a "hopeful and deeply rooted symbol". He has been scouring the stud books to find the perfect thoroughbred grey that he could use as his model. The horse is reportedly to be called 'Kingdom'.

Winning Landmark

Post Office closures
Kent is first in line for a government led major trial to close Post Offices - 57 out 59 considered Post Offices have now been closed.

Essex County Council has an intiative to save post offices from closure.

The Rt Hon The Lord Deedes MC DL

photo: kind permission of The Daily Telegraph

It is with great regret we note the passing of Bill Deedes, who was for many years an active Vice President of KFAS. He was a passionate champion for Kent and a much loved personality.

PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO ENGLISH COAST

This consultation invites your views on four options to improve access to the English coast, and in particular on Natural England’s recommendation for new legislation to create a coastal access corridor.

Consultation ended 11 September

consultation papers and link to Defra

REFORM OF PLANNING

This page on the Communities and Local Government website gives links to information about the reform of the planning system, including the planning white paper and associated documents, the review of planning enforcement and the spatial plans in practice project.

reform of the planning system

Revisions to Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings

This circular contains important amendments to the procedure for listing buildings.

link to website information

Support The Sustainable Communities Bill

This Bill has now passed its third reading.

You can support the campaign by visiting the

Local Works website

CABE launches step by step guide to good design of public space

As part of the local government white paper, Strong and prosperous communities, the government has made a commitment to encourage community groups to have greater control over how their local environment is managed and improved. For the first time, CABE has set out how community groups can radically improve the design of public space.

It’s our space is a guide for groups getting involved in a public space project. It intends to inspire local communities to demand high standards of design. The guide includes a series of case studies which community groups can use to draw on the good and the bad experiences of others.
Spaceshaper is a toolkit aimed at anyone wanting to evaluate the quality of a public space - before they invest time and money improving it. The toolkit works by capturing the perceptions of professionals involved in running a public space, as well the views of the people that use it. The toolkit aims to raise aspirations, encouraging people to demand more from their local spaces.

North Kent - Thames Gateway

This is the largest development in Europe and an attempt to regenerate derelict areas to provide waterside living and 'an international example of urban renaissance.'
Contact for information on this development

New things happen sets out a vision for the future Thames Gateway and four themes which could help create a strong, coherent image for the region.

contact CABE

Countryside Access Improvement Plan Consultation

Kent County Council is preparing a ten year plan for improving access to the countryside. As part of this process, it is important that KCC know what you think the priorities should be. Following earlier public consultation, KCC have identified 41 objectives. Now KCC would like you to identify the 15 which are most important to you.

Consultation ends 28th February 2007

Contact for document

Vice Presidents

Cllr Richard King
has served as a KCC Cabinet member.
He brings to KFAS wide experience of environmental issues and local government.
He is long-time supporter of the Federation.

Bernard Gambrill
is a distinguished rail expert, with a long-time connection with KFAS concerning the

building of the CTRL (Channel Tunnel Rail Link).

He has maintained constant support for KFAS and

has extensive interests including bell-ringing.

CONSULTATION PAPER ON NEW PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT 3 (PPS3): HOUSING
This is an important proposed revision
which can be seen at:

www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162075

Alternatively this publication is available free of charge from ODPM Publications, PO Box 236, Wetherby LS23 7NB. Tel: 0870 1226 236, Fax: 0870 1226 237, Textphone: 0870 1207 405, Email: odpm@twoten.press.net
Please quote the product code: 05 PD 03522 when ordering. Delivery will be 5 to 7 days from receipt of order.

PLANNING GAIN SUPPLEMENT

This document forms part of the Government's response to Kate Barker's review of housing supply and launches a consultation on the Government's proposal for a Planning Gain Supplement (PGS).  The focus of this paper is how increases in land value created by planning decisions can be released more effectively to help finance the infrastructure needed to stimulate and service growth and ensure that local communities better share in the benefits that growth brings.

The problem with this proposal is that receipts will go to the Treasury rather than local government.can be viewed and downloaded from HM Treasury website

SEERA consultation details 
The Plan was sent to ODPM on 30th March.

It can be consulted on SEERA website.
Printed copies available at £35, CD-Rom £10.
Response to consultation can be seen on SEERA  website.

WIND FARMS - Do we need them?
KCC opposed 26 turbine wind farm on Romney Marsh but have lost this battle.
Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhard said: "It's just not on. Romney Marsh has a wonderful and evocative landscape, big skies, grazing sheep, small historic churches and wild, flat marshland. Development of this scale at a single location across the marsh is totally inappropriate and would destroy this unique heritage."
"We believe that there are a number of suitable sites elsewhere in the south east, particularly offshore." The wind farm is planned for Little Cheyne Court, on Walland Marsh in Kent. It was opposed by Kent and East Sussex County Councils, Camber Parish Council and Shepway District Council. A three month public inquiry ended in January.

The Department for Trade and Industry said that the inspector's report concluded the project was "consistent with government policies on energy and environment".

CIVIC TRUST SOUTH EAST
a focal point for all civic societies in the South East Region of England: visit CTSE website at
http://www.civictrustsoutheast.org.uk

Barker Review of Housing Supply
The review has been strongly criticised although acclaimed by government.
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consultations_and_legislation/barker/consult_barker_index.cfm

Kent on Sunday
report that Kent commuters face losing their train services - some villages will only have one train a week - and Maidstone is offered fewer trains to London.
www.kentonsunday.co.uk
www.sra.gov.uk

The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) castigates the Barker review.
"The notion that the South East should or could increase house building rates by up to 100% is wholly unrealistic, both economically and environmentally. All our growth projections for the region to 2026 show a much lower demand for new housing than Kate Barker suggests".
"It is naïve to imagine that issues of such vital concern to people can be handled as purely technical problems; these are highly political matters on which citizens deserve, through their locally elected representatives, to have their say".
www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/referencelibrary/newsreleases/2004/17mar.html

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

The Barker recommendations

• do nothing to actually reduce house prices
• place over 8,000 hectares of countryside at risk every five years
• impose huge infrastructure costs on the public purse while fuelling regional economic disparities
• undermine urban regeneration

Empty Homes Agency
With 718,720 homes still empty across the country the tough message is that we cannot relax the pressure and must do more to ensure more empty homes are used to meet housing need.
www.emptyhomes.com/

Do you have traffic trouble? Do you have to put up with roads that are racetracks, streets where it is too dangerous for children to play, noise and pollution, thundering lorries, too little space for cycling or walking? Do you want to campaign for change, but are not sure where to start?
Transport 2000's Streets for People network can help. Streets for People is a network of community groups, residents associations and individuals who want to improve their local environment.
www.transport2000.org.uk/

New Thames Gateway Bridge

A new £450m toll crossing between Thamesmead and Becton is proposed by Department for Transport and the Mayor of London. It forms part of the sub-regional strategy consultation of the South East Plan and iunder consideration by Kent County Council. Suggestions have been made to combine crossing and replacement flood barrier scheme.

Folkestone and Sandgate get town and parish councils
The Order will create parish councils for both Folkestone and Sandgate, but either of the two new councils could choose to call themselves a town council and have a Town Mayor. It is likely that Folkestone will choose this option to preserve the historical and ceremonial role of the Town Mayor.
www.shepway.gov.uk/website/html/press_releases/press-releases-2004/013-parish-councils.asp

Ramsgate: Augustus Pugin building to be restored 
The Landmark Trust has restored The Grange built by Pugin in 1842, owned by the family until 1928 and now available for public viewing.
www.pugin.com/pugrang.htm
www.thanet.gov.uk/cgi-bin/pressreleases.pl?ID=662

Margate Art Gallery: Turner Contemporary

Turner said  'The skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe.' The project has been reviewed because of cost over-runs and lack of feasibility. Another scheme, on land, has now been adopted and construction started. KCC still finding it difficult to hold back rising costs.

http://www.turnercontemporary.org/

London Green Belt Council is critical of Regional Planning.
". . .indirect threats flowing from the remoteness and unelected nature of regional planning which has the potential to be development-led".
website.lineone.net/~greenbelt/LGBC%20notes%20-%20header.htm

The Weald of Kent Preservation Society's website: the society's aim is 'to protect
and enhance the character of the Wealden villages
and countryside'.
www.wkps.org.uk/index.html

Updated May 2009