Tonight, Thursday 19th November, is an unusual occasion in several ways. I’ve been invited to the parish meeting at Stowting Peace Room. Most parts of Shepway are ‘parished’ i.e. have a defined boundary and have a parish or town council which meets on a regular basis. And most parish councils have seven or more councillors elected for a four year term of office. Parish meetings are slightly differnt. They have just a chairman and vice chairman and meet only when there is business to discuss and everyone who lives locally is invited to take an active part in the meeting. There are parish meetings rather than parish councils in the more rural and remote parts of Shepway.
Cllrs Jenny Hollingsbee and Susan Carey in Stowting Peace Room
Another unusual thing about tonight’s event is the venue. Rather than a village hall, Stowting has a Peace Room which serves as a village hall but which is also a memorial to those who died in the First World War. And in the Peace Room is the most amazing blue and white, centuries old, ceramic fireplace from the Alsace. You can see the fireplace in the background of a this picture taken last September when District Councillor, Jenny Hollingsbee and I attended the annual Harvest Supper.
The other unusual thing tonight is that I’ve been asked to come without the civic chain and talk about Shepway’s Local Development Framework , LDF, and what it might mean for Stowting. Most of my engagements as chairman are ceremonial but Stowting wants a working session and I have come with all the LDF papers.
Shepway itself does not build houses, shops or businesses but, through the LDF, it does set out the framework within which that development happens. The LDF has been drawn up by Shepway District Council after involving officers and councillors and put out for consultation. Anyone can write in with views and these are considered and the LDF is redrafted. The process has to comply with national legislation on planning and an independent planning inspector will review the final plan.
In the last few years there has been a move to protect the countryside from development and concentrate homes and businesses within the settlement boundaries of existing towns and villages. Stowting is a very rural area and new building is not encouraged here.
The parish meeting ask questions about all aspects of local government and we have a very thorough Question and Answer session. Stowting is a community that does not receive much direct public spending but it is protected and preserved in its rural nature by the planning system. Those who want pavements, streetlights, skateboard parks and other civic amenities can choose to live in town.
Stowting is only six miles from where I live in Hythe but feels quite remote and undoubtedly rural. We are fortunate to have areas such as Stowting within Shepway with citizens who take an active role in their community.
Tags: Stowting