Conservative Leader Bob Bayford speaks out on the draft local plan and Manston Airport

Perhaps the most important activity at Thanet Council at the moment is the production of our Local Plan which is a document that sets out policies and proposals that will be used to guide decisions and investment on development and regeneration. It will help make sure that the district is developed in the right way up to 2031.

The plan sets out how and where homes, jobs, community facilities, shops and infrastructure will be delivered and the type of places and environments we want to create. It also identifies land to be protected from development, such as open space. It is now reaching a crucial stage with the final draft being agreed for publication.

The most controversial element is the proposal, by the UKIP administration, to re-designate the old Manston Airport to a mixed-use development including 2500 houses which, if adopted, would kill the dream that many have of seeing a re-developed airport on the site. The Conservative Group at TDC are strongly in support of retaining a policy that keeps the site purely for aviation related activities.

The Council leader, Cllr Wells, has abandoned his election promise to bring planes back to Manston, claiming that an airport could not be viable and that his view is supported by a report, commissioned by the council from Avia. This conveniently ignores another report, submitted to TDC earlier this year, by respected aviation expert Dr Sally Dixon, that concludes the opposite and the fact that RSP are pursuing, at great expense, the granting of a Development Control Order which asks the Government to recognise that a rejuvenated Manston Airport could be considered part of the UK’s nationally important infrastructure.

Since our election in May 2015, we Conservatives have continually made the case for a revived Manston, believing that it represents the best chance of providing the significant job opportunities that Thanet needs to bring our employment rate up to the levels enjoyed by the rest of Kent.

The fight goes on!

We are encouraging readers to submit questions to Cllr Bob Bayford for a question and answer article next month.  Please email [email protected] with your questions.