Councillor Thwarts Further Loss of Family Home for Flats
"No block of flats here!" says Rory
Councillor Rory Love (Conservative, Harvey West ward) has thwarted another attempt to demolish a family home in a leafy suburb of Folkestone and replace it with a block of flats. Speaking as the ward councillor at last week’s Development Control Committee meeting, Cllr Love urged members to overturn officers’ advice and reject the proposal for a block of six flats in Broadfield Road.
Cllr Love highlighted the special character of Broadfield Road, and drew attention to the plans to introduce car parking for six cars in the rear garden. He said that the noise of the cars manoeuvring, together with the attendant sounds of car doors banging and people talking as they left their vehicles, possibly late at night, would wipe out the tranquillity of the back gardens, and was therefore unacceptable in a suburban setting. He urged the committee to be mindful of the balance and range of housing required in a resurgent Folkestone.
During the debate, one committee member said he had been minded to support the officers’ recommendation until Cllr Love had described the nature and character of the area. In the end, the committee voted unanimously to reject the plans.
Cllr Love said:
“This is another victory for Folkestone and its residents, and another blow for greedy, back-garden developers. The housing balance will be permanently damaged if developers succeed in their attempts to squeeze in more and more flats. I believe we still need decent family homes with decent, tranquil gardens, and once again the committee has agreed with me. Perhaps now, the greedier developers will start to get the message. I will fight all plans that will damage the character of my ward in the west end of Folkestone, and since the meeting, local residents have phoned me to support that stance.”
Cllr Love last fought a similar case to prevent the demolition of a family house to make way for a block of flats in nearby Shorncliffe Road in 2006.
20th September 2008
“ I will fight all plans that will damage the character of my ward in the west end of Folkestone ”