Screenshot 2022 10 18 at 14.46.30

Response to solar consultation published

Following the Evolution Power statutory consultation events and the November Parish Council meeting, our response to the current Stone Street Green Solar proposal has been sent and can be found in the Planning section on Solar.

Over 50 members of the public attended the November Parish Council meeting to share their reaction to the proposal with Councillors.   The Parish Council response incorporates resident views that were brought to the meeting.

The project contact email: info@stonestreetgreensolar.co.uk  can be used to send feedback to Evolution Power, in whatever form you wish. Responses must be in by 11.59pm tomorrow, Tuesday 29th November.

This is the first of many stages for this application.

Stone Street Green Solar Statutory Consultation begins

As highlighted in the October Parish News, there are Public Information sessions regarding the proposed National Infrastructure Project, Stone Street Green Solar, in Aldington on 5th Nov ( 11.00am-3.00pm) and 8th Nov ( 8.00 – 9.30pm).

Your Parish Council will be present at both consultations and available to talk to.  We will be revising the Agenda for the next Parish Council Meeting, which is on Monday 14th November, to dedicate the meeting to this topic.  The meeting starts at 7.30pm and will be in the Village Hall.  Please feel free to join us at that meeting BEFORE responding to the Evolution Power Statutory Consultation.  While we do, as a community and individually, need to respond to this phase of consultation – please do not feel pressured to  rush to complete the questionnaire provided by Evolution Power – the deadline for responses is 29th November.

Documents, including the exhibition boards that will be displayed at the Information events on 5th November are now available on the developer website: www.stonestreetgreensolar.co.uk/Consultation  Do have a look to go pre-warned.

Also – be aware that Developer questionnaires can include leading questions, designed to provide data to validate their proposals.  Today, we checked that the project contact email: info@stonestreetgreensolar.co.uk  can be used to send feedback to the proposal as it currently stands, in whatever form you wish and without completing the questionnaire, though some of the questions may be ones that you’d like to answer.

View 1 vs 2b

View across East Stour Valley and up to Aldington Ridge

EDF Solar Planning Application no: 22/00668/AS

Planning News; Appeal decision – Calleywell Lane

The Appeal to review Ashford Borough Council’s refusal of planning permission for  33 new dwellings at the top of Calleywell Lane was heard by the Planning Inspectorate on 8 March.  The virtual Hearing was attended by Ashford Borough Council Planning Officers, Cllr. Linda Harman and a resident. The Appeal has been dismissed and planning permission refused in a Decision issued on 28th July.

Platinum Jubilee Weekend

Lantern making, beacon lighting, children’s craft crown-making, music, dancing, picnics and games on the park – Platinum Jubilee Weekend in Aldington is full of things for families to enjoy.  Make a note to join us – but also, if you can spare some time to help, or can donate cake please email clerk@abpc.org.uk or call Linda on 07802 776779 to let us know.  All help welcome. All events better with cake!

jubilee events

chelsea WvusC5M TM8 unsplash

Stone Street Green Solar confirms public event dates

We have received confirmation of the first round of local information events from Evolution Power for the Stone Street Green Solar proposal.

Public events will be held as follows;

  • Sellindge Village Hall – Friday 8 April, 3pm – 7pm
  • Aldington Village Hall – Saturday 9 April, 11am – 3pm
  • Bilsington Village Hall – Tuesday 12 April, 1pm – 5pm
  • Mersham Sports Club – Wednesday 13 April, 2pm – 6pm

Solar Update

No new is good news… so they say.  A quick update on the solar situation;

The EDF proposal, East Stour Solar, was expected to submit a formal planning application to Ashford Borough Council at the end of December. So far no application has appeared.  The Parish Council will be a statutory consultee and thus notified as soon as an application is submitted.

The Evolution Power proposal Stone Street Green Solar now has more information on their website. Visit for latest information from the developer. There is interesting information on the page called DCO Application which indicates that we can expect to see the developers plan for community consultation fairly soon. A DCO is a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) – an application for consent to undertake a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project ( NSIP) that is made to the Planning Inspectorate appointed by the Secretary of State, who will decide whether consent should be granted for the proposed scheme. the screenshot below shows current status as being ‘Pre application’. Visit yourself to see the Planning Inspectorate pre-application advice to the applicant.

Screenshot 2022 03 11 at 17.01.01

Workshop – How Green is Our Plan? – 28th Feb

Join us for this important workshop.   Help formulate Planning Policies for the embryonic Aldington & Bonnington Neighbourhood Plan covering how development, when it comes, could be acceptable to our community.  Could renewable energy installations be built to enhance the landscape in the Parish?  Might changes in farming practice lead to Aldington and Bonnington becoming a biodiversity haven? Could we require developers to fund cycle paths or bus services to connect our rural community to services in Ashford?  What do you think?  Is a Green approach to planning important to you and what does it mean in Aldington and Bonnington?

Poster Workshop 28.2.22

This workshop will explore options for policy development within our Neighbourhood Plan that will document the views of the community and, if approved in the making of the Plan, could form a statutory planning consideration. The future is coming.  Climate change is driving an agenda that will affect our parish dramatically.

Your opinion counts. Join the Neighbourhood Planning Team in the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 28th February to be part of the debate.

Can’t be there but want to contribute?  Email clerk@abpc.org.uk

 

 

Parish News December

The latest Parish News is available to download here for those who have not had a copy delivered. Printed copies in the Post Office Stores, Aldington Fresh Foods and The Walnut Tree.

Monday 8th November Meeting

Broadband 1500 300

Join us to hear more about the Kent County Council programme to support communities looking to improve their broadband connection. This month, in the Public Session, our invited speaker will talk to us about the options for rural villages such as Aldington and Bonnington.  This session has been arranged following resident concerns on this topic.  For more information about the KCC programme visit: https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/broadband