Representation by Ronald Simpson
- Date submitted
- 18 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Concerns about the proposed Chalk Park on the south side of the Thames. This park seems to have appeared on documents and plans around 2020. Prior to that there were proposals to store much of the recovered materials - mainly chalk - for a period of up to 5 years on the southern side. In one document there was reference to approval being required from the Environment Department for such storage. Other proposals over the years were to use the Thames and the railway facilities at Hoo Junction to transport this material to other locations. During visits to public consultations at Cascades Leisure Centre myself and others had questions - usually unanswered - about the following: 1. Who - if anyone had requested this park - bearing in mind Shore Wood Country Park - the biggest such park in Kent - is within a mile or two of the tunnel entrance and has large parking facilities . 2. Who would provide maintenance and upkeep for this park. My understanding is that Gravesham Borough Council has indicated it will not be their responsibility. 3. Is the construction of this park simply a "cheap" way to use the spoil from the workings. 4. At shown on the latest drawings the only access to the park is via the public right of ways - the main one being the one at the bottom of Thong Lane. Even at present people park on Thong Lane - and the pavements - to walk their dogs. Thong Lane is not a wide road and such parking leads to a "single" lane road quite often.There are signs restricting such parking on pavements but the Council does not appear to enforce such restrictions. 5. These public footpaths and others further up Thong Lane have become a "playground" for quad bikes and motor cycles. Residents who have contacted the Police have been advised there is little they can do about such activities even though the local roads are used to gain access to these footpaths. 6. Unfortunately for the LTC project this issue has hit the local papers just before the latest consultations due to people on Thong Lane complaining about land at the closed golf club being used for easy access. It would appear that discussions between the owners of the land and National Highways has not been concluded even though the club closed in August 2022. 7. The Chalk Park would appear to leave a section of land - which has been farmed for many years - "cut off" from other land currently farmed. The most recent GA drawing shows a section of land with Thong Lane on the east side - Rochester Road on the north side - The Park to the south side and the west side "cut off" by the emergency access road for the Tunnel South Portal. If this land cannot be farmed then its future use could be seen as an opportunity for more housing. At present Thong Lane is the end to the urban spread - and the start of the green belt to the east side of Gravesham.