Representation by Teresa Askew
- Date submitted
- 8 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe that developing Manston in line with RSP’s proposals would come at too heavy an economic and environmental cost to the otherwise bright future of the area. Ramsgate is a picturesque town, just named the 7th most picturesque town in the UK. It attracts increasing numbers of people employed in creative industries and arts who are demonstrably entraprenueral, as the businesses and restaurants, festival and markets in the town clearly evidence. The town has a great potential future as a great place to live and visit. A clear indication of this has been the rising house prices in the town If the Riveroak proposal goes ahead the town is much less attractive place to live and the creative economic development of the town will collapse. It also poses other threats. It limits Thanet District Council’s future supply of housing sites. The redundant airport site of over 600 acres forms the only large brownfield site in the area with potential for housing development. This will leave the Council no choice but to develop greenfield sites. The environmental impacts of this would seriously effect the rural and agricultural character of the Island. It has Grade 1 soil, and is some the best quality soil in the world. Surely this is something worth safeguarding. No national policy statement has said the UK needs a freight hub at Manston. It would be a serious blight on the area's recovery, scorching all the green shoots of growth and development.