What is the South East Plan?

Kent is within the area of the South East England Regional Assembly, one of a number of assemblies set up by the Government in England.The Government has asked the assembly to prepare a plan for new housing, transport, the economy and environment in the south east for the period to 2026. Part 1 of the plan sets out region-wide policies and was published for consultation as the draft South East Plan in January 2005.This has now been submitted by the assembly to the Government. Part 2 of the plan will include housing numbers for each district local authority, locations for new employment land and infrastructure needs.

The plan will become the statutory strategy for development and conservation for Kent, replacing the Kent and Medway Structure Plan in about 2008. It deals with three main areas in Kent:

• Kent Thames Gateway: North of the A2/M2 from Dartford to Sittingbourne.

• East Kent & Ashford:The greater part of Ashford Borough, the coastal districts and Faversham.

• The Rest of Kent: Maidstone,Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells, plus part of Sevenoaks and other local authorities.

The Consultation

The regional assembly has asked Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council to help it complete Part 2 of the plan by providing further advice on:

• The broad scale, type and locations for new employment.

• The number of new houses to be built in each district local authority area- within overall totals set by the assembly.

• The critical infrastructure that will be needed.

Reports and Information.

What Do You Think?

There is a 6-week public and stakeholder consultation period. Public meetings at which you can share your views and ask questions will be held in each district in Kent. Similar meetings will be held in the Medway Council area. The details of each of the 12 KCC meetings are listed below, all will start at 7pm in the Council Chamber, unless otherwise stated.

To attend one of the meetings below please fax 01622 221635, send an email to seplan@kent.gov.uk or telephone 01622 221609.

Details of Public Meetings in the KCC Area:

ASHFORD - Wednesday 14 September - Civic Centre,Tannery Lane,Ashford

SWALE - Friday 16 September - Swale Council Offices, East Street, Sittingbourne

DARTFORD - Tuesday 20 September - Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford

THANET - Thursday 22 September - Thanet Council Offices, Cecil Street, Margate

GRAVESEND - Friday 23 September - Istead Rise Community Centre, Worcester Close, Istead Rise, Gravesend

MAIDSTONE - Tuesday 27 September - Maidstone Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone

DOVER - Wednesday 28 September - Dover Council Offices,Whitfield, Dover

FOLKESTONE - Thursday 29 September - Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone

TUNBRIDGE WELLS - Friday 30 September - Tunbridge Wells Town Hall,Tunbridge Wells

TONBRIDGE & MALLING - Tuesday 4 October - University of Greenwich,Alexander Grove, Kings Hill

SEVENOAKS - Wednesday 5 October - Sevenoaks Council Offices,Argyll Road, Sevenoaks

CANTERBURY - Tuesday 11 October - The Guildhall,Westgate, Canterbury

Give Your Views

Residents of the KCC area can give their views in any of the following ways by 5pm on 17 October 2005:

By Letter: Send your written comments to the following address, but please be brief:

Kent County Council, South East Plan, Strategy Division, Invicta House, County Hall, Maidstone. ME14 1XX

By Email: Send your comments to seplan@kent.gov.uk

By Internet: Complete the questionnaire on KCC website at: www.kent.gov.uk/seplan

By Contacting: Vicky Stephens, Consultation Manager: South East Plan on 01622 696965.

Residents of the Medway Council area should give their views by letter or leaflet to :

Medway Council, Development Plans and Research, Compass Centre, Chatham Maritime, Chatham. ME4 4YH

Kent County Council and Medway Council will consider your views and review their advice on employment, housing distribution and infrastructure in the light of your comments.They will then submit their advice to the regional assembly by 9 December 2005 submitted to the regional assembly.