ConserveBridge has obtained a copy of a proposal from Cantley to build new houses between the doctors’ surgery and the A2 in Bridge. It is not clear at this stage whether this proposal will be incorporated into the Bridge Neighbourhood Plan. You can see the proposal here.

Canterbury City Council has announced that the Canterbury District Local Plan has been approved by the Inspector, Mr Moore, with some modifications. The council will consider his report on 13 July. If approved, it will provide the legal basis under which the council decides planning applications up to 2031. There is welcome news for Bridge. The Inspector confirmed that new housing on the Brickfields could not be accommodated “without material harm to the AONB landscape”, and he affirms that “In the context of the South Canterbury SSA the new Green Gap between Canterbury and the village of Bridge has been justified”. Unfortunately, the deletions have been confirmed of the Green Gap between Canterbury and the University, and of the Green Space allocation at West Beach, Whitstable. You can find the Inspector’s report here.

A number of factors explain the unexpected defeat of the incumbent Canterbury and Whitstable MP, Sir Julian Brazier, by Labour’s Rosie Duffield in the General Election. One local issue appears to be especially important, and that is Sir Julian’s support for Mountfield and his unwillingness to support the proposed judicial review of this redevelopment. ConserveBridge will be writing to Rosie Duffield to congratulate her on winning the seat, and to seek her views on the Mountfield development.  

Canterbury City FC have announced plans to build a £2 million stadium in Bridge. If approved, the stadium at Highland Court would form part of a large scale development including 300 holiday homes, a retirement village and a new ground for Canterbury City Rugby Club. The development would increase the urbanisation of Bridge and extend the village envelope to the south.

Following the welcome decision of Bridge Parish Council to donate £1000 to the fund for a judicial review of the Mountfield development the fund now stands at £8400. To contribute to the fund, or to learn more about the judicial review which will focus on air quality, please contact Emily Shirley on climaterecovery1@gmail.com

Canterbury City Council have launched a review of community governance, including the role of parish councils and how citizens can influence decisions. You can find out more about the review and how to contribute to it here: https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/your-council/have-your-say/consultations/community-governance-review/