Princes Parade scheme paused… now let’s see it dropped for good

If allowed to proceed, the project would urbanise an area that nature has reclaimed from a former rubbish dump

CPRE Kent is pleased to see Folkestone & Hythe District Council has paused the Princes Parade project for what we trust will be a thorough review of the finances.

With luck, the development will now be cancelled entirely before irreparable damage is done to an important green space – a haven for wildlife and a recreational resource much loved by residents.

It was in August 2018 that Folkestone and Hythe District Council awarded itself permission to develop land it owns on the site, its planning committee approving an application for up to 150 houses and associated buildings including a leisure centre, hotel and café or restaurant.

If allowed to proceed, the project would urbanise an area that nature has reclaimed from the former rubbish dump. It would permanently damage the environment for residents and wildlife and ruin the setting of the scheduled Royal Military Canal.

Graham Horner, chair of CPRE’s Shepway area committee, said: “The cost to ratepayers is already substantial. Now it is clear that the deficit would increase even further with inflation, there can be no reason to keep pouring money into it.

“We hope the council will finally bring some common sense to bear and we call on it to cancel the project and cut its, or rather our, losses.

“A new swimming pool would be very welcome in Hythe, but not at any cost. Yet more over-priced seafront apartments are definitely not needed and would not provide the affordable homes people actually need.”

• For more on the story of Princes Parade, click here

Wednesday, December 7, 2022