A demonstration against the cutting down of trees in a Broadstairs park has been organised for Sunday 6th March.
Twenty trees in Broadstairs’ Pierremont Park are threatened with the axe in order to make way for a controversial new £2 million community centre in Broadstair’s historic Pierremont Park.
Norman Thomas of pressure group, the Thanet Action Group, said there is huge anger among local people at the proposal.
He said: “People are outraged by the whole idea. Pierremont is an incredibly small park – losing twenty trees will scalp the place.”
The Trust who recently won planning permission to build the new centre have stated that they will replace the trees by planting semi-mature ones – but Mr Thomas denied this will be any compensation for the destruction proposed.
“The only places the new plantings can take place will be in open ground used for games. They won’t last five minutes. The council has given the go-ahead to nothing less than a desecration of one of Broadstairs’ few remaining green public spaces.”
“This isn’t just an issue for Broadstairs,” Mr Thomas added. “Thanet as a whole has lost vast numbers of trees and green spaces in recent years, mostly to private development.
“But this is being funded by our own councils – Broadstairs Town Council, Thanet District Council and Kent County Council – all putting our money into the destruction of a piece of much loved public space.”
“This is environmental vandalism of the worse kind – committed by our elected representatives, with our money.”
Anger over the new proposal has led to the revival of the Thanet Action Group, first set up to oppose the Westwood Cross shopping centre, of which Mr Thomas was one of the founding members.
The demonstration will take place at 11am on Sunday 6th March, with people meeting in the wooden shelter in the park.
Mr Thomas said: “If possible, people should bring placards and ribbons to put round the trees, but above all anyone who wants to save our park should just come to make their voices heard.”
Wednesday 23 February 2011
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These 'Protestors' are 'Nutters'
ReplyDeleteI thought TAG was Thanet Animal Group?
ReplyDeleteWhat Mr Thomas does not say is that when the two older buildings are demolished, there will be more parkland than there is now.
ReplyDeleteThat the footprint of the new building is two thirds the size it was in the previous planning consent.
That the tree roots are protected by piling foundations.
Elsewhere Mr Thomas is at the forefront of opposing budget cuts - here it is a reason to stop others getting work and enjoying their leisure pursuits in decent surroundings.
Keynsian expenditure is supported by Mr Thomas everywhere but here.
Many of the changes to this project have come from reasoned protest and been taken on board.
It is sad. So much energy expended on so little truth,
Chris I looked at the plans on the council planning website but couldn’t follow how many of what type of trees are to be felled, do you have the answer to this one?
ReplyDeleteAt the planning committee meeting the planning officer confirmed it was 20 trees that would be affected. Chris Wells seems to be arguing that job creation is the main justification for building the centre. Is this right? I don't think protesters object to having a new community centre - but why in the Park, why at the loss of so many trees - and why now?
ReplyDeleteChristine
Please, no. Broadstairs has a community centre, The Pavillion, which it neglected then allowed a private company to run as a megapub.
ReplyDeleteThanet as a whole has hardly any trees, please save these.
Broadstairs has had its remaining natural places spoiled by bad ideas:
1. The paddling pool on the chalk reef: ever see a child paddle in it? Or, if you view its purpose differently, then how does it improve in children looking in real rock pools for tiddlers?
2. The brutal fencing around the allotments, transforming this peaceful bit of rambling green into a scary gulag, preventing this common land from being enjoyed in common
I'm a member of Queens Road Baptist Church,Broadstairs, looking forward to the opening of our new development in Queens Road in the Spring. There will be 2 downstairs halls and a large auditorium on the first floor, plus several meeting rooms. These will be available for hiring to the Broadstairs community for appropriate activities at reasonable prices since we are not for profit (however we are repaying our building costs at present!) Why doesn't the council wait to see how that all works out before committing to more developments?
ReplyDeleteCome to a public meeting to discuss the future of the park on Sunday April 17th at 12 noon in the Park Hut, Pierremont Park. All welcome.
ReplyDeleteChristine