GREEN SPACE SAVED FROM HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

A two year campaign to protect an open green space in Cliftonville has finally been won and Kent County Council has now added 'restricted byway' status to land between Knockholt Road and The Ridings in Cliftonville.

Cllr Clive Hart and local residents started their campaign to protect the open green space by requesting a diagonal route across it be declared a 'public right of way' when it was threatened with development by Thanet District Council in early 2009. At one point the former TDC Leader Sandy Ezekiel, a ward councillor for the area concerned, upset local residents with plans for several dwellings to be built on the green.

Cllr Clive Hart said "After two years of negotiation I am delighted that KCC has finally accepted that this particular green space has been used as an unrestricted public right of way between Northdown Park Estate and the cliff top for several decades. The area will now be left exactly as it is - a much-loved and well used public green space, but hopefully its new status will help prevent any future threat of development".