1 week Ago By [email protected] (Louis Walker)
Anxious villagers fear a major accident could occur as lorry drivers leaving a construction site continue to reverse onto a main road. Those living in Capel-le-Ferne, between Folkestone and Dover, have expressed concerns over the building of 16 homes in Cauldham Lane. The works have seen lorries backing out of the narrow country lane, across the junction with Capel Street and onto New Dover Road.
Plans for the 1.8-acre site - only slightly bigger than one football pitch - were approved in December by Dover District Council’s (DDC) planning committee. As part of the reserved matters application submitted by Aile Homes, a Section 106 agreement was also reached to provide a new footpath along Cauldham Lane, but this does not have to be installed until before the first residents move in.
Section 106 agreements are arrangements between developers and the council that are negotiated as part of a condition of planning permission. They include contributions to help pay for infrastructure needed to support the new development. However, with works now underway, Capel-le-Ferne Parish Council has written to DDC demanding that work be stopped until the footpath is installed, stating the current activities on site are “totally unacceptable”.
A spokesman added: “The parish council believes there is a high risk of injury to our parishioners who live in Cauldham Lane and those who use it to access the bridle path adjacent to the construction site. “We are endeavouring to point out to the ‘powers that be’ that the present activities are totally unacceptable. “DDC, Kent County Council and the developer have a duty of care to pedestrians using Cauldham Lane during the construction phase.
“Therefore, we request that the development work on the site be halted until the planned footpath is approved and installed.” Resident Jan Milliken, who has lived in Capel-le-Ferne for 60 years, says she agrees with the parish council as she fears a “nasty accident, if not a fatality” could occur. “The work should be halted until a footpath is in place and the junction is improved,” she said.
Fellow villager David Parslow added: “It goes without saying that Cauldham Lane needs a footpath and the road needs to be widened. “It’s an incredibly dodgy junction with cars and lorries swinging in and out. It’s been long overdue for widening.
“I remember when they widened Capel Street. People lost parts of their garden, but it was needed.” Others questioned the addition of more homes in the village, which they felt lacked the necessary infrastructure to support the new-builds.
Maggie Williams, who has lived in Capel-le-Ferne for 20 years, said: “It’s a lovely village, but there’s so much more they can do. “The area needs work, we have one shop, one school, the village deserves more. “If this construction work is going to continue, then they should find another area for lorries to turn around that doesn’t use Cauldham Lane.
“It’s dangerous already with all the traffic.” In total, 50 objections were raised against the application before it was approved on December 23. The houses will include one two-bed, nine three-beds, five four-beds and one five-bed, each with its own garden.
All the properties will be kept to two storeys and fitted with air-source heat pumps. The scheme also provides more than 40 parking spaces. Trees and hedgerows are set to be retained to act as a buffer and screen the development.
Despite residents' fears, DDC says enforcement action cannot be taken against Aile Homes due to the Section 106 agreement achieved during the reserved matters approval. “The condition requires the developer to provide off-site highway works prior to occupation of the units,” a spokesman added. “As the site is still under construction and no dwellings have yet been occupied, the off-site highway works are not yet required to be completed.
“Therefore, the council cannot request that works stop or take enforcement action against the developer on this matter at this time.” Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal . This is the first of three developments in Cauldham Lane, with plans submitted on a neighbouring plot for nine homes and a further 90 having achieved outline approval last year.
Villagers previously highlighted the growing tension between housing targets and their wishes for the quiet life as developments creep ever closer to their doors. Aile Homes has been contacted for comment..
