Committee:-

Chairman: Mr John Dand

Description:-

The Dartford and Gravesham (D&G) districts sit astride the A2 and high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link, and are home to Bluewater shopping centre and Ebbsfleet International Station. The area to the north of the A2 forms part of the Thames Gateway, incorporating over 10 miles of Thames waterfront. This is primarily built up, but is interspersed by rural areas such as Shorne and Highham. The land to the south of the A2 is primarily rural, with the majority of a high agricultural, landscape and/or conservation value and home to the many individual villages that have retained their character against all the odds. No less than 78% of Gravesham sits within the Metropolitan Green Belt, and 24% forms part of the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Hot issues:-

• Local
  Development Framework consultation has been extended to 22nd December - Have your
  say by clicking here·
• New
  Greenfield and Greenbelt sites proposed for housing development are now a hot
  topic. Residents together with CPRE support has ensured maximum publicity in
  the local press.
• Lower Thames Crossing - congestion at the Dartford
  Crossing has spurred Kent and Essex County Councils to put forward plans for
  another Thames Crossing downstream of Gravesend. If this were to go ahead it,
  the subsequent road infrastructure would substantially impact the remaining
  open countryside in North Kent between Gravesend and Medway. Our view is that
  freight transport through Kent needs to be looked at strategically (including
  current crossing and toll system) rather than addressing the symptoms with
  substantial civil engineering projects.