The levels of unprotected countryside in the South East of England. In Kent we have 39% of our countryside which is unprotected by any specific designation. This could be in danger in the future.

Quite often CPRE Protect Kent does research in order to show how inappropriate certain developments are, or to make a point to decision makers. We recently used an excellent piece of research to help supplement our response to Gravesham Borough Councils planning strategy, and we think it may have been a significant reason for them changing their minds.

Night flights at Manston have been an extremely contentious issue for many Thanet residents. Some believe that allowing the flights will bring economic prosperity to the area, with much needed local employment opportunities. Others believe that it is unlikely that many jobs will be created.

The county-based campaigning organisation Protect Kent have welcomed David Cameron’s announcement of a public consultation into the proposal for airports in the Thames Estuary.  The two main options currently on the table are the Grain Airport, to be sited on the Hoo Peninsula; and “Boris Island”, which is to be constructed on reclaimed land within the estuary itself.

Protect Kent have expressed concern that Kent County Council are doggedly pursuing “Growth without gridlock”, their transport strategy for Kent for the next 20 years, despite the flaws it contains and the widespread opposition to some of the schemes from the people of Kent.

A part-time job-share vacancy has arisen for an Office Manager. The successful applicant must be experienced and prepared to assume responsibility for the smooth running of the office in the heart of Charing village, working alongside the current job-share holder.

The essential skills needed are: 

Strong levels of IT literacy, with particular emphasis on Outlook, Word and Excel,

Financial awareness and accounting skills; experience of using Sage accounting software is essential;

Excellent administrative and organisational skills;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail;

Experience of working in a small office, with exposure to all aspects of administration with a high degree of flexibility and self-motivation;

A commitment to the objectives of the charity.

CVs demonstrating how applicants fit the above requirements, along with salary expectations, should be sent by email to:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

or

by post to:

Protect Kent, Queen's Head House, Ashford Road, Charing, Ashford, TN27 0AD

by Monday 23rd January.

Here we are at the start of a new year, when the previous twelve months become a fast-fading dream, often bid a final farewell with comments such as "where did that year go ?"  And quite naturally our thoughts turn to the year ahead and the challenges, known and unknown, facing us.

Within Protect Kent many of our challenges are old issues, carried over from previous years, which are still unresolved, 'to be concluded', or possibly lacking any agreed way forward.  Examples are many, from the variety of proposed airports in the Thames Estuary to the dispute over the need for night flights from Manston;  the numerous transport issues, from the Third Thames Crossing to the irritation caused by the noise emanating from the M20;  and of course the crucial planning issues, from the nationally significant draft NPPF to the more local 'Local Plans' and their sometimes damaging impact on our countryside.  The same "old chestnuts" !

This is in-efficient and exhausting.  None of us can afford to keep revisiting each and every idea, option and proposal, sometimes approaching them from opposite directions and creating confrontation.  Limited resources (faced by everyone) demands focussed action.  There needs to be a better way.

So, to all our members, supporters, followers, groups, bodies, and people we work with (and even those we may appear to work against), I would like to issue a "Challenge for 2012":

Let us work together – Protect Kent with the organisations and people of Kent – to tackle the legacy of issues from previous years, and reach an agreed and final strategy for each.

Let us make 2012 a happy, prosperous, and co-operative New Year !

Andrew Ogden

Campaigns Manager

We have over the years fought many planning battles, and managed to ensure that much of our glorious countryside has remained as beautiful as it always has been. However, we have never found such an inappropriate and potentially destructive ‘Planning Strategy’ as the one Gravesham Borough Council has just finished consulting on.