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Economic Impact Assessment finally published

An independent economic impact assessment commissioned by Swale Borough Council paints gloomy picture for Kent Science Park’s future. The report concludes that the Kent Science Park has been overly optimistic with their growth predictions and the absolute best they can now be expected to achieve is a 30% reduction on their original forecasts and even this relies on an unprecedented rate of growth.

The report also highlights negative growth in the last four years and that there are only 71 companies and 872 employees on site, rather than the 80 plus and 1,000 employees that has been repeatedly quoted in the media by the Kent Science Park.


May 2008 Newsletter


Our latest newsletter is in the process of being circulated, but you can also download a copy below. 

FPOG Newsletter May 2008 

Petition against the Kent Science Park proposals

The petition objecting to the Kent Science Park's expansion proposals, covering 400 acres of our countryside will not end when we hand in a copy to Swale Borough Council tomorrow, but will be available for people to add to for as long as they want to. So far we have over 3,200 signatures.

Download Petition Form



Five Parishes Opposition Group members take petition to Downing Street. From Left to right Dr Hilary Newport CPRE, Beverley Willis, Derek Wyatt MP, Monique Bonney, David Hardy, Sue Sills and Andy Hudson Five Parishes Opposition Group members take petition to Downing Street. From Left to right Dr Hilary Newport CPRE, Beverley Willis, Derek Wyatt MP, Monique Bonney, David Hardy, Sue Sills and Andy Hudson
27.06.08

Science park chiefs jeered by opponents

KENT Science Park workers came under fire for alleged speeding, abusive behaviour and speaking on mobile telephones while driving during a heated public meeting.
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25.06.08

Rural link road is not part of science park plans, says site boss

Site manager James Speck said its current plan is designed to benefit the area by creating new jobs and will not lead to a link road between the A2 and M2, funded by the creation of thousands of homes, within the five years.
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25.06.08

Science park plan debated

A PUBLIC debate on Kent Science Park's plans for a further £2 million investment takes place in Tunstall village hall today.
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20.06.08

Fight to block science park expansion

CAMPAIGNERS are ready to regroup to fight the latest plans to expand Sittingbourne's Kent Science Park.
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18.06.08

Where will the expansion end?

CAMPAIGNERS have expressed fears about Kent Science Park's £25 million expansion plans - saying it could open up the countryside to further development.
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17.05.08

New developments at Park

In an extraordinary move the owners of the Kent Science Park are to undertake a public consultation exercise on three separate planning applications, two of which have only recently been turned down by a Government Inspector and Swale Borough Council.

The key proposals and why we object


The housing

The Kent Science Park has proposed 4,500 houses purely to fund a road that it requires in order to expand the science park.

This is not about meeting the requirements of local people or people moving to the area. We are not derpriving anyone of new homes as the borough has already met it housing quota of 9,100 new homes in the next ten years.


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The expansion

The Kent Science Park wishes to expand its site to five times its present footprint with the view of creating upto 4,000 new jobs. We say lets build on the back of proven success and make the most of the present site before considering expansion.

The housing would create around 9,000 people seeking employment creating a huge job deficit. At present the owners have failed to deliver pulling the plug on their Bio-accelerator project and one in five jobs being located in a call centre.


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The road

Already a key part of Swale Borough Councils Transport Strategy the requirement for the road does not yet exist, even the council leader Andrew Bowles has said “the need for the road has yet to be proven”.

Unable to deal with the Northern Relief Road fiasco which is only half finished and without funding for the final quarter of its length, Swale Borough Council are desparate to create a way out using the M2 motorway as part of a ring road.

And all this for no other reason than it sounds like a good idea. Yes and we expect the same was true of the Northern Relief Road at one time.


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