About the Five Parishes’ Group (FPG)

The FPOG team in action

Five Parishes Group (“FPG”) represents Bapchild, Bredgar, Milstead, Rodmersham, Tunstall and Wormshill communities. 

For the last 20 years it has been an informal community group taking part in the local plan consultations, including the last Swale Bearing Fruits Local Plan in 2017, and now as a rule 6 party in the public inquiry for the Highsted Park applications, following the Secretary of States call in of the applications.

Prior to the call in, the Parish Councils of Bapchild, Bredgar, Milstead and Rodmersham funded a planning consultant, to make representations on behalf of the communities. The Parish Councils consulted local residents on the various iterations of Highsted Park scheme with open day events in their village halls. The overwhelming majority did not support the applications. 

Due to the significant cost and time burden the FPG has stepped in to take over the role of objecting to the Highsted Park NORTH and SOUTH schemes with the backing of the Parish Councils and communities, most recently Wormshill residents have agreed to join the group.  The group is made up of Parish Councillors as well as members of the community. 

Monique Bonney rejoined the group and is chairman, she is also chairman of Rodmersham Parish Council and Ward Member for West Downs

The clerk to the group is Lena Jordan who is also clerk to Rodmersham and Milstead Parish Councils.  Lena ensures the accounts are audited annually.  

FPG acts as the voice for residents.  It advocates sustainable development and environmental preservation in the Swale area.  Committed to defending local interests, FPG accepts balanced growth that respects the character and resources of the surrounding countryside. According to planning guidelines and policy.

Set up in 2004, FPG has a track record of galvanising the people of Swale into action, to ensure their voices are heard at the highest level.  What began as one Parish Council holding an evening information evening for its residents was soon adopted by the people of Sittingbourne as its voice against proposed mass development in the area. 

Raising funds by quiz nights and seasonal events, FPG was able to employ planning consultants to help and as its profile grew locally, FPG could always secure unwavering support from residents. 

A huge turnout for a protest march to the offices of Swale Borough Council, a display stand in the High Street allowed FPG to explain the blurred maps produced by the developer and a petition of 3,000 signatures was delivered by FPG to 10 Downing Street, ensuring press coverage.

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