Still time to turn the tide

How suitably vague were Messrs Bull, Sharp and Reynolds in outlining their plans for the future of the Kent Science Park and ultimately Swale?

There is substantial opposition to the proposals, not just from the parish councils of Milstead, Tunstall, Bredgar, Rodmersham and Bapchild, but from residents of these areas and beyond.

We are intelligent enough to be told the facts and suspicious enough to wonder why there is a distinct lack of transparency regarding these proposals – not just from the developers, but the Kent Science Park itself. So close to an election too.

In a statement reminiscent of Tom Champange illustrating previous winners of Readers Digest prize draw, we were given the example of optical company C.

How many real jobs would this specialised firm have brought to the borough over and above its relocated staff? How much investment or long term security?

The jargon-filled promotion traded views on the familiar paranoia of lost opportunity, investment and jobs, offering only casual evidence to support their claims.

Sittingbourne today is a result of the planning decisions of the past. As such, the opportunity to preserve the town’s heritage and character has been dwindling for some time. Once thriving “sustainable communities” are being consumed by ill conceived over-expansion.

It is not too late to turn the tide. Contain business to the existing developing business parks to the north.

Keep the countryside as countryside, not some ersatz country park, another doffed cap to our rapidly disappearing heritage.

Michael Palmer
School Lane
Bapchild