Home » ESSO Garage and the enormous LED advertising Hoading

ESSO Garage and the enormous LED advertising Hoading

The Wincheap Society is opposed to the erection of an LED advertising hoarding which has been proposed for the ESSO garage on Wincheap. The City Council, not surprisingly rejected out of hand this planning application on grounds of its siting, scale, size, appearance and illumination and it was considered to be a prominent and intrusive form of development, failing to preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area and the architectural significance and setting of listed buildings in Wincheap. It was considered that the harm to Wincheap’s heritage assets would not be outweighed by any public benefits of the proposal and refused the application.

An article has appeared in Kent Online whici worth reading to show the size and scale of the hoarding.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/why-do-residents-need-a-mammoth-tv-screen-glaring-into-thei-324102/

 

 

Amended Draft Local Plan targets Wincheap

MERTON PARK DEVELOPMENT TO PUT OVER 1900 HOMES ON "THE ORCHARDS"

COUNCIL AMENDS LOCAL PLAN - DEVELOPMENT HALTED IN BLEAN

THANINGTON TO LOSE FOOTBALL SPACE TO A NEW PARK AND RIDE

ACCESS TO NEW ESTATE WILL DRIVE TRAFFIC THROUCH HOLLOW LANE, HOMERSHAM AND VICTORIA ROAD

NO STUDY EVIDENCE OF EFFECTS ON WINCHEAP'S TRAFFIC FLOW

Wincheap residents and businesses should take the opportunity to take note of the revised proposals in Canterbury City Council's Draft Canterbury District Local Plan and to participate in the consultation process.

Although we are not allowed to comment on things which are not in the revisions, there are still knock-on effects on the major changes that are already planned for Wincheap: - the gyratory and 4th slip road for example.

The most depressing change is the proposal to move the playing fields at Thanington to a sports hub at the far end of the Merton Park Development to make space for a Park and Ride site (Policies N1 and N3). This is perhaps the issue which has attracted the greatest attention as it is “taking the green heart out of Thanington”. If this is being done to create space for a 4th slip road, then the existing P and R site could occupy a smaller area and double-decker parking could be provided instead.

A second major area of concern for Wincheap is access to the proposed larrge housing estate at Merton Park.  It would seem that vehicle access is to be from Hollow Lane and Victoria Road and possibly Hollowmede The only other vehicular access is from Nackington Road. If there is to be a one-way system in Hollow lane between Wincheap and Hollowmede, then Victoria Road could also become a major one-way traffic route with trafiic passing close to Wincheap Primary School.

The possibility of these developments combined with housing construction already under way will probably paralyse the already congested taffic system in Wincheap. A proper unbiased traffic flow study needs to be made of the effect of these planning proposals.

Please read as much as you can about what is being planned for Wincheap and make your contribution to the cunsultation. The consultation closes on October 21 so there is verey little time!

Here are some useful links

To getto the questionnaire for the consultation:

https://haveyoursay.canterbury.gov.uk/draft-canterbury-district-local-plan-focused-consultation-2025

Also

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c620pj9r4x1o

https://democracy.canterbury.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=755&MId=13947&Ver=4       You will need to click on Agenda reports pack. This will give you maps etc.

More about Thanington

https://www.facebook.com/groups/savethaningtonrec

ca

Planning application CA/24/02290 is for a huge 6 metre by 3 metre LED advertising hoarding at the Esso garage in Wincheap. This will shine brightly day and night and will distract drivers and shine into houses and shops. You can see how big it is by comparing it to the person looking up at it! Even though the planning application was rejected by the City Council, the case has goneto the Planning Inspectorate and there is still the possibility that the sign will appear to push advertising messages into homes and businesses in Wincheap's Conservation area and distact drivers passing through Wincheap. See the dedicated page for a link to a Kent Online article.