- Legal Action
- Fighting Fund
- Support for Village Green Application
- Public Meeting 7th February.
“Dear Kingsmead Field
supporters
Please
find below an update on key developments in the Save Kingsmead Field Campaign. This
email marks an important turning point in our campaign, and we would be most
grateful if you could give it your attention.
Over
the last two months we have taken legal advice about possible grounds for a
judicial review of the Executive decision to appropriate Kingsmead Field for
housing. On the basis of this advice, and after serious consideration, we
have decided to initiate legal action against the decision. A pre-action
letter was sent by a solicitor to the Council last week alleging that they have
acted unlawfully in the appropriation of the field and that they have failed to
carry out an adequate, fair and open consultation with local residents.
Depending on the nature of the Council's response (due next week),
further legal action is likely.
There
is front-page coverage of these developments in this week's edition of the
Canterbury Times, and an article on page 4 of this week's Gazette (see web
link: http://kingsmeadfieldpress.blogspot.co.uk/)
2. Fighting
Fund
In
order to finance this legal action, we are launching a fighting fund.
Over £3,000 has already been spent on legal fees and printing costs.
We are extremely grateful to the individuals, groups and residents
associations who have made donations to help cover these costs. There is
still a shortfall, and it is highly likely that we will have to raise considerably
more in order to take the legal action further.
We
are appealing to residents, local organisations and businesses for financial
support. If you are able to make a donation towards the fund, we would
appreciate it very much. We have set up a campaign committee. Our
treasurer is a local accountant and all donations will be carefully recorded.
At the close of the campaign, any funds remaining will be returned on a
pro rata basis to all donors who have contributed £25 or over.
A
charity account has been opened with the Nationwide, and donations may be made
in person at any Nationwide branch, or by BACS transfer.
Alternatively,
cheques may be sent payable to
'Save
Kingsmead Field'
C/O
30 The Crescent
If
you shop on-line, please consider signing up to Easy Fundraising: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kingsmeadfield
This enables you to raise funds for the Save Kingsmead Field campaign while
shopping, without any cost to yourself. Hundreds of on-line retailers
work with Easy Fundraising (eg Amazon, Boots, M&S, Sainsbury's,
Waterstones) and will donate a percentage of your purchase price to our
campaign. See link above for more information.
3. Support
for Village Green application
Even
if you completed a Village Green questionnaire last year, please do send an
email of support for our Village Green application. It only needs to be a
few lines long, focussing on the value of the field to the local community as
an area for informal recreation and sport. It is helpful to mention all
the ways in which you have used the field or seen others use it over the years.
We have been told by Kent County Council that these letters of support
are important supplementary evidence for Village Green applications.
Emails
should be addressed to Melanie McNeir at Kent County Council (quoting the
reference VGA 650 in the subject line) and sent to: Commons.villagegreens@kent.gov.uk
4. Public
Meeting, 7 February
We
look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our public meeting
on Thursday 7 February at 7pm in the Dominican Priory (St Peter's Lane
Please
continue to look at our website for frequent updates on the campaign: www.kingsmeadfield.blogspot.co.uk and
also our Facebook Page: Save Kingsmead Field.
Best
wishes
(on
behalf of the Save Kingsmead Field Campaign)
