Digital News Production - Contacting Land Securities

Today at our group meeting we sent out an email to the company planning to build on the Nightingale site in Lodge Hill, to see what their response is to the situation and to hear their views on the future of Lodge Hill.

Charlie emailed them and put;
Hello, my name is Charlie Ansell and I represent a local news production 'Kent Nature'. We were wondering if you were able to give a response towards the dispute on your plans to build on the Nightingale site. We would ideally like to have a filmed interview but if we could gain any response at all from you we would be very grateful. You can contact me via my email.

They responded rather quickly;
Hi Charlie

Thank you for getting in touch. Please see below a comment from Land Securities, which we hope will be useful for your piece on Lodge Hill.

Do get in touch if you have any further queries.

Regards,

Rhian
For and on behalf of Land Securities


A spokesperson for Land Securities, said: “We were delighted when Medway Council approved our Outline Planning Application for Lodge Hill, which will allow for a truly sustainable development to be delivered. We have worked hard over several years to create a masterplan which addresses all potential impacts associated with the regeneration plans and we are grateful for the constructive involvement of Council officers, local residents and other important stakeholder groups.

“Lodge Hill will benefit life and business in Medway by bringing much-needed homes and road improvements and will create approximately 5,000 jobs to secure the Peninsula’s status as a significant economic destination in the region.”

"The proposals for Lodge Hill will create a new community hub on the Hoo Peninsula, that will bring with it benefits and amenities for people living in the area, including a countryside park, sports facilities, health services, a nursing home, three new primary schools and a new secondary school."

This email wasn't really what we wanted to hear, although they give good information about the good side of the planning permission and the benefits it will have, they lack to tell us anything about the bad side and what will happen to all the endangered nightingale in the area.  We hope to follow this up with a phone call for more and better information.