Brasted – Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB

Fallon Backs Moorhouse Objectors

Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon has today pledged his support for opponents of Roxhill Developments’ proposal to build a DPD distribution centre at Moorhouse tileworks.

The new distribution centre, which would become DPD’s largest, delivering an initial 25,000 parcels a day and resulting in 800 extra vehicle journeys a day, would cause an unacceptable increase to traffic on the A25, particularly through the historic villages of Westerham, Brasted and Sundridge.

Sir Michael said: “A similar scheme was rejected two years ago, and this proposal is no better. The significant increase in traffic would choke the A25 and bring unreasonable pressure on our historic villages. I have outlined my strong objections to Tandridge District Council and Kent County Council, and I have urged them to oppose this development.”

Michael Meets Kent PCC in Parliament

Michael recently met the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, in Parliament.

The pair reviewed Mr Scott’s recent funding proposals for Kent Police and issues affecting Michael’s constituency casework. The local MP was also happy to hear about the good progress of the new Police Constables in Sevenoaks, whom he had inspected during their Passing Out Parade last year.

Michael pressed Mr Scott to roll out a more effective speed prevention system in villages such as Otford and Brasted. He welcomed the introduction of TruCam – a smart speedwatch system that administers on-the-spot fines to repeat offenders – but called for more immediate action.

Michael said: “Kent Police is getting the funding to increase the number of officers patrolling our streets. But speeding remains a menace. So it’s important that some of this money is put towards rolling out more effective tools for stopping speeders.”

Michael Hails ‘Right Decision’ on Grammar School Admissions

Michael has welcomed the decision by Weald of Kent Grammar School not to exclude parts of his constituency from its 2017 admissions policy.

The announcement made last night means that areas such as Westerham, Crockham Hill and Brasted will all now be included in ‘Category A’ of the Oversubscription Criteria. The proposed changes, which were due to come into force in time for the opening of the new grammar school annexe in Sevenoaks, would have led to pupils from these areas having a lower chance of admission to the school. The school will next consult for the 2018 Admission Policy.

Michael raised his concerns with the school as part of the recent consultation process. He said: “This is the right decision by Weald of Kent. It is vital that the places at our new annexe go to local pupils. My constituents across Sevenoaks will now have access to a grammar school education for their children, regardless of where they live.”

Brasted Flooding – Public Meeting

brasted meeting — Michael and Jon Hardey with Kent Cty Cllr Richard Parry and Sevenoaks District Cllr Anna Firth and representatives from Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Kent Highways

Michael co-chaired this public meeting with Jon Hardey, Chairman of Brasted Parish Council, following the flooding and subsequent damage to properties which residents experienced earlier this year.

Michael said: “I was delighted to be invited to co-chair this meeting last Friday. Having visited Brasted during the floods in February, I saw first hand the impact which the high water levels had on residents’ properties.

The meeting was attended by 40 local residents with representatives present from Thames Water, Kent Highways and The Environment Agency together with Kent County Councillor Richard Parry and SDC Councillor Anna Firth. This provided a good opportunity for the community to come together to share ideas about how a similar situation could be avoided in the future.

As a result of our meeting a technical working group, comprising of all three agencies, has been established to meet quarterly with Brasted Parish Council. It will work through all the issues raised and especially address what can be done to reduce surface water from heavy rain. The local Environment Agency team are also preparing a bid for a scheme to improve flood prevention for both Brasted and Sundridge, and I will be supporting that bid.”