Updates, news and dates for your diary!

A quick update from us on news affecting Bassetts and what we at BFF have been working on - plus what happens next..

The Horsmonden Neighbourhood Plan is adopted! We are delighted with the results of the Referendum vote for the Horsmonden Neighbourhood Plan! 534 villagers voted in favour, and 31 against, so with the overwhelming 95% majority the HNP policies must now be given equal weight to Borough policies in any planning decisions. We can now fully challenge Persimmon's plan for Bassetts, which doesn't conform to the confirmed wishes of the village. Many thanks to everyone who voted in favour and spread the word - and a big thank you to the Steering Committe for all their very hard work and long hours putting our Plan together.

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Meeting with Greg Clark Members of Bassetts Farm Forum met with Greg Clark, our local MP, last week. Greg's stance of 'infrastructure before expansion' on developments is in line with our concerns over doctors, school, traffic control etc. He gave us some helpful guidance from his experience as Secretary of State, and he said he would be happy to be copied on our letter to Tunbridge Wells Planning Committee.

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Parish Council Meeting We formally introduced Bassetts Farm Forum to the Parish Council at a full PC meeting on 5th June, which included sharing a draft of our letter to TWBC Planning Committee members. The clerk to the Parish Council has now written to TW Planning department seeking a joint meeting, including members of BFF, to discuss the current Bassetts Farm application and any alternatives.

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Letter to the Planning Committee We will be sending our letter and annex to all members of the Planning Committee this week. We hope that by bringing the multiple issues on the Bassetts Farm application to their attention in advance of the planning meeting, they will have the time to consider in full the items we have identified as not conforming to the HNP, the Local Plan or the NPPF. We will publish final versions of the documents on the website shortly.

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When will the application go to Committee? We still don't know when the Bassetts Farm planning application will go before the Commmittee, and it is quite possible that Persimmon may modify the current application or even submit multiple applications before anything gets to the Committee. We are likely only to get one week's notice of the meeting. The earliest possible date is 21 June. We would like to ask you to be on standby on this date to attend the meeting as we want to show the Councillors that there is a huge level of local concern about the application on which they are about to make a final decision. We would like to fill the meeting rooom with as many Parishioners as we can. BFF plans to make some statements at the meeting (as anyone can), but attending in itself does not require anyone to speak - you presence alone would be powerful. Planning meetings are held at Council Chamber, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS and begin at 6.30pm. We will let you know when the agenda is published whether Bassetts Farm will be decided at this meeting. If the application for Bassetts Farm is not on the agenda for 21 June, future possible dates for your diary are: 19 July 16 August 13 September 11 October

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Please spread the word! We would very much appreciate it if you would share this email with your friends and neighbours in the village. The more support we have, the better. Do encourage people to sign up here so we can send them updates as well.