Rosie Duffield
MP for Canterbury, Whitstable and the Villages
Defending our Green Spaces
and putting the climate at the heart of everything we do.
We're privileged to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country are are blessed with plentiful woodland, coastal and inland nature reserves.
We need affordable and social housing, but this must not come at the expense of our precious green spaces and natural biodiversity that are there for the benefit of the local community in Canterbury and beyond in our Garden of England. ​ Development must only proceed with proper consultation and consent from the communities affected, with local voices playing a central role in any planning decision making.
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MPs have limited say in local Planning matters, as these are determined by local authorities, but I will always represent the views of my constituents and advocate for them. ​I am in regular contact with, and hold meetings with local groups and campaigns.
Old Park and Chequers Woods
The Old Park, nestled at the edge of Canterbury, is one of the city’s oldest green spaces, full of birds, rare acid grasses, wildlife and ancient trees. The park is important to families, educational groups and visitors from afar as a historic open space providing a unique local area for everyone's wellbeing.
The future of this Site of Special Scientific Interest is uncertain as the site is owned by the Ministry of Defence who have put it up for sale.
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I am a supporter of the Friends of Old Park and Chequers Wood who are seeking to protect, enhance and promote this unique open space on the eastern fringe of Canterbury.
Brooklands Farm
I cannot promise that I can stop any development single-handedly, however I do not believe that we need 1400 houses developed on the Brooklands Farm site, or the 2,000 in the Blean.
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Of course, we need many more affordable homes for the approximately 3,000 local residents who are on the Housing waiting list but many of these proposed developments are far out of their price range, designed instead to appeal to commuters from London. This would put more strain on our struggling local infrastructure and not increase supply for local people.
Brooklands Farm is a stunningly beautiful site, and the views are enjoyed by all who live nearby - after all, we are in the 'Garden of England'. ​​I continue to advocate for local people in Parliament to stop the Government imposing housing numbers on our local councils that we simply do not need and cannot sustain - other areas of the UK are far better able to do this as they have far more space.
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I recently raised my concerns about the suitability of the Brooklands Farm Site with Canterbury City Council - you can read the letter here.