Category Archives: Lodge Hill

Lodge Hill Saved

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Miles King

There was some very unusual good news late last week as Homes England announced that it was no longer pushing for housing development on the protected areas of Lodge Hill – the former military training ground (and munitions works) on … Continue reading →

Posted in Lodge Hill, Michael Gove, Natural England, Nightingales, SSSis | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Jacob Rees-Mogg and his fantasy Scrublands

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Miles King

  You would have to be a hermit to be unaware of the housing crisis which grips towns and cities across England. Homeless people line our high streets and occupy shop-fronts. But the housing crisis is far wider than that … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Belt, housing, Lodge Hill, Lush Times, scrub | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Medway Council love birds, as long as they are not Nightingales

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Miles King

As Nightingales return to England, the Brexit juggernaut lumbers on, crushing all dissent as it goes. But the resulting mulch is full of contradiction and confusion. Take our current commitments to protecting Birds for example. Until 2019 (and perhaps for … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds Directive, European environment policy, housing, Lodge Hill, Michael Gove, New Towns, Nightingales, People Need Nature, Recreation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Turning point for Lodge Hill? Land Securities walks away, bird conservationist leads Medway Council

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Miles King

Quiz of the week: what connects The collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly, John Keats and The Large Gold Case-bearer? The answer lies in these pictures.                 Yes, it’s Lodge Hill on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lodge Hill | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Friday the 13th unlucky for Medway Council: Lodge Hill planning permission called in

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Miles King

It is great news that today the Department for Communities and Local Government have decided to call in Medway Council’s planning permission for Land Securities to build a new town on the Ministry of Defence site at Lodge Hill, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Lodge Hill, Military Land, straight tusked elephant, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Rampisham Down and Lodge Hill demonstrate that Natural England must Notify every site which qualifies as SSSI

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Miles King

      Offham Down SSSI ploughed to grow Flax 1997 (http://www.eco-action.org/history/offham/offham.html)   When the Wildlife and Countryside Act was introduced in 1981 in order for the UK to comply with the European Union’s Birds Directive, nationally and internationally important … Continue reading →

Posted in Lodge Hill, Natural England, Rampisham Down, SSSis | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Lodge Hill latest: Medway writes back to Housing Minister Brandon Lewis pleading against a Call-in

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Miles King

I have just been sent a copy of the letter which Medway Council has sent to Housing Minister Brandon Lewis, responding to his request for information just before christmas, about Medways plans to build a 5000 house new town on … Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Lewis, housing, Lodge Hill, public land, SSSis | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Another SSSI to be trashed? Councillors approve solar farm on Rampisham Down

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Miles King

            Rampisham Down SSSI  (c) Miles King   While we wait to hear whether Brandon Lewis will decide to call in the planning permission granted by Medway District Council for the new town on Lodge … Continue reading →

Posted in Eric Pickles, Lodge Hill, Military Land, Natural England, public land, Rampisham Down, Solar Farms, SSSis, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Lodge Hill: Statement to the House of Commons

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Miles King

Originally posted on Mark Reckless | UKIP:
Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (UKIP): It is a privilege to follow the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce), who I am sure speaks for the whole House in her moving and compelling contribution.…

Posted in housing, Lodge Hill, Mark Reckless, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Rampisham Down SSSI Solar Farm: latest developments

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Miles King

I’m taking a close interest in two major developments on public or former public land,  threatening newly designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Lodge Hill, and Rampisham Down. In the case of Lodge Hill, the local Council officers recommended the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lodge Hill, Rampisham Down, Solar Farms, SSSis | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments