Chalk action

25/05/2026

STREETLIGHTING / OLD ROAD EAST AT LION GARAGE

Condition of the public street lighting has deteriorated around Chalk in recent years. Chalk action noticed the faulty and deteriorated light column of concern opposite the Lion Garage on Old Road East. Kent County Council has raised an order here with works aimed within 28 days.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1307135378230890&set=p.1307135378230890&type=3

25/05/2026

LAND ON SALE / EAST COURT FARM

Given the public interest with the ongoing planning application for glamping pods on land at East Court farm; Chalk action wishes to draw your attention to further additional land at East Court farm on sale. There are some good photographs of the land with the ownership boundary marked.

A useful and generally level block of Grade II & IV agricultural land in North Kent with good access for sale as a whole or in two lots. Lot 1 (53.49 acres) - £590,000 / Lot 2 (221.99 acres) - £1,160,000 / Whole (275.48 acres) - £1,750,000

24/05/2026

EAST COURT FARM AND THE OCTOPUS

The case against 'sprawl' in the countryside and particularly within the Green belt protected zone is well illustrated and documented here in this review article depicted as a pink octopus with its sprawling tentacles sucking onto our valued landscape. The case against sprawl is very much relevant today. An example is at the East Court farm and woodland with the pending glamping site proposal.https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/documents/s93332/20250558%20-%20East%20Court%20Farm%20FINAL.pdf



https://www.udg.org.uk/publications/udlibrary/england-and-octopus

By today’s standards this is an odd book. The language is colourful and its argument diffuse. It displays prejudice, jingoism and polemics and the text bears signs of a world still recovering from the effects of the first European war. Clough Williams-Ellis was only 29 years old when he wrote it i...

12/05/2026

NATURE; HABITATS & WILDLIFE PROTECTION / PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE BILL

Chalk Parish includes several sites legally protected where high biodiversity is present, together with many rare bird species and other wildlife legally protected. Leading charities such as the RSPB, Labour politician Chris Hinchliff MP, voiced concern and action on the planned UK GOV Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The proposed Bill aims to speed up the delivery of housing and infrastructure through removal of the site specific environmental assessments in favour of an area wide environmental assessment for cooperative usage. Development projects where a plan is in place are required to pay into a nature restoration fund (NRF). The fund used to improve the conservation of protected sites and species.

According to the leading organisations, all the energy our supporters gave to our campaign to improve the Bill were recorded by MPs. The messages MPs received did help secure some environmental safeguards as positive aspects to the Bill. Part 3 of the Bill introduces Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs), to manage impacts in some places where development will affect protected sites and species, thereby benefiting nature and sustaining employment in the environmental sector.

Chalk action reached out to our MP as requested and thankfully received this reply.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1296752039269224&set=p.1296752039269224&type=3

06/05/2026

PROPOSED GLAMPING SITE / WOODLAND AT EAST COURT, CHALK

Chalk action has received notification at the eleventh hour of a member 'call in' of the planning application proposal to site glamping pods inside woodland and at the rear of the grade listed East Court farm. Council planning officers are suggesting approval with conditions of the application 20250558, citing the increase in biodiversity proposed but noting the proposal does not comply with policy CS12 on protecting and enhancing landscape character WITHIN THE GREEN BELT as set out in the UK GOV NPPF 2024.

Chalk action has written several objections over the previous months citing the harm caused on landscape character through the application proposal's sprawl effect,

Planning proposals such as this should not become a political football and should instead be determined through public participation. The form of participation at this stage, a public vote rather than through a committee vote whose electorate is small and restricted through geography.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1291644846446610&set=p.1291644846446610&type=3

25/04/2026

T14 TPO NORTH KENT COLLEGE

Chalk action after some research has identified this ancient 'notable' mature tree, scheduled as T.14 on the Tree Preservation Order 1990 and others behind in the grounds of North Kent College.
T.14 is listed as a Sycamore (Acer pseudoplantus) and with a trunk of 1.1m diameter marked in red on the image and in the subsequent Maltby Survey 2006. Unfortunately the remaining trees on the schedule were not surveyed in the Maltby Survey of 2006.

(Image, James Turner)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1282468687364226&set=p.1282468687364226&type=3

17/04/2026

LOWER HIGHAM ROAD/FLYTIP

Chalk action ensured this flytip shown along the Lower Higham Road near the old Gravel works in Chalk was cleared promptly after a resident noticed the material was not cleared away within the five working day target set. Generally our experience of prompt and timely action from Gravesham Borough Council's Waste Management Unit team is very good considering the quantity of cases dealt with. Lets hope the long overdue new initiatives set out by Government inc offender clear ups and license penalties can make a difference on reducing this quantity.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1276230027988092&set=p.1276230027988092&type=3

17/04/2026

Chalk action has asked and expressed support for the installation of an interpretative panel on site. At present, this map kindly provided through the Bouygues Travaux Publics Murphy Joint Venture and National Highways helps clarify the location of the ecological and archaeological works in the Chalk area this year.
Bouygues Travaux Publics Murphy Joint Venture will also create two ecological habitats, a wetland for migrating birds and two public parks – Chalk Park in Gravesham is one – and new or improved pathways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Credit, BMJV

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1276209877990107&set=p.1276209877990107&type=3

22/03/2026

National Highways have confirmed further archaeological investigation work in the area Chalk action submitted evidence of a mammilated Sarsen stone, identified through Chalk action and discovered and photographed by James Turner.

National Highways have confirmed Bouygues Travaux Publics Murphy Joint Venture on behalf of National Highways are responsible in these imminent investigation works and can share a summary of the findings at a later date.

There's a public opportunity at Cascades Leisure Centre this month to mention any details on this work. This event aims to give residents more of an idea on what to expect in the area during its development.
* Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, DA12 4LG
⏰ Wednesday, 25 March 2026
3pm - 8pm
This event includes a 3D model of the southern section of the route.

Photo credit: James Turner

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1256015313342897&set=p.1256015313342897&type=3

14/03/2026

Interesting the official copy of the DAS map part of the submitted documents in application 20250596 permitting Dalefield Industrial Park's open storage use of a substantial section within the red area also highlights the land at North Kent College Estate and Land off 57-97 Lower Higham Road as PUBLIC space.

Source: Darling Associate Architects
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1249509497326812&set=p.1249509497326812&type=3