Is Kent still the Garden of England….? by Penny Rickards, SOLIS (Save Old Wives Lees from Industrial Solar)
by Penny Rickards, SOLIS (Save Old Wives Lees from Industrial Solar) Editor’s note: This article represents the opinions of many local residents in Old Wives Lees. It is published because it raises issues of the environment, energy and food self-sufficiency, all of...
A Kinder City-Social Science Fiction and the New Canterbury
by Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent Canterbury is rich in writers of all sorts, perhaps the result of university creative writing courses, the wide range of independent tutors, groups and bookshops and the many opportunities in the city to talk about...
A Favourite Building in Canterbury, Christopher Palmer architect and designer
By Christopher Joslin Palmer, architect and designer If you were asked to pick your favourite historic building here in Canterbury, there are numerous to choose from. Many are worthy of praise but not so easy perhaps to propose a contemporary building. Beauty is in...
THE SOCIAL HEALTH KITCHEN at the Umbrella Centre
By Martin Vye This is an invitation to everyone to drop into the Umbrella Centre in Canterbury, for a coffee, a snack or a meal. The Centre is at the end of St Peter’s Place, and you can walk to it through the Westgate Gardens. Up to thirty years ago people who could...
Is Protest and Direct Action Always Legitimate?
By Stewart Ross, Chair, Canterbury Commemoration Society ‘When I stepped onto the motorway, ‘ Insulate Britain’ protestor Revd Dr Sue Parfitt told the court at her trial for contempt, she had acted ‘out of love’ and ‘in obedience to God’s call’. How come? The ‘pain...
Do we know what makes for Good Design?
by Nick Blake In theory, our city is protected from bad design by the City Council’s Planning team, including t Heritage /Conservation officers. A further control is the Planning Committee of, usually, 12 councillors. Sometimes that Committee is more critical, than...
A New Hospital for East Kent?
Martin Vye, former County and City Councillor and Deputy Chair Canterbury Society It has been clear for many years that the acute hospital service in East Kent is not fit for purpose. The scandal of baby deaths, and the long queues of ambulance waiting to deliver...
Town Councils: the Pros and Cons by Ray Evison
Most of the highlighted political news stories in the press come out of national, county or district council decisions. However there is another level, a primary level of government that is less often in the news but is just as fundamental to the way we are organised...
Political Leaders Discuss the Local Plan
Ben Fitter-Harding, Conservative Councillor Local Plan to 2040 - What are our Options? Local Plans are how Councils control development. Without them, everywhere is up for grabs and infill is much more likely, often resulting in sprawl that doesn’t deliver the roads,...
There is no shame having ‘mental illness’ by Martin Vye
In many people’s minds the phrase ‘mental illness ‘means a psychosis from which a very small minority of the population suffers. In reality, though, it covers a wide range of mental and emotional conditions that seriously affect a person’s ability to lead a satisfying...