It is interesting that you found this, if the Ex School in question is the one in Margate it is in a Conservation Area next to a Main Church and very busy part if a ring road. This road is already like driving through a tunnel and this application could make this worse. Just because it it a Church who have submitted the application it does not mean that they are above the Planning rules for Conservation Areas, Im afraid God is not responsible for the possible impact on the environment, and just because poor decisions have been made before does not mean that they should continue to be made that way.

In Comment to Lynn was the area was improved by the council allowing the building opposite to have a poorly constructed two story extension some years back, the virtual demolition of the first and last and the building of flats in the area also paying housing benefits to Landlords who who do nothing to benefit the area. Its not God or the church you should question its the councils past and current planning decisions. Two wrongs dont make a right but our council seems to make multiple wrongs and very few rights

I am quite aware of the difference between a faith in God and a faith in TDC, Lynn (one is a mater of taste the other is utterly irrational). I was no more suggesting that anyone is above planning rules for anywhere than you were communicating in French.

I am simply using this case to highlight the fact that the council do not seem to be terribly consistent. God Almighty, the church, the boy scouts and the local PTA aside Kent Highways were happy with it as were all other consulted groups yet in another application made by the head of planning himself had a history of serious objections and yet was passed.

Again the China gateway project had serious considerations against it, massive object, public outcry and unsatisfactory application notes and it was passed.

By comparison an unqualified opinion as to artistic merit seems a bit weak. Weak that it was all the stood in objection. Weak in that far stronger and more serious objections have not stopped other plans from being passed. Weak in that no expert opinion on the subject was cited.

The Planning rules for Conservation Areas were not even strongly invoked such that it seems that planning applications stand or fall not on merit so much as the roll of some dice or the toss of a coin.

It's the lack of consistency that's got me irritated. Consistency is a must in leadership at all levels.

You should note that the Margate Conservation Area Advisory Group (CAAG)did object to it, I know as I am joint Secretary of that group, and in comment to Don and You, were there a CAAG when the previous applications made we would have objected then. This is a very new group as required by statute, we have had some successes and some failures in our short time, but we will continue to seek to keep Conservation Areas and the fate of Listed buildings under scrutiny. Just because things have not happened in the past or 'have happened' in respect of TDC, does not say we should all rollover and not bother, that way leads to anarchy. We at least will be consistant. We will make sure that decisions in this regard are open to local view, and that poor decisions are held to account.

As to the China Gateway it is not in a conservation area, nor a Listed building, but if it were you could be assured we would give it our full attention too.

Oh right - another small gang of people who think they know best. Yet another layer of hidden complexity added to an already baffling ordeal of getting anything done in Thanet.

Did the CAAG attempt to open a dialogue with the buildings owners? Or do you see yourselves as a group whose job it is to shoot down stuff you don't like?

We have plenty of the destructive later already - that approach serves only to make things more expensive and slower things Thanet can ill afford. A constructive approach would be both novel and far more effective.

We are very constructive, and seek to listen to as many view as we can get. The issue with Conservation Areas are that there are rules, we are supposed to ensure that The Council apply them equally and fairly, which is the hard part. Do you want to find out what we do and how we work? Send me an email and I will arrange, we meet monthly. On another matter I have been informed (not confirmed yet that a Planning application in a Flood Plain), directly against the Environment Agency's wishes and ours has been approved in Margate, our comments were glossed over, and someone with a good deal of clout has got their way. We were one of the few to make comments at all, so my challenge to you is: Do you comment on planning applications? Do you try to hold the boundary? and If you don't would you like to?

I would be more than a little interested to learn more.

send me an email and I will arrange to meet and discuss what you may wish to know.