Background history

Chilham Square’s function in the community has been a point of discussion for some 30 years, and more. Public consultation for the Parish Appraisal (1996) and Parish Design Statement (2003) emphasised problems with traffic and demonstrated overwhelming support for solutions and improvement. By then, congestion had become safety issue; access for ambulances and fire engines was being compromised. Therefore, at it’s meeting on 4 Dec 2003, the Parish Council unanimously voted to investigate the feasibility of delivering a high quality, long-term improvement project.

A Project Brief and invitations to tender were sent to 6 design teams in January 2005. After short-listing and interviewing four urban design consultants firms, the award-winning Rummey Design Associates http://www.rummey.co.uk/index.htm were appointed:

Applications for grants were pursued by the Parish Council and other fundraising was carried out by CEPS. By early 2006, sufficient funds, including a grant of c£20,000 from Defra had been raised so Rummey Design Associates began work in May 2006.

Why a feasibility study ?

The Parish Council considered a Feasibility Study by consultant urban designers essential because:

• of the sensitivity of the Square, a unique medieval open space with a complex role in terms of traffic movement, local and residents’ parking, its proximity to the school and also, its tourism, business and regeneration potential;
• the need for independent, objective, expert advice on best practice in ‘urban design’ and for professionally conducted, impartial community consultation;
• funding bodies will not donate the large sums needed for a significant long term improvement scheme until a thorough independent study has been undertaken to professional standards. A Feasibility Study demonstrating that a proposed project is valid, desirable and feasible is generally a precondition for grant funding.

Some developments since the Feasibility study:

In October 2006, the Feasibility Study was presented to stakeholders by Rummey Design Associates at a ‘round table discussion’ at Chilham Castle chaired by Martin Bacon, then Managing Director of Ashford’s Future Delivery Board. Participants included David Hill, Chief Executive of Ashford Borough Council, representatives from key stakeholders such as English Heritage, Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council, Tourism South East, Canterbury City Council, East Kent Partnership, Kent Downs AONB Team, SEEDA, the Ashford Borough Councillor for Chilham Ward and Parish Councillors. The aim was to draw attention to likely supporters/stakeholders and grant-awarding organisations, Chilham’s potential and aspirations.

In April 2007, as advised, CPC formed CFDB, to project-manage the regeneration and improvement project.

In September, 2007 CFDB held a consultation meeting with Abby Raymond, Acting Managing Director of Ashford’s Future Delivery Board on tactics and funding possibilities.

Other outcomes of the Feasibility Study so far, include:

In January, 2007 the Chilham Tourism and Retailers Group (CT&RG) met for the first time. Supported and funded by The Kent Downs AONB Sustainable Tourism Project it went on to help develop Chilham profile in the ‘Rural Ways’ / ‘Country Breaks’ scheme.

The CT&RG has become a thriving, active group, now working on a variety of tourism and promotional initiatives. It has designed a logo for Chilham, run an ‘Enjoy Chilham’ stand at horse trials at Chilham Castle and is currently working on all the tourism initiatives set out below.

The Kent Downs AONB Sustainable Tourism Project has funded and help develop and design a fresh leaflet on Chilham for visitors, Discover Chilham.

The Hidden Britain Project funded by SEEDA through the Rural Development Programme for England is now supporting Chilham, helping with tourism initiatives and a website.

What are the timescales:

It is intended that this project should be of the highest standard possible in all respects.

The aim is for a truly innovative, exciting and appropriate scheme, one to be proud of for generations to come.

There are design, materials, planning, highways and many other issues to be considered (as the Feasibility Study demonstrates). Further impartial community consultation processes will be undertaken in due course:- in accordance with recommended protocols and best practice.

This will take time, the more so, if rigorously and professionally conducted. It is vital to get things ‘right’ and not to rush into ad hoc ill-thought-out solutions. Any changes made to the Square could last for a further 50 or more years; ‘our grandchildren’ will experience what we decide.

It is therefore anticipated that such long term improvements could take around five years to complete.

What are the funding options

The project has Ashford Borough Council’s full support in principle. This will help with many of the administrative hurdles e.g. negotiating the planning and highways authorities permissions. We have already had much useful advice and support from their officers.

Nevertheless, it cannot be assumed that any (or any significant) finance will be given by our local authorities, whether Ashford Borough Council or Kent County Council. They simply have too many demands on their budgets already.

Therefore much time and effort will be put into researching and obtaining grant finding. There are many schemes and categories of funding; central government departments; the Countryside Commission, Heritage Lottery, SEEDA, numerous ‘private’ sources such as charitable trusts and public companies (e.g. under their social responsibility schemes).