Tuesday 7 August 2012

Kings Hill – “The Total Life Experience” – Really?

The portrayal by Liberty Property Trust UK of life in Kings Hill paints an idyllic scene where private residents and commercial businesses can flourish, boasting how they have transformed a former West Malling airfield into one of the “largest and most successful mixed-use developments in Europe”

See for yourself, the promotional website for Kings Hill http://www.kings-hill.com/kent-properties describes it as an established community that “has grown into a thriving, 'complete' village with a mix of homes, employment, retail, education, sports and leisure facilities”

For the most part, this is true; Kings Hill does provide a prosperous community for both private and commercial residents, and is nestled amongst stunning Kent countryside with excellent transport links. But where we feel they are seriously missing the point, and miss-selling to any would-be new buyers, is in regards to the provision of schools for Kings Hill Children.

Watch the promotional video on the home page and as the sun rises over a perfect sunny day, residents walk to work and a father, walks his children to the local school.
Sadly this cannot be the case for many children living in Kings Hill and with a confirmed development of an expansion of new homes; the number of children forced in to schools outside their community will increase unless the provision of a new school is made.

This number of children living in Kings Hill that did not get a place in one of the Kings Hill Schools has risen from 6 in 2011 to 17 in 2012 (these figures are from KCC) and with the expanding developments this will become more serious and the surrounding schools will also become even more over-subscribed.  KCC and Liberty Property Trust UK need to stop building until they can provide the required facilities for the local residents as promised in their promotional materials.

With around 400 new home expected in the next phase of building in Kings Hill and another 700 homes being built in the local vicinity we are petitioning for a new school to be built in Kings Hill and not to keep expanding the already oversubscribed classrooms of the two existing primary schools.

We would like some answers to what will Liberty Property Trust UK and KCC do to overcome this growing problem as they are in partnership.

Voice Your Concern - Meet Liberty Property Trust

 

Liberty Property Trust are holding a Public Consultation on Thursday 6th September 2012 at Kingshill Community Centre, 70 Gibson Drive, Kingshill, ME19 4LG

Open sessions to be held:
10:00 - 13.00 hours
17:00 – 20: 00 hours

The Working Party members will be attending these sessions to voice our concern regarding the lack of commitment to provide additional schooling for the ever increasing dwellings being developed.

We ask that any concerned parents or community members join us in doing the same. We are collecting signatures from those who support our campaign for new schools to be built in Kings Hill. Please sign up here

Many thanks
Working Party Kings Hill