The Forum met on Wednesday November 6th at the Whitstable Umbrella Centre and our focus was on how we can improve in 2025.
We started by hearing about housing, particularly social housing, a constant issue across CT5, from the senior Canterbury City Councillor for housing, Cllr Pip Hazelton, and Paul Wilkinson, Manager of Canterbury Housing Advice Centre (CHAC). Their presentations stimulated debate about housing developments at various stages of planning around CT5 and whether these fulfilled the housing needs identified by the speakers. There was considerable doubt about this and about whether there was sufficient infrastructure, notably sewage and transport, to support the additional housing.
This debate, with its wide implications for the Whitstable area, was a great introduction to the way the Forum’s trustees hope that we can broaden debate across areas like Seasalter, Tankerton, Swalecliffe and Chestfield, by inviting councillors and others to present on topics of interest to these areas and ensuring attendees have their say.
We then went on to discuss in groups the reasons why the forum exists, what it should be doing and whether it was representative—a good challenge that has been put to us as we have developed. Our constitution sets out that we are a public forum to meet and engage with local people and their councillors. We want people to be more involved in local democracy and have a stronger voice. We are also an umbrella for our sub-groups—eco, traffic and active travel, town council and (in formation) accessibility. For these we provide a constitution, a bank account, public liability insurance, a website and a social media presence. In addition we facilitate local events such as Wild About Whitstable, activities and projects like Speedwatch and are a platform to exchange information and ideas.
Already in planning for 2025 are: firstly, the creation of an online information hub—notably moving from the information gathering of the last couple of years to developing, with local organisations, how the information should be presented; and secondly, the holding of a community day for local organisations to showcase what they do and sign up new members. There is strong community spirit in the CT5 area, with many flourishing local organisations serving the community. We want to work to support and strengthen them, raising their profile in the local area.
We are determined to broaden our reach beyond the town centre where we have generally met (at the Umbrella Centre) since we moved from online meetings after lockdown. We will therefore hold meetings outside the town centre with the bulk of the focus of each meeting being on key issues from the immediate area where the meeting is taking place. We will publish locations and dates for these meetings in 2025 as soon as arranged.
We would encourage all those interested in improving the quality of life across CT5 to get involved in the Forum. You can find out more and sign up either to our main group mailing list or to any of the sub groups by going to www.ct5peoplesforum.org. We are always looking for new people (who live or work in CT5) to come along to meetings, to take part in our sub groups and to encourage other groups to work with us. We look forward to meeting and talking with you soon.
Stronger Together
Welcome to the CT5 People’s Forum
If you live or work in the CT5 postcode area – Chestfield, Seasalter, Swalecliffe, Tankerton and Whitstable – and are interested in local community issues, you are invited to explore, engage and participate right here!
https://www.ct5peoplesforum.org/public-forum-ct5
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