E petition submitted to Swale

The epetition has been submitted to Swale Borough Council. The statement we have asked them to support is reproduced below. We don’t have a link to it for signatures yet, but according to the instructions on the Council site, the Petitions Officer will contact me in the coming two days to confirm that we wish to make the petition active. Information about Swale’s epetition procedure is here: http://www.swale.gov.uk/petitions-scheme/

As soon as we have a link for signatures, we will post it here or it will be the first thing on the e-newsletter. If you wish to sign up for this see link above in the picture or click here.

SAVE STANDARD QUAY E PETITION:

Faversham Creek has been a centre for ship building and repair for more than 300 years. In recent years Standard Quay has regenerated the heritage, skills and apprentice training of Faversham’s maritime craftsmen. It is the last stronghold of traditional barges in the South East of England.

Standard Quay, on Faversham Creek’s unique historic waterway, is of national and European importance. This industry, jobs and heritage is now under immediate threat.

We, the undersigned, petition Swale Borough Council to protect, preserve and enhance Standard Quay and the Creek environment for the building, restoration, maintenance and berthing of traditional vessels by all means possible including:

1.  Helping to secure the quayside, land and buildings at Standard Quay so that local maritime craftsmen can continue their traditional boatbuilding and apprentice training activities, and Faversham Creek can expand as a national centre for Thames Sailing barge berthing, repair and restoration.

2.  A Guarantee that any future Faversham Creek Development Plan will specifically rule out any possibility of the historic Standard Quay site being developed inappropriately in future – for example for housing, restaurants, cafes, hotels, licensed premises and retail use.

3. Rejecting any proposed change of use for Standard Quay’s quayside buildings, so they can continue to be used for their traditional purposes by maritime craftsmen.