Local Welling councillors told a packed planning meeting they would support the new superstore development at Embassy Court leaving an audience in the gallery who are against it wondering who will represent them if their councillors won’t!   It also had the support of the Welling Town Partnership. Sounds like a repeat of the North Cray  councillors who supported the sell-off of a school and sports field. The planners deferred their decision. More inside this issue.

The other big development discussed at the meeting and given outline planning permission was the B&Q development at Crittalls corner despite opposition from the Sidcup Town Partnership on the grounds of traffic.

Whilst writing about planning decisions I happened to pass through Dartford Heath recently and noted the housing estate built on the old Crayford sandpits. These were, for years, the landfill for Crayfords rubbish and a great playground for us kids during the war and afterwards.  One of the key attractions was the sand canyon and sand wall near to the then gun club. Every year this was a haven of activity for the lovely fragile Sandmartens which look much like a Swift. I wondered how the developers of this landfill site and home of the Sandmartens ever got planning permission to build houses?  Does anyone know? And what happened to the Sandmartens?

Write to me,  Bob Griffiths, The Chronicle, Andrew House, Granville Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4BN - or fill in the contact box on this page