Closure of the Kent Field School

[BAJR Host]

Thats what we call freedom of action You can decide for yourself whether you wish to write a letter of support/disgust/outrage/bafflement or not.

Is it worth debate on BAJR?

Only if people debate it.

Question... which is a valid one...

The Kent Archaeological FieldSchool..

A magazine, publications, lectures, formal training, trips, fieldschool excavations etc...
Should that be knocked?

If you have any direct concerns.. you know my number. Call me and discuss it.


?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[drpeterwardle]

David you miss the point.

This is about how a planning application will affect an "organisation" and the premises they occupy. Our help has been asked for and thus I think it perfectly correct that people are told the full facts of the situation. David said

"A magazine, publications, lectures, formal training, trips, fieldschool excavations etc...
Should that be knocked?"

I am not saying what they do is not good or the quality of their work is bad. I am not saying they do not having a legitimate point. I am asking that the full facts are revealed. I repeat my question who actually owns the building?

Peter

[YellowPete]

Sorry I had a look and there is no match to the planning application for the address advertised.

There is no information on line that either SWAT or KAFS are in trouble, but then I don't know any of these people involved, so I don't really know what is being asked.

On the other had to write to ones member of parliment about the state of the industry may be worthy of debate.



txt is
Mike

[Oxbeast]

Nice post Yellow Pete.
You can find the planning application at
http://tinyurl.com/c7r3af

[ffizzyy]

</lurk>

Never thought I'd post here over something like this. Of course, as a new poster no-one knows me so feel free to disregard my opinions :-)

Ok, I live locally to this Field School. Actually I grew up in the village of Graveney (1/2 mile to one side of this land) and now live in Faversham (1/2 a mile the other side). I used to walk to school along a foot path past this field 20 years ago and now walk my terrier the other way down the same footpath.

Disclaimers:

* I am a nodding acquaintance of the guy who runs this Dog Training School and you'll have a hard time finding a nicer or better qualified guy. See: http://www.meadowdogs.co.uk/rh_personal.shtml
* No money has ever changed hands between him and myself in either direction.

* I don't know anything about Paul Wilkinson other than that which I saw years ago when he was involved with a Time Team episode at Syndale in Faversham.

* I'm in no way a professional archaeologist or expert on planning law but I have an amateur interest in local history and archaeology.


Here are some local facts as I see them, feel free to correct me if you know better.

* The Field School is a commercial enterprise.

* The Field School is now, as it always has been, surrounded on all four sides (bar access tracks) by commercially owned land; either light industry or agricultural.

* Behind the Field School is a stable yard with full planning permission for use as horse stabling: it's been a stable yard for more than 20 years that I know of.

* Behind the stable yard is a paddock with full planning permission for use as part of a stable.

* Behind the paddock is a footpath where I walk my dog.

* More than 6 months ago the dog trainer's lease was up on his old premiss and he was forced to move.

* The owner of the stables allowed him to set up temporarily in one corner of the paddock as he was desperately looking for a new home and was trying to stay in business (and pay his staff).

* The corner of the paddock is completely fenced in and I've only ever seen dogs in that area.

* The dog training has been going on there for 6 months and I'm told there hasn't been a single complaint.

* It was going so well there that the owner of the stables and the dog school both decided to formalise things; all the neighbours gave verbal consent when asked.

That much I knew before I saw this thread but now I see the Field School seems to be running some kind of astroturfing campaign I had to say something.

My personal opinion is that members of the archaeological community should be careful when getting involved in planning applications that involve archaeological sites, let alone ones that are purely disputes between commercial enterprises. Also, since the land in questions has been commercially used for agriculture, horse stabling and dog training in the past I fail to see how the formal change of use threatens the existence of the field school in any way.

Cheers,
Andy.

<lurk>

[BAJR Host]

Well... thanks there.. lurk no more.

and a welcome addition.

good to have the facts..

Perhaps now.. we can draw this to a close..

I have to say.. and honsetly.. I won't be writing the letter now.

SO .. the debate was useful, t did bring out the details..

I will continue to support the KAFS .. however, with all the details now (which without this debate would not have come out) I can't go for the campaign/

This has been worthwhile in the long run

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[ffizzyy]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

I will continue to support the KAFS ..

Oh, absolutely. If I honestly thought this was any threat to the Field School I'd be complaining myself.

[YellowPete]

If the KAFS is an ongoing commercially viable concern then, the practical implimentation of fieldwork requires a space with archaeology in it (puseudo or no).

only so many classes will help and they can always close the window.

but as you say enough has been said.

lets now, just lay off a bit (tellin myself).



txt is
Mike

[BAJR Host]

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[Lynne Grover]

What is one mans meat is another mans poison

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

Dear Colleague,


Closure of the Field School


I need your help to prevent the closure or re-location of the Field School and SWAT Archaeology.


Our neighbor has applied for planning permission for change of use of the field adjoining the Field School classrooms and Swat offices to a Dog Training School. The Dog Training School has in fact been running for the last six months without permission. These lessons take place most evenings in the summer and Saturday and Sunday all year. The noise of up to twenty dogs being trained has to be experienced to be believed and, if it continues, it means that we will be unable to hold courses in our present location, or indeed conduct business in our offices, because of the disruption.


The application reference is SW/09/0099 and can be viewed on the UK Planning website at http://www.ukplanning.com/swale where you can comment on the application. To stop this continuing I would urge you to either comment on the above website or write to Swale Borough Council objecting to this application which will mean we can continue offering courses at the Field School. Grounds for objection include noise, and the impact on an established use to such an extent the School will close.


Please write to E P Jones, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3HT

within the next seven days to help prevent this application being successful.


Yours sincerely,


Paul Wilkinson



?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake