KEY FACTS
1 – We are looking to develop only 10% of the park – the aerial image shows how much of the park will remain as open space.
2 – We know that protected insects and plants have been found in the 10% of the park we would be developing on. That is why we are putting a huge amount of time and effort into a plan to help this wildlife thrive at the park for future generations. We will also be buying and will rewild large areas of land outside of the park to support local nature.
3 – One of our biggest concerns are the Lizard Orchids on site. We have over 3,000 of them in the park. 600 are where we want to put the surf park. To help them we are going to move each one individually to areas which will be enhanced and managed for them to thrive, as well as managing large areas of the park to help the Lizard Orchid population spread and grow in the future.
4 – To help the Turtle Doves we will create and protect areas much larger than the hotel and surf park for them to nest and feed. These areas cover a huge 20% (48 acres) of the park. There is also 9 acres of new land we are buying for them right next to the park between the park and the railway line, which will be rewilded, and finally the creation of the Hammill Field Nature Reserve.
5 – Hammill Field Nature Reserve is 15 acres of land near Staple, 6km away from the park. It is a hot spot for Turtle Doves with dozens of Turtle Doves already known to migrate to the area. It is a quiet and undisturbed field that will be rewilded into a habitat perfect for the birds.
6 – We know that Betteshanger Country Park is home to valuable wildlife and our plans have been designed with this in mind. There is currently no management or protection for ecology at the park. We will ensure that the hotel and surf park deliver a wildlife warden and fund the creation and monitoring of richer habitat across huge areas of the park.
7 – Betteshanger Country Park has been a failing space for decades costing taxpayers millions of pounds. We believe we have a solution to secure the future of the park, its wildlife and all the value that both bring to the local community.
8 – The road track is a hugely important part of our future. The proposal is for a bridge over the track to access the surf lagoon. The road track will remain open throughout and we will work with local clubs to minimise disruption. The cycling and MTB trails will also remain and we will look to invest further in our cycle facilities.
9 – The surf lagoon has been located close to the existing access road, visitor centre and car park so that we can make best use of this existing infrastructure, rather than proposing that a new access and car parking are built on existing open space. The surf lagoon location has also been informed by a sunlight and wind analysis to ensure the best waves and experience for visitors.
10 – The park is an ideal location for the hotel. Dover District Council has identified a lack of high-quality hotels as a key barrier to growth in tourism and the local economy. The park is ideally located for the area’s world class golf tourism offer and exploring the coastline at Deal. It also taps into demand for experiential tourism including other activities at the park – mountain biking, road cycling, orienteering and nature exploration. These activities also go hand-in-hand with the ethos of the surf lagoon for active lifestyles and to support physical and mental wellbeing.
11 – We have made an application to Southern Water so that upgrades to
infrastructure can be funded by the development to ensure that the water supply and connection for the lagoon has no impact on the supply for others in the area. We are also exploring the possibility of using groundwater sources, again to ensure that the infrastructure is fully funded and delivered for the development without affecting existing water supply or the environment.
12 – The former use of the temporary car park land was as a compound area and storage of materials. Historically, it was the stockyard for the colliery where coal was loaded on to trains for distribution. The area was identified as a reptile receptor area under the planning permission for the creation of the country park in 2002/03. The area has subsequently been disturbed by ongoing works at the country park after 2003 and prior to the current owners taking control in late 2019. Substantial groundworks and vegetation clearance took place between 2007 and 2013, significantly impacting its ecological interest and suitability to support reptile species. There is no clear evidence that reptiles were relocated to this area and it certainly has not been maintained as a receptor area by previous owners of the site. Very low numbers of reptiles have also been recorded in the areas immediately surrounding the site, which supports this conclusion.
Will the cycle track be kept and will it be operational during construction?
The road track is a hugely important part of our future. The proposal is for a bridge over the track.
The road track will not be closed and will remain open throughout construction but there may be an element of disruption that we will be seeking to minimise and will work with clubs to make sure our disruption is at the most appropriate times.
Where is the water coming from?
We have made an application to Southern Water so that upgrades to infrastructure can be funded by the development to ensure that the water supply and connection for the lagoon has no impact on the supply for others in the area. We are also exploring the possibility of using groundwater sources, again to ensure that the infrastructure is fully funded and delivered for the development without affecting existing water supply or the environment.
Why not build the hotel and lagoon on a different part of the park?
The surf lagoon has been located close to the existing access road, visitor centre and car park so that we can make best use of this existing infrastructure, rather than proposing that a new access and car parking are built on existing open space.
The surf lagoon location has also been informed by a sunlight and wind analysis to ensure the best waves and experience for visitors.
The park is an ideal location for the hotel. Dover District Council’s strategies identify the lack of high quality hotels as a key barrier to growth in tourism and the local economy. The park is ideally located due to its proximity to a world class golf tourism offer as well as the coastline at Deal and other activities at the park – mountain biking, road cycling, orienteering, nature exploration. These activities also go hand-in-hand with the ethos of the surf lagoon for active lifestyles and to support physical and mental wellbeing.
Will the Mountain Bike Trails be left as they and kept open?
Absolutely, we love cycling and the road and MTB trails will remain and we will look to invest further in our cycle facilities.
If you are moving 600 orchids what will happen to the other 2,400?
We are passionate about the ecology at Betteshanger and have already amended our plans to limit the impact on Lizard Orchids. We have seen massive growth in the number of lizard orchids in the park in recent years. Only 600 are due for translocation, the remainder will stay and be safeguarded with greater investment to manage large areas of the park so that the Lizard Orchid population can spread and grow rather than be lost by encroaching shrubs and other vegetation. There are already signs of this in large areas of the park, which poses a risk to the Lizard Orchids. A wildlife warden would be appointed to oversee the whole park, alongside an independent monitoring body and Dover District Council. Development provides investment which provides greater protection of the natural world at Betteshanger.
