Final approval for variations on plans to build the paths required for the Crab and Winkle walking and cycling path extension in Whitstable will be sought at a planning meeting early in the new year.

The plans can be found and comments can be made by searching for 19/01145 at:
https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/planningsearch

The variations are concerning:
- Bird and bat box locations
- Bin and signs locations
- Embankment details
- Landscaping plans
- Lighting plans

We are hoping that these can all be approved at a January planning meeting so that work on the paths can commence shortly afterwards. Every supporting comment will help increase the chances of this final approval.

Comments must be received by 6th December 2019

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The Trust and Canterbury City Council are pressing ahead with plans to extend the path in Whitstable. We hope to start work on a small section of the path that will extend the Invicta Way to Old Bridge Road. Section 106 developer contribution money is already in place for this and we hope work will start in the next six months. Despite this only being a short section the plans we have are for all the paths down to The Sidings and Tower Parade. This is so that we can move quickly to get more built when extra funds become available. The Bridges are under separate planning that will be re-applied for soon.

There are currently two items on the Canterbury City Council planning portal.

CA/19/01145 Variation of Conditions, after suggestions made at the consultation a number of changes have been made. This application covers those changes.
https://publicaccess.canterbury.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_CANTE_DCAPR_123474

CA//19/01194 Discharge of Conditions, the planning we were granted had a number of conditions and this is an application to have some of those conditions discharged due to their fulfilment.
https://publicaccess.canterbury.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_CANTE_DCAPR_123551

We have also published a report about or Public Consultation which was held last year. It can be viewed at http://crabandwinkle.org/extension-documents/

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In May 2019, the Trust hosted a visit inside the Tyler Hill Tunnel at the south portal.  This was made possible by the kind permission of the owner, Paul Roberts.  He has spent considerable time and money, faithfully restoring the portal, as well as protecting it from vandalism.  We also required permission from Kent Bat Group’s Shirley Thompson.  This is because the tunnel is now home to bats, so access requires permission and guidance from someone with a Bat License.  We also had permission from the Archbishop’s school for access.

If you would like to visit the tunnel in the future then we give members preference, you can join here http://crabandwinkle.org/join-form/.  Or Keep an eye out on or Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheCrabAndWinkleLine/ but we may not always advertise there if enough members take up the chance.

Some pictures from the visit.

Trustee and Tunnel Officer, John Burden, Introducing the Tunnel and other Speakers to the Visitors.

Trust Archivist, Jonathan Baker, explaining some of the History of the Tunnel

Shirley Thompson talking about the Bats that now live in the Tunnel.

Visitors Entering the Tunnel.

A vent brick placed for bats.  Although they tend to favour the gaps that have formed as the mortar around the existing bricks has decayed.

Trust Secretary Robin Townsend showing off our plans to extend the current Foot Cycle path that runs along the old line.

Trust Chair, William Leetham, showing the Beverley Arch to visitors.

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The Crab and Winkle Line Trust and Local Residents carried out a clear-up of the old railway embankment in Whitstable on the weekend of 2nd March 2019. About 20 bags of rubbish, a shopping trolley and tyre. Thank you to all involved.

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The Crab and Winkle Line Trust in partnership with Canterbury City Council will be holding an exhibition of proposals for two new bridges in Whitstable as part of the extension of the Crab and Winkle footpath and cycleway. Come to St. Peters Hall, 154 Cromwell Road, Whitstable on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June between 1pm and 5pm to find out more.

The scheme will include a new bridge over Teynham Road similar to the original bridge that carried the world’s first passenger steam railway.  We are also proposing a bridge over Old Bridge Road and the railway so that the path can extend all the way to The Sidings and on towards the Harbour.  The finished path will be accessible and street lit on winter evenings.

The proposed new bridges are lower than previous designs that were given Planning Permission in 2011. New Planning Permission will be sought later this year but before then the Trust would like to show you our plans and hear your views.

Canterbury City Council is also intending to start construction on extending the path further along the embankment in Whitstable later this year. Details of the landscaping of the paths, screening and street lighting will be on display at the exhibition and designers on hand to discuss the details

Consultation feedback email: consultation@crabandwinkle.org

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After last years very successful inaugural event, Rethink Mental Illness are organising a ride for 2018 with proceeds going to help & support for people affected by mental illness.  Ride a RETURN journey on Sunday 13th May, starting EITHER from The Dolphin Pub, Canterbury CT1 2AA OR from Whitstable Harbour- you choose! DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED APPLICATIONS - SUNDAY 22 APRIL 2018.For further information and application forms email: rethinkcanterbury@googlemail.com or tel: 01227 760707

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The Crab and Winkle Trust are proud to be supporting the “Cloisters to Oysters” sponsored bike ride which will go along the Crab and Winkle Way from Canterbury to Whitstable and back on Sunday the 20th of August. Would you like to take part or help marshal at the event?Please see details below.  Please download and share a pdf copy of the poster: PDF Poster, or feel free to share the image below.

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On May 20th, with kind permission from the land owner Paul Roberts and escorted by Shirley Thomson of the Kent Bat Group we took a group of people inside the disused tunnel that runs underneath what is now the University of Kent at Canterbury. Work started on the tunnel in 1825. It is the oldest purpose built passenger railway tunnel in the world and is now grade 1 star listed. Its current owner has invested a lot of time and money in restoring some of the brickwork, clearing the site (along with trust volunteers), and protecting it from vandalism. It is now the perfect home for bats so we are only allowed to visit at certain times of the year escorted by someone with a bat license. To find out more about bats please go to the Kent Bat Group website http://www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/.

John introducing the tunnel visit.

Trustee Jonathan Baker giving a talk about the history of the tunnel.

Shirley Thomson from East Kent Bat Group talking about the bats that now call the tunnel home.

Looking out from the Tyler Hill Tunnel South Portal towards Canterbury.

Visitors about to enter the Crab and Winkle Line Tyler Hill Tunnel South Portal.

Inside the Tyler Hill Tunnel on the Crab and Winkle Line.

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