Taylor Wimpey Plan to Bulldoze Shepway WW1 Training Trenches

To: Shepway Planning and Kent Heritage Conservation

I draw your urgent attention the the attached site notice in the Sandy Lane area of Sandgate / Hythe (know as the "Back Doors Training Area", notifying of works to "level the informal bike jumps and the jumps known as the Daggers Trails".

It's my understanding that although they have been adapted and used in recent years as informal bike ramps they are in fact WW1 training trenches and other areas of significant military historical interest.

Despite the "reassurance" that an archaeologist will be on site, the bulldozing of such an area seems to me entirely out of proportion in such a site, and likely to destroy an area that still has significant historical interest.

What investigations of the archaeology of that specific site has been done in advance? As noted at http://webapps.kent.gov.uk/KCC.ExploringKentsPast.Web.Sites.Public/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MKE97481 there are a significant number of areas of interest in the locality, but that is hardly a detailed survey and exploration of the affected area.

Has Kent Heritage Conservation agreed with Taylor Wimpey these works can go ahead, and also Shepway District Council as the planning authority? On what basis, with what restrictions, and will there be a full investigation of the site IN ADVANCE by an archaeological team qualified to do so?

I look forward to your urgent response, and hope a stop will be put on any works at least until local residents can be reassured the history of the site is being respected.