SKaCH is a group of local residents led by former miners who think that the buildings at Snowdown Colliery should be considered for community activity rather than demolition.

We put together a team of experts with international experience who produced a Scoping Report before the end of September which has been circulated widely too much acclaim. The Chief Executive of SEEDA said that our proposals were "ambitious and visionary in its approach". We are grateful for the support of Kent County Council, and our Parish Councils who provided the cash for us to commission the work. The report can be seen at the Dover District Council Offices at Whitfield and soon on our Website (www.snowdown-colliery-kent.co.uk ). This community social project comprised:

Looking at past, present and future sources of energy with a focus on mining in the Kent Coalfield ( No2 Winding Engine House )

For presentations, lectures, county and professional performances of music, theatre, dance and a lot more. ( No3 Winding Engine House )

To train people in building applied arts skills with an emphasis on conservation and the ecologically sound techniques and materials ( the Workshops )

Demonstrating and teaching modern garden design and horticultural skills to deal with the conditions caused by climate change.

We were also able to present to the council two petitions of support with over 200 signatures gathered in only a few hours at the Nonington Fireworks Display and the Aylesham Carnival. They also received directly 29 letters supporting our cause.

Thank you to all those who wrote and we are conscious of our responsibility to present the views of so many from our community.

The Planning Committee approved the SEEDA Outline Planning Application together with some 60 or so conditions and have encouraged SKaCH and SEEDA to work together to take matters forward, something we are very keen to do now our ideas are clearer.

We are now gathering funds to take forward the next stage of our Feasibility Study utilising our existing internationally experienced team to whom we are already grateful for waiving or taking only token fees so far.

Now we are proceeding to secure a fuller understanding of the costs of implementing our ideas and more importantly a better sense of how they would be funded in terms of capital and revenue.

As we have always made it clear, we are committed to the development of the site but we are equally clear our plans must be economically sustainable.

Contacts: -

Chairman – Bill Oliver Tel- 01304 841 305

Secretary - Lawrence Knight Tel -01304 841 137