Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to submit a formal objection to the proposed allocation of land at The Lodge, Water Lane, Bearsted within the emerging Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document (DPD). As a resident of Bearsted, I make this representation in consideration of the statutory requirements for development plan soundness, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and the obligations placed upon the Council under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. I recognise the Borough Council’s legal duty to identify deliverable and appropriate sites to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople communities. However, I contend that this particular site fails to meet essential planning tests relating to safety, sustainability, environmental impact, and policy compliance, and therefore cannot be considered suitable for allocation. My grounds for objection are set out below. 1. Highway Safety and Access Constraints Water Lane is a narrow, single-track rural route that lacks the necessary infrastructure to support intensified or large-scale vehicular movements. Specifically, the lane presents:  No footways or pedestrian segregation,  Restricted visibility and unsafe forward sight lines,  Insufficient formal passing places, and  Inadequate alignment and geometry for heavy or articulated vehicles. The proposed development is entirely dependent upon access via Water Lane, which is inconsistent with NPPF paragraph 110, requiring that developments provide safe and suitable access for all users and avoid unacceptable highway safety impacts. The nature of a Travelling Showpeople site, which is likely to generate movements from towing units, articulated vehicles, plant machinery, generators, and seasonal convoys, is fundamentally incompatible with the physical limitations of this road. It is also relevant to note that a fatal collision occurred on nearby Thurnham Lane, a road of comparable rural character and condition, resulting in the tragic loss of two local residents. This incident serves as a stark reminder that the risks associated with traffic intensification on unsuitable rural lanes are not theoretical but demonstrably real. Where severe highway safety impacts cannot be adequately mitigated, planning policy and legal precedent establish that refusal becomes unavoidable. No credible or deliverable mitigation strategy has been presented to demonstrate that safe access could be achieved. 2. Unsustainable and Car-Dependent Location The NPPF directs that development should be located in areas that support sustainable patterns of living and enable access to services by means other than private vehicles. This site:  Is not within reasonable walking distance of essential services,  Is not served by public transport, and  Necessitates full reliance on private car journeys for daily needs, as well as for service and delivery access. This conflicts directly with NPPF paragraphs 8 and 105, which seek to reduce dependency on private vehicle use and promote sustainable development. A wholly car-dependent site, accessed via an unsuitable rural lane, cannot reasonably be considered sustainable. 3. Harm to Landscape Character and Rural Setting The site is located within a sensitive countryside setting on the periphery of Bearsted, bordered by open agricultural land and valued rural landscape. The operational requirements associated with a Travelling Showpeople site — including extensive hardstanding, storage of large vehicles and equipment, external lighting, and ongoing activity — would result in the urbanisation of a currently rural landscape. This outcome would be contrary to:  The Council’s own countryside and landscape protection policies, and  NPPF paragraph 174, which seeks to safeguard the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside. The proposal represents a significant conflict in land use and is neither proportionate nor sympathetic to its rural surroundings. 4. Flooding, Drainage and Ground Stability Concerns It is widely recognised within the local community that Water Lane experiences persistent surface water and drainage issues, particularly at lower points along the route. The introduction of hardstanding surfaces, heavy vehicle use, and permanent residential occupation presents legitimate concerns regarding:  Increased surface water run-off,  Soil compaction from heavy loads, and  Heightened flood risk. No supporting evidence has been provided to confirm that these constraints can be satisfactorily mitigated, as required by NPPF paragraphs 159–167. 5. Failure to Satisfy the Tests of Soundness For a development plan allocation to be found sound, it must be: positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy. I submit that this site fails to meet these criteria for the following reasons:  Justification: Alternative sites with safer and more suitable access appear to exist,  Effectiveness: Access limitations raise serious doubts over the site’s deliverability, and  Policy Consistency: The proposal conflicts with NPPF requirements for safety and sustainability. The substantial volume of objections raised by local residents, along with representations made by the local Member of Parliament, further demonstrates a lack of community acceptability and highlights questions regarding the practical suitability of the allocation. Conclusion My objection does not challenge the principle of providing suitable accommodation for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople communities. Rather, it is based solely on the demonstrable unsuitability of this specific site. In summary, The Lodge, Water Lane, Bearsted:  Presents unacceptable risks to public safety,  Is inherently unsustainable in planning terms,  Would result in significant environmental and landscape harm, and  Fails key statutory and policy tests for allocation. I therefore respectfully request that the Council removes Policy C4S (008) from the emerging DPD and gives further consideration to alternative sites that can demonstrably satisfy the requirements for safe access, sustainability, and environmental protection.