Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

Re Maidstone call for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites and in particular the site at The Lodge, Water Lane, Thurnham, Kent. I am writing to lodge my objection to any possible of use of the above property / site for anything other than a single dwelling. Water Lane is mainly a single track rural lane with passing places leading up to the Pilgrims Way North Downs and the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Because of the lack of passing places it can be a challenging lane to drive along. I have twice had to get into someone’s car and reverse it for them as they were unable to reverse round a bend into a passing place. It is heavily used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. As both a dog walker and horse rider I am well aware of the challenges that can be faced as there are no pavements the whole length of Water Lane. In winter in icy conditions Water Lane can be treacherous. Indeed it runs parallel to Thurnham Lane where two people and a dog tragically lost their lives twenty-four months ago in icy conditions. Water Lane is a very apt name. In wet conditions water can run in torrents off of the North Downs and large part of Water Lane (and Thurnham Lane) can become very flooded and impossible to pass. This includes the junction of Water Lane with Roundwell Bearsted. Water Lane simply is not able to take any more traffic safely particularly in poor weather conditions. Consideration must be given to the safety of walkers, cyclists and horse riders. In addition I fail to see how any caravans, static or otherwise could safely gain access to the very rural site. It is on these two points that I object.