Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to object to the proposed Traveller site on Water Lane, Bearsted, Kent. My concerns relate to safety, sustainability, environmental harm, and the proposal’s clear conflict with national and local planning policy. Water Lane is wholly unsuitable for additional development. It is a narrow, unlit rural lane with poor road conditions and limited visibility. Increased vehicle movements, including larger vehicles, would significantly increase the risk of accidents and would hinder access for emergency services. This directly conflicts with Maidstone Borough Council’s requirements for safe and suitable access for Traveller sites. The site is also located in an area affected by surface water flooding. Planning policy is clear that development must not be permitted where flood risk cannot be safely managed. The application fails to demonstrate adequate flood mitigation and therefore poses a risk to future occupants and neighbouring properties. The location is inherently unsustainable. National Planning Policy for Traveller Sites and the Maidstone Local Plan both stress the importance of locating sites close to existing settlements and essential services. Water Lane is remote, poorly connected, and lacks access to public transport, making residents heavily reliant on private vehicles and placing additional strain on local infrastructure. Local services such as schools, medical facilities, and the road network are already operating close to capacity. The proposal would further increase demand on these overstretched services, contrary to sustainable development principles. Environmental impacts have also not been properly addressed. The introduction of noise, artificial lighting, and increased traffic would significantly harm the rural character of the area. The site also supports wildlife and local habitats, yet no credible ecological assessment or mitigation strategy has been provided, in conflict with NPPF requirements to protect biodiversity. There is also no evidence that adequate infrastructure, including drainage, water, and sanitation, can be delivered sustainably to the site, as required by Maidstone’s planning policies. In summary, this proposal fails to meet the criteria set out in national planning policy, the Maidstone Local Plan Review, and the emerging Traveller DPD. I therefore urge the Council to refuse this application.