Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to formally object to the above planning application for a Travelling Showpeople site on land at Water Lane, Bearsted. While I fully acknowledge the Council’s duty to meet the accommodation needs of the Travelling Showpeople community, I believe this proposed site is wholly unsuitable for a number of compelling planning reasons, which I set out below. 1. Severe Highway Safety Concerns on an Unsuitable Rural Lane Water Lane is a narrow, single-track rural road with limited passing places, poor sight lines, and no footpaths. It is already used by agricultural vehicles, horse riders, cyclists, walkers, and local residents. The introduction of additional heavy goods vehicles, towing vehicles, low-loaders, caravans, and fairground equipment associated with Travelling Showpeople would dramatically increase the volume, size, and weight of traffic on a road that is manifestly incapable of accommodating it safely. Emergency service access would be severely compromised, and the risk to all road users — particularly vulnerable pedestrians and equestrians — would be unacceptable. A fatal accident occurred on the almost identical Thurnham Lane (less than 0.5 miles away) in 2024. Approving this application would significantly heighten the likelihood of further serious incidents. 2. Harm to the Character and Appearance of the Rural Landscape The site lies in open countryside on the edge of the Kent Downs National Landscape and forms part of the valued rural setting of Bearsted village. The proposed development, by its very nature, would introduce a significant amount of built form, hardstanding, lighting, storage of large vehicles and equipment, and associated domestic and commercial activity into an area currently characterised by agriculture and tranquility. Such development would cause substantial harm to the landscape and visual amenity of the area and would conflict with local and national policies that seek to protect the countryside from inappropriate development. Furthermore, the lower end of Water Lane is known to suffer from serious surface-water flooding and poor natural drainage. Creating the extensive hard surfacing and access tracks required for heavy vehicles would inevitably exacerbate runoff, increase flood risk elsewhere, and further urbanise the appearance of this rural lane. A number of vehicles have blocked the road where they have attempted to drive through the flooded water. 3. Unsustainable Pressure on Local Infrastructure and Services Bearsted and the surrounding villages are already experiencing considerable strain on schools, GP surgeries, and the local road network as a result of recent housing developments. The addition of a Travelling Showpeople site — with its potential for seasonal population increases and intensive vehicle movements — would place further unacceptable pressure on these limited facilities and on an already constrained rural road network. 4. Adverse Environmental and Residential Amenity Impacts The proposed site lacks adequate natural screening and is in close proximity to existing homes. The inevitable noise, light pollution, and general activity associated with the storage, maintenance, and movement of fairground equipment would seriously harm the amenity of neighbouring residents and the tranquility of this rural area. The development would also impact local wildlife and the wider ecological value of the countryside in this location. 5. Availability of More Suitable Alternative Sites Travelling Showpeople yards require excellent access to the strategic road network in order to minimise the impact of large, slow-moving vehicles on minor rural lanes. Water Lane manifestly fails to provide such access. It is reasonable to expect that a thorough and up-to-date sequential assessment of alternative sites — particularly those with direct or rapid access to the A20, M20, or M2 — has been carried out. I am not persuaded that this location represents the only, or indeed the least harmful, option available to meet identified need. For all of the above reasons — which relate solely to material planning considerations — I respectfully urge the Council to refuse this application. The proposed development is clearly inappropriate in this sensitive rural location, poses unacceptable risks to highway safety, and would cause significant harm to the character of the area and the amenity of local residents. Bearsted is a much-loved village whose rural setting and historic charm are highly valued by residents and visitors alike. This proposal is fundamentally incompatible with that character and with the sustainable planning of the area. Please confirm safe receipt of this objection and ensure it is placed before the planning committee when the application is determined.