Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I would like to express my concern/objection to the proposed site in Bearsted/Thurnham. My primary objection is on the grounds of cumulative impact. Having lived in the area for over 20 years (and being from Maidstone originally), I feel the area is completely overdeveloped. The roads are not coping with the volume of traffic generated from all the new builds and the infrastructure has not been put in place to facilitate that process. This is not just from the immediate area but also from the endless estates of housing along Church Road Othman and the Sutton Road which then use Willington Street and New Cut to access the M20 at Junction 7. This creates even more traffic through the village of Bearsted. The roads are in a constant state of disrepair and the utilities (gas/water mains particularly) seem to need ongoing repair causing further problems and endless road closures leading to considerable frustration and long journey times on local journeys. Combine this with the frequent use of Operation Brock which brings the area to a virtual standstill at times and I really do not feel that there is tolerance for any further development. The same extends to the local GP surgeries and how difficult it is to get an appointment, let alone NHS dentists and Hospital appointments. I feel too that any such site would have a detrimental effect on the rural look of the land and inevitably impact the local wildlife. I am by no means a drainage expert but the building work behind Barry House and on Crosskeys (which is a flood plain) in the village frequently causes flooding in Water Lane and The Street. How would this be with additional usage and habitation? I cannot believe it would be helpful. I worry too about the potential antisocial behaviour and lawlessness that goes with such sites and the impact on the local area.