Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Strongly disagree

I write to OBJECT in the strongest terms to the proposal for additional Gypsy Traveller Show People (GTSP) site in Water Lane, Bearsted for the following reasons: it is a totally inappropriate site for this use, especially for access and egress as Water Lane is a narrow country lane in a village setting. The increased volume of traffic and equipment, larger vehicles and longer towed trailer vehicles for show people and travellers is totally unsuitable for the logistics in this small country lane in the heart in the village of Bearsted Maidstone already has one of the highest number of GTSP sites in Kent and in the country so no more sites in this area are welcome by the residents and communities should this proposal go ahead, this will attract further expansion in the neighbouring fields (a windfall plot) which the facilities of small villages like Bearsted, Thurnham and Hollingbourne cannot accommodate surrounding country lanes in quiet areas (eg White Horse Woods, Cold Blow Lane etc) already attract uncontrolled fly tipping which could resemble (and is highly likely) similar to the site that was at Junction 5 in Aylesford where dumping was a common problem on the actual living land itself as well as the fly tipping in surrounding areas more GTSP activity in these small villages would change the amenity of village life and pubs, restaurants and would have a negative impact on Bearsted, Thurnham and Hollingbourne, with anti social behaviour a particular problem already experience in Maidstone, Rochester and other Kent towns. The village would not cope and it would have a detrimental effect educational establishments in Bearsted and Hollingbourne already have over subscribed schools and nurseries, and because GTSP children attend or not attend frequently, this would have a detrimental effect to the learning of existing students and the teaching in these schools (historically this can be proven with Detling Primary School which was closed! an expanding GTSP site would have a negative impact on travel and tourism in the area it would also have a hugely negative impact on the conservation areas and the AONB with proven disregard from the GTSP sites including TPOs and a negative impact on the beauty of the North Downs at the other end of Water Lane as is the heritage and nature of Show People to have large towed vehicles, this would be an absolute impossibility to pass through the single lanes in the village of Bearsted there will be increased demand on facilities already struggling to support the community, eg doctor, schools at the moment the existing accommodation is one home and residence with an abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna which would be non existent should plans for the GTSP site be allowed. There is not a single benefit to any resident in the village of Bearsted, Thurnham or Hollingbourne for a GTSP site. This will not enhance or improve the area and could have a hugely detrimental affect to living in any of the surrounding areas. Therefore I strongly object with every reason for MBC to discount this wholly inappropriate proposal. The community, residents, tourists and any future residents would be negatively affected for all the reasons shown above.