Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to formally object to the proposed gypsy encampment development in Bearsted. I grew up in Bearsted, and my parents still live in the village. I therefore have a long-standing personal connection to the area and a strong interest in its future. Bearsted is a well-established village with limited infrastructure capacity, and further development of this nature risks placing additional strain on local services, roads, and amenities that are already under pressure. Kent already accommodates a disproportionately high number of gypsy and traveller sites compared with other local authorities in the UK. This proposal raises serious concerns about fairness and balance in regional planning, particularly when many other councils do not shoulder a comparable share of provision. Since moving to rural Kent and speaking with members of the local community, I am aware of widespread concern about the financial and social impact such sites can have on local taxpayers, including increased costs for site management, enforcement, and clean-up. These are legitimate concerns that should not be dismissed and must be properly addressed through transparent evidence and consultation. I am also concerned about the consultation process itself. I intended to submit my views via the public survey, which stated a closing date of 11 January 2026, only to discover that it had already closed. This has left residents like myself with no option but to raise objections by email, which undermines confidence in the accessibility and fairness of the process. I respectfully request that Maidstone Borough Council reconsiders this proposal, fully reviews alternative locations, and ensures that the views of Bearsted residents are genuinely taken into account before any decision is made.