Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Nothing chosen

General Comments YPC fully supports the comments of The Maidstone Area Committee of The Kent Association of Local Councils. Existing sites YPC is led to believe that the map of current sites included within the consultation plan seeks to show the broad location of all existing sites in the borough regardless of their legal status. In terms of what happens to these sites once the plan is adopted, we are led to believe that any existing permanent authorised sites will remain as such. Any existing illegal or unauthorised sites will also remain as such, even if they are allocated. No sites will automatically gain planning consent by virtue of being included within the plan, an applicant would still be required to submit a planning application to Maidstone Borough Council for determination in the usual way. YPC feel that if and when the plan is adopted there needs to be a commitment to take enforcement action against the remaining illegal or unauthorised sites, some of these sites have been under enforcement for more than 15 years. They also form a significant number of pitches and therefore give rise to a misconception of the number of pitches required. Yalding Specific allocations - Policy TR4 Call for Sites submissions with nominated site capacities C4S (011) - Highlands Farm (East) – Site A- 8 pitches and C4S (012) - Highlands Farm (East) – Site B - 16 pitches. Both these sites are subject to enforcement action for the stationing of caravans without planning permission, this enforcement dates back to 2023, yet development continues. To allocate these developments would lead to a substantial over intensification in the open countryside. There have recently been a number of anti-social behaviour issues on Yalding Hill outside this development, primarily youths throwing eggs and rocks at passing cars. Call for Sites submissions without nominated site capacities - C4S (001) - Land at Kenward Road/The Cherry Orchard Yalding Parish Council have several concerns with the allocation of this site. This is a very large site therefore to state that planning permission for a none specified number of permanent pitches will be granted is unacceptable and make it impossible to achieve meaningfully consultation. A small number of pitches will have a very different impact to a large about of pitches. The site over looks an important listed building that is the home of Kenward Trust an alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation Centre. The development is located in an environmentally unsustainable rural location with no bus service giving a substantial unlit and unsafe walk to any public transport options in both directions. Future occupants would be reliant on the private motor vehicle for day to day needs, including access to goods and services, school, employment and health care. There are no bus stops or routes within 1100m and no Primary School, GP or Shop within 1500m. As such the development is not sustainable It would be almost impossible to get the mobile homes on site, there is a weight restriction on the Bow bridge in one direction, this is not an environmental restriction it is a structural 3.5T limit. In the other direction at the junction of Kenward Road and Yalding Hill, large vehicles cannot exit without mounting Yalding Village Green or hitting The Walnut Tree fence. Both have suffered from significant damage and Councilors have concerns with regard to the safety of the war memorial. 112 properties are approved for development on Kenward Road, closer to Yalding Village, in 2026. This development comes with no conditions to improve the highway at Kenward Road or Bow Hill. Of particulate concern is the heavily congested junction at Kenward Road and Yalding Hill, sight lines at this junction are poor and causes a buildup of traffic. Councillors believe that traffic generated by the new housing will be forced to go in the opposite direction to the junction of Bow Hill and Maidstone Road, past this site. No improvements have been allowed for at either of these junctions, therefore further development anywhere on Kenward Road would exasperate this. Kenward Road is used as a rat run to avoid Yalding Town Bridge, it is impassable in places and is heavily congested at peak times. At times of flooding Bow Hill becomes impassable, forcing all traffic into Yalding Village where the B2162 could also be impassable due to flood water. The single track lanes of Hunt Street and Small Profits is not a suitable or safe alternative.