Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

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I write on behalf of Stockbury Parish Council in relation to the recent consultation on the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document. At its meeting on 21 January 2026, the Parish Council considered the consultation material in detail and resolved to formally raise concerns regarding the accuracy of the Gypsy and Traveller pitch figures currently attributed to Stockbury Parish. Stockbury Parish Council recognises and supports the need for Maidstone Borough Council to plan positively and responsibly for the accommodation needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities. However, it is essential that the baseline data used to inform the Development Plan Document is accurate and reflects the true level of existing provision in each parish. From reviewing the consultation documents, it is not clear that the current level of authorised and unauthorised provision within Stockbury Parish has been fully or accurately represented. The Parish Council is concerned that this may lead to an incorrect understanding of the contribution already made by the parish and could result in inappropriate future allocations. Local Evidence Held by Stockbury Parish Council The Parish Council holds detailed information regarding existing Gypsy and Traveller sites within Stockbury Parish. This information is based on the most recent bi-annual caravan count undertaken in January 2025, provided by Maidstone Borough Council. For clarity, the Parish Council’s current data is summarised (Please see attached): The figures above indicate that Stockbury Parish currently accommodates the equivalent of: • Approximately 63 authorised pitches, and • Approximately 25 additional unauthorised pitches, Resulting in a combined equivalent of around 88 pitches located within Stockbury Parish. This represents a very significant level of existing provision within a small rural parish and demonstrates that Stockbury is already making a disproportionately high contribution toward meeting borough-wide Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs. The Parish Council is concerned that if the full extent of existing authorised and unauthorised provision is not properly reflected within the evidence base, there is a serious risk that: • Future policy decisions could be based on incomplete or inaccurate information; • Additional allocations could be directed towards Stockbury Parish in the mistaken belief that current provision is limited; • Unsustainable pressure could be placed on a parish with limited infrastructure, services, public transport and highway capacity; and • Community confidence in the fairness and balance of the planning process could be undermined. Position of Stockbury Parish Council on Future Allocations Based on the evidence set out above, Stockbury Parish Council considers that: • The parish already hosts a high and disproportionate number of authorised and unauthorised pitches in comparison to many other parishes within Maidstone Borough; • Existing provision within Stockbury is already well above what would reasonably be expected for a small rural parish; and • The infrastructure and environmental capacity of the parish to accommodate further sites has already been exceeded. The Parish Council therefore strongly believes that no further Gypsy and Traveller sites or pitch allocations should be made within Stockbury Parish through this Development Plan Document or any future reiterations of it. Any additional need arising within the borough should be met in locations that do not already carry such a substantial concentration of provision and where infrastructure, services and sustainability considerations are more appropriate. Stockbury Parish Council respectfully requests that Maidstone Borough Council: 1. Reviews the pitch figures currently attributed to Stockbury Parish within the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document and all supporting evidence papers. 2. Cross-checks these figures against the most recent caravan count data, enforcement records and site monitoring information. 3. Amends all future consultation documents, maps and evidence tables to ensure that the true level of existing provision within Stockbury Parish is accurately reflected. 4. Recognises within the Development Plan that Stockbury Parish already accommodates a high level of provision and that, as a consequence, no further Gypsy and Traveller site allocations should be directed to Stockbury Parish. 5. Confirms in writing how this local evidence and the Parish Council’s position will be taken into account prior to the Regulation 19 stage of the Plan. The Parish Council understands that the formal consultation period has now ended but would be grateful if the concerns and evidence set out in this letter could still be taken into consideration as part of the ongoing preparation and refinement of the Development Plan Document. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and advise how Maidstone Borough Council intends to respond to this request for review.