Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Nothing chosen

In light of the detail below, I urge the Council not to include site C4S (008) – The Lodge, Water Lane, in the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document at this stage. The site presents significant highway safety, landscape, environmental, arboricultural, and sustainability concerns, which have not been sufficiently considered or mitigated in the Regulation 18c consultation materials. I respectfully request that the Council either remove this site from consideration or subject it to further robust assessment (including transport, landscape and ecological impact studies) before any allocation is taken forward in the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission Plan. Barbara Chandler Thank you for considering my detailed concerns as follows: 1. Inadequate Highway Access and Road Safety Concerns The proposed site is accessed via Water Lane, a narrow, rural country lane with limited width, poor visibility and no pavements or safe pedestrian routes. This road is unsuitable for increased traffic, especially vehicles associated with caravan sites and servicing, and may lead to congestion, safety risks and conflict with existing road users. There are no apparent proposals to improve access or mitigate these issues. These highway safety concerns weigh against allocation under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requirement to ensure safe and suitable access for all users. 2. Landscape Character and Environmental Impact The site lies close to the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty / National Landscape (or adjacent sensitive landscapes), where there is a strong need to protect landscape quality and local character. Development of this rural countryside site would result in visual intrusion and harm to the openness and scenic quality of the landscape. The Development Plan Document lacks robust evidence demonstrating that the landscape impact of allocating this site has been thoroughly assessed or mitigated. Local landscape harm is a valid planning concern and should be given significant weight. 3. Impact on Heritage and Arboricultural Assets There are significant Oak trees with Tree Preservation Orders on or adjacent to the site that contribute to local character and biodiversity. Allocation and subsequent development could harm these trees or place pressure for their removal. No evidence has been provided that satisfactory measures have been secured to protect these trees in perpetuity. This omission raises concerns about compliance with environmental protection policies. 4. Lack of Demonstrated Sustainability Credentials Maidstone’s Development Plan Document emphasises locating sites near existing settlements and services. The proposed site at Water Lane does not appear well related to community services, transport connections, schools or health facilities, which undermines the sustainability principles of the Plan. 5. Prematurity of Allocation Prior to Detailed Site Assessments The consultation document indicates that the list of potential sites is not final and may be subject to change, and that further detailed assessments will be undertaken. Allocating this site at the Regulation 18c stage without thorough assessments (landscape, access, ecology, deliverability, sustainability) is premature. This could result in an allocation that fails to meet sound planning tests at later stages of the plan.