Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to formally raise my objections to the following sites currently under consideration by the Council as part of the Call for Sites exercise for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation. Policy C4S (008) – The Lodge I am concerned that the Council has not specified the number of pitches being proposed for this site. Regardless of scale, The Lodge is accessed via a very narrow country lane, which would be wholly unsuitable for development of this nature. In addition, there are strong local concerns that development would have a detrimental impact on the Kent Downs National Landscape. The site also contains several important oak trees that are protected by Tree Preservation Orders, which could be negatively affected by any development. Policy C4S (017) – The Brishings This site is extremely unpopular with local residents, to the extent that a petition has been organised in opposition. It is important that the Council gives due weight to the strength of local opinion when making planning decisions. Having recently purchased a house in XXXXX had I know about the proposal I would never have purchased the house. I believe there to be a conflict of interest as the person trying to sell this land for this plan also works as the sales person for Connels estate agents who were the agents selling the houses on the XXXXX development. The proposed development for the travellers site has purposefully been withheld from anyone purchasing in XXXXX which is dishonest, I know none of the residents in the new XXXXX development would have bought their house had they know about this proposal. Furthermore, as with The Lodge on Green Lane, access to this site is via a single-track country lane. This road would be entirely incapable of accommodating the level of traffic that a development of approximately 20 pitches would generate. I trust these concerns will be carefully considered as part of the ongoing assessment of sites. I am writing to formally raise a matter of serious concern regarding your operations in Bearsted, specifically the conduct of your sales representative, Sarah Smith, and her involvement in the proposed Gypsy and Traveller site at Lodge Farm, Water Lane. It has now become widely known within the Roundwell Park community that Ms. Smith has a direct personal interest in this proposal. Residents are aware that in 2022 she submitted her own land at Lodge Farm for consideration as a development site. This information has circulated extensively within the local community and has caused significant alarm. Residents, including myself, find it wholly unacceptable that Ms. Smith is actively selling properties at your Roundwell Park development—located less than a mile from Lodge Farm—while simultaneously promoting a private site proposal that is widely expected to adversely affect local property values and buyer confidence. This represents a clear, serious, and unmanaged conflict of interest. At best, this demonstrates a failure of disclosure; at worst, it raises concerns of deliberate misrepresentation by omission. As Maidstone Borough Council has increased transparency around its site selection process, awareness of the Lodge Farm proposal has grown substantially across Bearsted. This has resulted in widespread opposition, with a significant number of formal objections now being lodged. In addition to the above, it has also come to my attention that Ms. Smith has disclosed personal and confidential information about my household and our circumstances relating to the purchase of our property to neighbouring residents. This disclosure was made without consent and constitutes a clear breach of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). I consider this matter extremely serious and intend to pursue it formally. I must also make it clear that we would never have purchased this property had we been made aware—either directly or indirectly—of the intended plans for the proposed Gypsy and Traveller site at Lodge Farm, Water Lane. The absence of this material information at the point of sale has caused significant distress and financial concern. This situation presents a substantial commercial and reputational risk to your business, including but not limited to: Adoption Timeline: Council documentation indicates that the plan could reach formal adoption by early summer 2027. Market and Valuation Impact: Once adopted, the site will be formally recorded within local land searches, meaning all future conveyancing in Bearsted will flag this proposal. Legal and Ethical Exposure: The apparent conflict of interest, combined with the alleged misuse of personal data, raises serious questions regarding compliance, governance, and professional standards. Given the seriousness of these matters, I expect a clear response outlining how you intend to address: The conflict of interest created by Ms. Smith’s dual role; The alleged breach of data protection legislation; and The failure to disclose material information that directly influenced our decision to purchase. I look forward to your prompt response and clarification of the actions you intend to take.