Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am expressing my objection to the suggested land allocation at The Lodge, Water Lane, Bearsted, as detailed in the draft Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document (DPD). As a resident of Thurnham, my comments are based on the criteria for plan soundness, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and the Council's responsibilities under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. While I acknowledge the Council's legal duty to find appropriate and available sites for Gypsy, Traveller, and Travelling Showpeople lodging, this particular location does not pass essential criteria for appropriateness, safety, sustainability, or adherence to current policy. 1. Non-Compliance with Road Safety and Accessibility Standards Water Lane is a restricted, single-carriageway country road characterised by: Absence of footpaths or separate pedestrian zones Poor sightlines ahead Insufficient official pull-in areas Dimensions that are unsuitable for large or special vehicles The plan depends entirely on using Water Lane for site entry, which contradicts NPPF paragraph 110. This policy demands that new developments provide secure and adequate access for all users and must not cause unacceptable highway dangers. The volume and type of traffic expected from Travelling Showpeople—such as towing vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, machinery, power units, and periodic large-scale movements—are fundamentally mismatched with the physical limitations of this road. This risk is proven; a fatal accident involving two residents recently happened on a similar lane in Bearsted, which highlights the serious and predictable consequences of increasing vehicle flow on these roads. Under planning legislation, developments that cause major, unresolvable highway safety problems must be refused. There is no viable solution proposed to bring this access point up to safe, policy-compliant standards. 2. Location is Unsustainable, Violating NPPF Guidelines The NPPF mandates that new sites should be placed in areas that allow residents and service providers sustainable access. This location possesses the following drawbacks: Significant distance from crucial local amenities Lack of public transportation links Complete necessity of using personal vehicles for all routine journeys Water Lane lacks street lighting and is completely hazardous for walking, even during working hours in winter. This situation is in direct opposition to NPPF paragraphs 8 and 105, whose objectives are to diminish the dependence on car travel and foster development aligned with sustainability goals. A location that necessitates full car dependency and is accessed via inadequate country roads cannot be deemed environmentally sound or sustainable. 3. Conflict with Rural Aesthetics and Negative Impact on Landscape The proposed area is situated in a delicate, rural environment bordering Bearsted, bordered by fields and open land. The level of activity and operational requirements of a Travelling Showpeople pitch—such as the storage of vehicles, machinery, the construction of hard surfaces, illumination, and constant movement—would substantially detract from the intrinsic character of the landscape, contravening: Policies in the Local Plan are dedicated to protecting the countryside NPPF paragraph 174 (which requires safeguarding the inherent qualities of rural areas) This development would effectively turn a rural setting into an urbanised one, constituting a severe clash of land use rather than a balanced or suitable form of construction. 4. Constraints Related to Flooding, Ground Conditions, and Water Runoff Local knowledge confirms that Water Lane experiences problems with surface water and inadequate drainage, particularly in the lower-lying sections. Introducing the following elements: Permanent paved surfaces Movement of heavy vehicles Full-time residential use creates serious worries about increased water runoff, soil compression, and overall flood hazard, conflicting with NPPF paragraphs 159–167. Insufficient documentation has been provided to show that these known issues can be effectively managed or overcome. 5. Does Not Pass the Required "Soundness" Examination For any DPD allocation to be approved as sound, it must demonstrate positive preparation, justification, effectiveness, and alignment with national policy. This proposed site falls short in several areas: Lacks Justification: Other sensible options that offer safer entry points seem to exist. Ineffective: Serious constraints on access make its practical implementation doubtful. Inconsistent with National Policy: It violates the NPPF's rules concerning safety and sustainable development. The large number of local residents registering formal complaints, including involvement from the local Member of Parliament, further confirms that this specific allocation lacks public acceptance and feasibility. My opposition is not to the requirement for accommodation but to the fundamental inappropriateness of this particular plot. The Lodge, Water Lane is demonstrably: Hazardous Unsustainable Detrimental to the environment Deficient against key planning criteria I therefore formally ask that Policy C4S (008) – The Lodge, Water Lane, be withdrawn from the draft DPD and that the Council instead commit to finding alternative locations that truly satisfy safety, accessibility, and sustainability requirements. Kindly confirm that this objection has been received and please ensure I receive updates on all subsequent phases of the DPD review process.