Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to you as a resident of Bearsted and a dedicated member of this community to formally object to the proposed allocation of the site referenced above (C4S - 008) for use as a Gypsy and Traveller site. ​My family and I choose to live in Bearsted because of its unique character. It is a rare example of a British village that has retained its heritage and community cohesion without being overtaken by excessive commercialisation or sprawl. We view ourselves as custodians of this environment for future generations, including my own children. I believe this proposal is fundamentally flawed and would cause irreversible harm to the village for the following planning, environmental, and safety reasons: ​1. Highway Safety and Access (Water Lane) The proposed access via Water Lane is entirely unsuitable for a development of this nature, particularly regarding the movement of large static caravans and towing vehicles. ​Inadequate Width: The lane is far too narrow to safely accommodate the transportation of mobile homes without causing obstruction or damage to the verges and hedgerows. ​Pedestrian Safety: Water Lane lacks footpaths and street lighting. Increasing traffic volume with large vehicles presents an unacceptable risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and local residents who use the lane. ​Dangerous Sight Lines: The visibility at the turning point for the proposed site is already poor. Introducing slow-moving, heavy vehicles entering and exiting the site will create a severe traffic hazard. ​2. Environmental Impact and Landscape Character The site is situated in a sensitive location, backing onto the North Downs. ​Impact on AONB: The introduction of mobile homes, utility blocks, and associated paraphernalia would be visually intrusive and incongruous with the landscape, compromising the setting of the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). ​Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): The site contains or is bordered by mature oak trees protected by TPOs. The development, specifically the necessary hard surfacing and movement of heavy homes, poses a direct threat to the root protection areas of these trees. ​3. Flooding and Drainage Water Lane is historically prone to flooding. The development of this site would require a significant increase in impermeable hard surfacing (concrete/tarmac) to support the caravans and vehicles. This will inevitably increase surface water runoff, exacerbating the existing flooding issues on the lane and potentially affecting neighbouring properties. ​4. Sustainability and Scale There is a genuine concern regarding the intensification of use at this location. Historically, sites of this nature can be difficult to regulate in terms of the number of occupants and vehicles once established. ​Village Envelope: Approval of this site would represent an encroachment into the countryside, eroding the defined boundary of the village. ​Unsuitability of Location: Given the lack of safe pedestrian access to local amenities (schools, shops) due to the state of Water Lane, this location is unsustainable for new residents, forcing a reliance on private vehicles. ​I urge the Council to reject this proposal. It is contrary to the interests of highway safety, environmental preservation, and the protection of Bearsted’s distinct village character.