Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I submit a formal objection to the proposed allocation of The Lodge, Water Lane, Bearsted within the emerging Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople DPD, having regard to the tests of soundness, the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). While acknowledging the Council’s statutory duty to make provision, this site fails fundamental tests of suitability, safety, sustainability and policy compliance. Highway Safety and Emergency Access Access relies solely on Water Lane, a narrow single-track rural lane with no footways, poor visibility and sub-standard geometry. The scale and nature of vehicle movements associated with Travelling Showpeople use conflicts with NPPF paragraph 110, which requires safe and suitable access for all users. Emergency vehicle access would be severely constrained, contrary to NPPF paragraphs 92 and 130, which require development to create safe and secure environments and to function effectively for emergency services. Isolated and Unsafe Location The site is physically isolated between a motorway and active railway lines, creating an enclosed and unsuitable residential environment. This raises serious concerns for resident safety, wellbeing, noise and air quality, conflicting with NPPF paragraph 135 (high standard of amenity) and paragraph 8 (social sustainability). Unsustainable Development The site is remote from services and public transport, resulting in complete reliance on private vehicles. This directly conflicts with NPPF paragraphs 8, 105 and 110, which seek to promote sustainable patterns of development and reduce car dependency. Landscape and Countryside Harm The proposal would introduce an intensive, operational use into open countryside, causing material harm to rural character, contrary to local countryside protection policies and NPPF paragraph 174, which safeguards the intrinsic character of the countryside. Flooding and Drainage Constraints Known surface water and drainage issues along Water Lane raise concerns regarding flood risk and runoff, conflicting with NPPF paragraphs 159–167. No robust evidence demonstrates that these constraints can be mitigated. Failure of the Tests of Soundness The allocation is not justified, not effective, and not consistent with national policy, as required by NPPF paragraph 35. Severe access constraints undermine deliverability, and reasonable alternative sites with safer access appear to exist. Conclusion This objection is not to the principle of provision, but to the unsuitability of this site. For the reasons set out above, I respectfully request that Policy C4S (008) – The Lodge, Water Lane is removed from the emerging DPD.