Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I wish to lodge our household’s strong objection to the above proposed site, off Bearsted’s Water Lane. We live in XXXX, Thurnham, probably the nearest properties to the proposed site as the crow flies and understandably have concerns that my wife Jacqueline and stepson Charles Woodward feel should be seriously considered. It goes without saying that a site such as this would impact all the following points negatively. We moved from within Bearsted to the Sycamores development because of its residential amenity, but living as close as we might to the proposed site would directly affect our privacy with the additional noise and light pollution and with the proposed location in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this would surely impact the landscape visually too, while also affecting the present rural character of the area? Bearsted’s Water Lane is already renowned for regular flooding at all times of the year, so any increased demands on drainage or hedgerow removal will affect local environment and ecology and wildlife. The change from the current one or two dwellings to a multi plot site will without question, create repercussions on highways and access with increased congestion, reduced road safety and poor visibility in the area which are regular rat runs when the M20 has issues (frequently with Operation Brock). All of this has a cumulative impact, adding further pressure on already stretched local schools, services and infrastructure. This location is simply neither suitable nor sustainable for a gypsy and traveller site. Having mentioned the above points, it would be Interesting to understand the expectation how such a site’s implementation would benefit or contribute to the local community? As a resident of Kent all my life and Bearsted for well over 30 years, having discussed this proposal with our neighbours, I think it only fair and balanced to share that all my neighbours sadly have only negative experiences of the Traveller Community, in light of and completely unlike (surely impartial?) Maidstone Borough Council’s Cabinet Member Tony Harwood’s somewhat rose tinted childhood view, which was permitted to be published in his Foreword in the Development Plan Document. I look forward to this application being refused. Thank you.