Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development of a Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Show people site on Water Lane, Bearsted. My concerns are based on planning considerations and the potential impact on the local community and environment. 1. Location Suitability The proposed site is situated on a narrow rural lane, that is unsuitable for increased traffic and large vehicles. Water Lane lacks adequate infrastructure to support such development, it is a single track road, has no footpath and no street lighting. 2. Access to Services The site is remote from essential services such as shops, schools, healthcare, and public transport. This isolation will create significant challenges for residents and increase reliance on private vehicles. 3. Highways and Road Safety Water Lane is a narrow country road with limited visibility and passing points. Increased traffic will lead to further congestion and pose serious safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and other road users. 4. Landscape and Rural Character The development would have a detrimental impact on the rural character and visual amenity of Bearsted and the Kent Downs National Landscape. The open countryside setting is a key feature of the area, and this proposal would erode its landscape quality. 5. Environmental and Ecological Impact The site contains hedgerows and wildlife habitats that could be disrupted. Drainage concerns also arise, as the land may not be suitable for the required infrastructure without harming the local ecology. The site has several important oak trees, which have preservation orders and the area is prone to flooding. 6. Cumulative Impact Bearsted already faces pressure on local services and infrastructure. Adding this development would exacerbate these issues, placing a further strain on schools, healthcare, and utilities. 7. Previous Planning History This site was submitted to the earlier call for sites for housing. It was not carried forward into the local plan due to its unsustainable location and inadequate access. If the site has already been found as an unsuitable location for housing it follows that it must also be an unsuitable location for gypsies and travellers. 8. Alternative With two new Garden Villages proposed at Lidsing and Heathlands there is a unique opportunity to allocate land for gypsies and travellers which would be conveniently served by all the new facilities required within these garden villages. To conclude, I urge the planning authority to reject this proposal on the grounds of location unsuitability, highway safety, environmental harm, and negative impact on residential amenity and local infrastructure.