Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document
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There is no space for expansion in Bearsted. Local service and schools already overhwelmed.
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I have recently learned of the proposal to allocate land in Water Lane to gypsies, travellers and travelling show people. Whilst I appreciate that it is part of Government policy to provide land, a proposal I feel is fair if the conditions are appropriate, I strongly feel that the location proposed in Water Lane is totally unsuitable. Firstly, the land is located on a Country Lane. The lane is narrow, with a narrow pedestrian pathway, and often congested during peak times. Also, cars having left the Ashford Road are often driving very fast. It needs to be strongly considered that there are significant safety risks in providing land at this site. Given the sparsity of local schools, often school children take this route to Thurnham and Roseacre Primary Schools. This has become all the more common since the nearby housing developments. Quite simply, children will be put at risk. This also raises a separate point. Children are in some cases walking nearly two miles to get to the nearest primary schools. Both Thurnham and Roseacre are three- form entry schools (with around 95 pupils in each year). The local schools cannot cope. At some of the other alternative sites, schools are not as overwhelmed. Many of the trees on the land hold TPOs. I live in an area in Bearsted where many of my neighbours have trees with TPOs, which are designed to preserve the natural environment. This development would completely contradict the council's policy of preserving trees in the village. In addition to this, many residents around the green, which is a few hundred yards from the site, face strict legislation around changing the appearance of their property. Again this proposal would completely contradict that, especially given its importance as part of the Kent Downs landscape. The village has seen more than enough development in recent years. I feel that residents, myself included, do not feel that the local area can cope with more. I would strongly ask you to consider alternatives given the negative impact this proposed site would have on the village, the environment and local services.
