A letter in response to a petition opposing the development at Chilmington Green, near Ashford, has been sent to Number 10 Downing Street.

A list of points, offering background information about the controversial plans for up to 5,750 homes, was sent to the Prime Minister on behalf of eight residents and the ward members Cllr Jessamy Blanford and Cllr Amanda Hodgkinson.

The letter was also sent to Eric Pickles MP Secretary of State for communities and local government.

Signatories included former Ashford Rural Trust chairman Ian Wolverson, former Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council chairman Ian McClintock, and residents Peter Barker, Yolanda Barker, Geoff Darvill, John Johnson, Barry Nestel and Carla Prior.

It follows the presentation of an 8,000 signature petition last week by opponents of the development.

The letter stated: “In order for you to have a balanced view we feel the following points should be considered. We do hope that this information puts the petition into context.”

Points raised included that the Chilmington Green area has been earmarked for extensive development since 1985.

It was added: “There has been full community involvement in the Local Development Framework since 2004. Multi consultations with the community have taken place throughout this period – still on-going via the Area Action Plan.”

They also claim that the petitioners from Chilmington Green had all moved to the hamlet long after it was scheduled for development.

Other issues raised included that only 16% of the electorate had turned out to vote in a parish council by-election in October 2011 and that some signatories of the petition were residents from East Sussex and towns in west Kent.

The plans for Chilmington Green are due to be sent to Mr Pickles in October before being examined later in the year.

The council’s proposed date for adopting the plan is mid-2013.