THE proposed Kent International Gateway depot near junction 8 of the M20 will be the subject of a public debate next month.

Speakers at the debate, organised by Kent Councy Council, will include its leader, Cllr Paul Carter (Con), Cllr Fran Wilson(Lib Dem), leader of Maidstone Borough Council, Lord Bruce-Lockhart, chairman of the Local Government Association, Faversham and Mid Kent MP Hugh Robertson (Con), and Dr Hilary Newport, Kent director of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Local protestors will be represented by Richard Horton, chairman of the STOPKIG campaign, and by Brian Clifford, chairman of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society.

The debate will take place in the large hall at Invicta Grammar School, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, on Friday, July 6 from 7pm to 9pm. The public will be allowed to ask questions.

Former BBC Radio Kent presenter Barbara Sturgeon will chair the meeting.

KCC has invited KIG to send a representative, but the company has yet to accept the invitation.