Kent International Gateway is to bypass Maidstone council and go straight to an appeal inspector.

The shock news was revealed by Kent County Council leader Paul Carter (Con) to a meeting of 350 supporters of the StopKIG campaign at a public meeting last night.

Cllr Carter said that KIG had filed an appeal on the grounds that Maidstone council has taken too long to make a decision on its plan for a road/rail freight depot across 264 acres of Kent countryside.

But there was some doubt as to whether KIG would be successful because the delay to the decision is the result of an order from the Highways Authority prohibiting the council from debating the plan - even if it wanted to - before June.

Speaker after speaker at the meeting condemned KIG and its financial backers AXA for attempting to bypass the democratic process.

Richard Horton, chairman of StopKIG.org said: "KIG wants to stifle the views of the people of Maidstone. So much for democracy. They are attempting to cynically manipulate the planning system.

"They have effectively just told us that they don’t care what the people of Maidstone think."

But Cllr Carter said that it was more important than ever that people responded to Maidstone’s consultation on the application.

Even if the appeal is allowed, Maidstone council would still have to come to an opinion on the application, even though it will no longer be the deciding voice.

All objections made to the council before this Friday will also be automatically passed on to the appeal inspector.

He said: "Every one must wrote or email with their objection by Friday."

Cllr Richard Jaques, chairman of the joint parishes group, agreed. He said: "This is the most important bit of democracy you will ever undertake."

Responses to the KIG application should be made to: Steve Clarke, Planning Officer, Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ or by email by clicking here