KIG representatives put their case - while a protestor shows his disapproval

by Alan Smith

Maidstone council has rejected plans for the Kent International Gateway freight depot at Bearsted.

The unanimous vote by members of the planning committee came at the end of a four-and-a-half-hour meeting.

Officers lined up to condemn the proposals on every possible ground, ranging from the effects on traffic, pollution, destruction of the countryside, damage to wildlife, and loss of archaeological heritage to the damage to the council's own plans and ambitions for the future development of the town.

Officers made it quite clear they did not believe the proposals would result in a modal shift of freight from road to rail, with the project instead acting mainly as a regional distribution centre by road with an anticipated 6,000 lorry movements a day.

The decision delighted the 700-strong audience at the meeting held at the Maidstone TV studios on Thursday night.

Speaker after speaker slated the plans to build across 285 acres at the foot of the North Downs.

KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con) said if the scheme were ever allowed it would become known as the "demon of the south".

Hugh Robertson (Con), MP for Mid Kent, said the proposals would devastate the "ancient and beautiful" villages of Thurnham, Bearsted and Hollingbourne.

~ Read more about the meeting on the Kent Messenger website >>>