VILLAGERS opposing the Kent International Gateway proposals have been given 100 per cent backing by their parish councillors.

Bearsted Parish Council did not issue an immediate statement when news of the KIG proposals broke at the end of April, because it was in the throes of an election.

But the newly-elected council issued a statement after its annual meeting saying it "was 100 per cent against the KIG proposals".

It said the scheme was unacceptable because of "the inadequate local infrastructure, the environmental impact on the local community" and because the proposed road/rail depot "was in an entirely inappropriate location, close to the base of the North Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty".

Parish council chairman Richard Ash, who as a borough councillor has also just been elected Mayor of Maidstone, said: "It is quite clear that there is very, very strong opposition to the KIG proposals throughout the village."

Carol Rennison, a member of the STOPKIG steering committee, welcomed the parish council's stance. She said: "This is so huge for Bearsted. People are up in arms who normally wouldn’t dream of protesting against anything."