Villagers have failed in their efforts to stop hundreds more lorries passing by their homes every day.

County councillors have approved plans by Aylesford Newsprint that will bring up to 370 lorries travelling to and from Margetts Pit, Burham, each day as the company strives to fill and cap the pit by next year.

The plan sparked widespread protests from villagers in Burham, Eccles and Woudham who fear it will make narrow roads even more dangerous and lead to traffic chaos.

However, the plan has not been condemned by everyone: some villagers say they want the work completed as soon as possible because their homes are routinely covered by dust.

Opponents took their campaign to County Hall this week where they staged a protest ahead of a meeting of KCC’s planning committee.

At the meeting, county councillor Geoff Rowe, who represents Malling Rural North, said he was concerned that villagers had not been offered any support to limit the impact of the extra HGV traffic. He also questioned why Aylesford Newsprint had not taken steps sooner to ensure that it complied with EU regulations means that it has until July next year to meet a deadline to fill the pit.

He said: “While residents have accepted the normal lorry movements along this route, they are very concerned about any substantial increase this application would bring.”

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