The planning inquiry into whether Croudace should be allowed to build 500 homes across two fields off Hermitage Lane in Allington, near Maidstone, continues today.

It is now day three of the hearing at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne and this morning it was the turn of the only independent witness to give evidence.

Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), who represents Allington, was not appearing as a witness for either the applicants, the borough council nor the New Allington Action Group, but he asked to address the inspector.

Cllr Daley said: “I do not present myself as an expert witness, but as a member of the community whose role it is to observe development in and around my ward and to listen to the concerns and aspirations of my constituents.

“I attempt to have a commonsense approach to the many changes which have come about through what passes for progress through the years.

“During many of these years the reservoir field site off Hermitage has been the subject of much speculation as to exactly how large a development on it might be allowed when eventually it was given permission.

“In the year 2,000 that was 280 houses. It has now escalated to 500 if one includes the hospital field, but the land has not increased in size.”

Cllr Daley raised concerns about the water reservoir that stood prominently in the northern field and was scheduled to be surrounded by 420 houses.

He said: “As late as 2012 it was assumed this reservoir was to be taken out of service. That is not now the case. Southern Water has declared it to be a service reservoir for the foreseeable future to complement the new larger reservoir which has been built on the western side of Hermitage Lane.”

He said the northern field lay on a major aquifer within the Hythe beds and along the Greensand Ridge. There were two springs present on the site neither of which was mentioned in the developer’s report.

The reservoir capacity is 9.1 million litres. The land was unstable, known to be subject to movement and subsidence and to the opening of sudden sink holes. There had been several in the locality in the recent past, one on the hospital site this year.

Cllr Daley said maintaining fresh water supplies were a concern in Maidstone with the town having been declared to be in a “water-scarce” area.

He said: “The risk of contamination of the fresh water through seepage and groundwater run-off is real, particularly during the development stage.

“Worse disaster awaits if anything should happen to rupture the structure to suddenly release 9,000 tonnes of water downhill towards Howard Drive.”

Cllr Daley also raised a point about the importance of the woodland which had not yet been included in anyone else’s evidence.

He said: “The psychiatric wing of Maidstone Hospital has stated that the woodland is a prime asset used by them to help their disturbed patients, by providing a quiet and peaceful retreat, which is an important part of their therapy.

“This quiet aspect is also something that is valued highly by the local population.”

Cllr Daley’s evidence was not challenged by Croudace’s QC, Christopher Boyle.

After Cllr Daley, it was the turn of town planner James Bailey to give evidence on behalf of Maidstone council.

Mr Bailey explained that the council’s Local Plan saved policies were not all out of date, though the one allocating the development site for housing was “partly out of date”.

He went on to explain that the council considered that the northern field was a sustainable site for development, but the hospital field was not because it would require a road to be forged between the woodland that separated the two fields.

He said it would be contrary to the council’s saved policy requiring the retention of trees and woodland.

Mr Bailey admitted the council’s policies “are pulling in different directions” but said: “Overall, they do not support this development.”

The inquiry resumes tomorrow (Friday), rests on Monday and may conclude on Tuesday. It is open to the public.