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Video: Day one of the KIG
planning inquiry

by Alan Smith

Hugh Robertson MP was given a
standing ovation during the opening scenes of the public inquiry
into KIG.

Mr Robertson (Con) said
he was taking the “extremely unusual” step for an MP of addressing
a planning inquiry because of the enormous postbag he had had from
his constitutants.

He said: “I have never
experienced anything similar in nearly a decade as this area’s
Member of Parliament and, looking back in the constituency records,
even the Channel Tunnel Rail Link did not generate the same amount
of hostile constituency correspondence.

“It is an extraordinary
feature of the Kent International Gateway proposal that not a
single elected representative, at any level or of any political
party supports this application. As the Member of Parliament, I am
resolutely opposed - as is my colleague and neighbour Rt Hon Ann
Widdecombe MP – who represents Maidstone and the Weald and whose
constituency boundary abuts the site.

“This opposition is
shared by the county council, and the borough council whose
planning committee earlier this year unanimously rejected the
application.

“At the local level, an
alliance of 14 parish councils have united in their opposition to
the plan. Under the banner of the Joint Parishes Group, this group
of volunteers have come together, giving up their time and money,
because they all believe that this application must be
defeated.

“Finally, and most
importantly, there are the local people themselves - my
constituents many of whom are in the hall today.

“Nearly 9,000 people have
joined the protest group, STOPKIG, and nearly 6,000 letters of
objection have been sent to Maidstone Borough Council. Remarkably,
in all this time, I have not had a single letter, e-mail or
communication from any constituent in favour of Kent International
Gateway with the exception of a publican, high in the North Downs,
who thought he might get some more overnight lodgers during the
construction phase!”

Mr Robertson pleaded with
the inspector: “If the views of the local people, and their elected
representatives, count for anything at all, please refuse planning
permission.”

There was jubilation
among the StopKIG campaign with the numbers of supporters who
turned out for the first day of the inqury estimated at 800. The
hall at the Ramada Hotel was full with many people standing, and
others had to listen to the debate relayed by loudspeaker in an
adjoining lobby.

As the protestors and officials arrived they were
greeted at various intervals along the A20 with the sight of twin
containers loaded one atop another with the message “Thousands more
like this, twice as high.” emblazoned on them. The stunt was
organised by the StopKIG campaign.

But there was also bad
news for the No campaigners, who learned that Tonbridge and Malling
council were satisfied with new information produced by KIG on the
likely effects of the development on air quality and that they had
withdrawn their objection.

During the course of the
morning’s hearings, the inspector Andrew Phillipson also indicated
that he was ready to accept yet more amended plans submitted by KIG
at the last minute, reducing the size of one of the warehouses so
that a watercourse could be retained without diversion or
culverting. The Environment Agency said that although the new
arrangement was “far from optimal” it was satisfactory, and the
agency then also withdrew its objections.

The inquiry resumes
tomorrow (Wednesday) at the same venue at 10am when three of
Maidstone council’s expert witnesses will give evidence.