The final fight against Kent International Gateway begins tomorrow (Tuesday).

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the first day of the public inquiry into the plan for a road-rail freight depot covering 285 acres of countryside at Bearsted.

The initial sessions of the hearing will be held at the Ramada Hotel, in Ashford Road, Bearsted.

The area’s leading politicians including Kent County Council leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con) and MP Hugh Robertson (Con), have called for as many people as possible to attend the inquiry.

Proceedings begin at 10am with the opening remarks of the inquiry inspector Andrew Phillipson. Afterwards there will be opening statements from KIG, the Environment Agency, Natural England, StopKIG, CPRE and Mr Robertson, before the first witness is called, probably not until late in the afternoon.

The inquiry resumes on Wednesday at the same venue with evidence from a number of Maidstone council expert witnesses.

Full details from the inquiry website: www.persona.uk.com/kent/

Both Maidstone council and Kent County Council have upgraded their legal teams ahead of the inquiry.

Maidstone council, which had already engaged the services of barrister Stephen Whale, has now added Tim Corner QC to head their legal team.

KCC, who at the KIG pre-inquiry meeting were represented by their own in-house lawyer Libby McCutcheon, have now added Craig Howell Williams, QC, to their team.

Both silks are considered to be top-flight barristers in their fields, on a par with KIG’s highly regarded legal advocate Christopher Katkowski, QC.

Oxford graduate Timothy Corner was called to the bar in 1981 and made silk in 2002. He was appointed a recorder (judge) in 2004 and authorised to sit as a deputy High Court judge on the Queen’s Bench in 2008.

He has advised the Attorney General, chaired inquiries for the Home Office, and appeared for both private and public sectors at numerous public inquiries. He is a specialist in town and country planning law and environmental law. The Chambers guide lists him as a “Star Individual” - one of only 44 silks to be given that rating in the country.

Craig Howell Williams is also an expert in planning law. He has served on the Treasury Supplementary Panel of Junior Counsel. The Legal 500, the industry bible, says of him: “His presentation skills are superb.”

He represented the local authorities at the Heathrow Terminal 5 Inquiry and the Alconbury Airfield Inquiry.

He was called to the bar in 1983 and appointed Queen’s Counsel earlier this year.

Speaking for Maidstone council, Roger Adley said: “We have a top team to present our case at the inquiry.”