Maidstone council’s controversial draft economic and develeopment strategy, which was approved by a majority vote of the council ‘s policy and resources committee on Wednesday of last week, is to be debated by the full council.

Cllr Paulina Stockell (Con) was among a small number of committee members who objected strongly to the late inclusion of Junction 8 in the strategy as an area of search for employment land.

Unable to persuade fellow committee members to remove reference to that area, she is hoping to have more success with the full council and said she had secured the signatures of more than the five councillors necessary to force a call-in, which will also give members of the public the opportinity to speak.

The call-in has been signed by Conservative Cllrs Steve McLaughlin, Richard Thick, Martin Round, Valerie Springett, Nick de Wiggondene, John Perry, Daphne Parvin and Louise Brice, and by Independent Cllr Gordon Newton, and by Cllr Stockell herself.

Cllr Stockell said: “The draft policy was recently changed to include specific reference to economic development at Junction 8 under ‘broad locations’ – no other broad locations were referred to.

“I asked for the unnecessary and offending paragraph to be removed - it is quite outrageous with the amount of money that Maidstone and KCC have spent defending this junction against development alongside the World Heritage visitor site of Leeds Castle.

“Not least at a time when we are awaiting a planning inspector’s decision on an appeal against refusal of planning permission at Junction 8.

“This was again defended by a top QC employed by Maidstone council.

“The recent bouts of Operation Stack – now at Stage 3, show the total unsuitability at this location as it is at gridlock and HGVs and other traffic are singled out and separated at Junction 8.“

Maidstone council had previously fought a planning appeal from Gallagher Properties to create a business park at Waterside Park, near Junction 8. The inspector’s desicion from that inquiry is not expected until the end of July.

The development at Junction 8 has been consistently opposed by Hollingbourne Parish Council, the Joint Parishes Group, CPRE, Leeds Castle, Kent County Council and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately.

The next full council meeting when the call-in might be considered is on July 15.