by Chris Hunter

These are the green fields set to be concreted over if those behind plans for a 259-acre freight depot get their way.

This week Tonbridge and Malling MP Sir John Stanley (Con) warned developers they are likely to face heavy opposition for the planned freight hub, which would stretch from St Mary's Platt to Borough Green, between the M26 and West Malling to London railway line.

He said: "This is a huge development proposal in a highly sensitive environmental situation, in the green belt. It’s likely to be very controversial.

"They’re offering to put in some sort of bypass for Borough Green – a great many of my constituents will take the view that the environmental down-side is much greater than the benefit.

"It’s an important lung in the green belt."

The developers, a consortium of landowners headed by Cemex and Borough Green Sandpits, are due to meet parish councils and Tonbridge and Malling council.

Initial proposals have been discussed with council planning officers but a formal planning application has yet to be submitted.

A spokesman for the project said: "We have offered Sir John Stanley’s office a briefing on the project and hope that will be possible.

"The project is at a very early stage and we will be examining the impact of the proposals on the local environment, road network and wider area."