Villagers opposed to a 3.6 million tonne sand quarry have been warned their days of campaigning might not yet to be over.

Kent County Council’s environment and transport committee agreed the Ryarsh proposal should not be taken forward, but the decision still needs to be signed off by cabinet and full council.

And even after that, KCC’s minerals and waste local plan – in which the Ryarsh outcome is included – will go out for public consultation before having to be approved by the secretary of state.

A group was set up in protest of the scheme, which would have seen 12 hectares of land off Roughetts Road be used to extract 3.6m tonnes of soft and silica sand over a period of 24 years.

KCC officials suggested the proposals was “inconsistent with green belt policy with regard to inappropriate development”, with a more suitable location found at Chapel Farm in Lenham.

But the site’s promoter has already raised objections to the Ryarsh site being pulled, with stand-in committee chairman Cllr Seán Holden (Con) suggesting it is only the “end of the beginning” for campaigners.

Sharon Thompson, head of planning applications, said: “National guidance makes it clear that mineral extraction can be deemed acceptable in the green belt provided it doesn’t impact on the openness.

“We have interpreted the view extraction is just that – the taking it out of the ground, and not those other activities (stockpiling, screening bunds, vehicle movements, buildings).

“We’ve interpreted that and taken these as three separate considerations.

"If I had done as is being suggested in that opinion (as a whole), I would have come to the same conclusion I’ve come to now.

“That’s because the extraction plus the ancillary activities would give rise to harm and impact on openness, so my conclusion would be the same.”

Mrs Thompson told committee members she has sought legal advice following the promoter’s late representation, and that it would be presented at Monday’s cabinet meeting (December 3).

A petition with 2,734 signatures was submitted in the House of Commons by Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat (Con) earlier this month, while ward councillors addressed the committee.

Cllr Sarah Hohler (Con) said: “It’s not just the extraction, noise, and the dust – it’s also the traffic going on a country lane and then onto an extremely busy A20, and the bunding is to be very high.

“In addition to that, Ryarsh has already got two sand pits and another on its doorstep, and I think enough is enough.”

The sites likely to be put forward in KCC's pre-submission draft mineral sites plan are Chapel Farm in Lenham, Moat Farm in Five Oak Green, and Stonecastle Farm Quarry in Whetsted.