People living in a small hamlet say their lives have already been impacted by multi-million pound plans for a winery.

Neighbours of a vineyard being run by Vineyard Farms say building waste has been dumped on land in Upper Bush, off Bush Road, Cuxton, and residents have been verbally abused by farm workers.

The company wants to build the UK's single largest vineyard which would include a wine production facility, a café, visitor centre and car park.

The £30 million proposals are the subject of a planning inquiry which started this week, a year after Medway Council's planning committee turned down the application for the development.

Councillors were concerned about the impact it would have on the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Upper Bush Conservation Area.

A total of 85% of the proposed building – which was designed by esteemed architect Lord Norman Foster – would be underground.

Yesterday, planning inspector Stephen Wilkinson opened the inquiry in front of a packed public gallery at the Corn Exchange in Rochester. The hearing is expected to last for eight days.

A number of residents took turns addressing Mr Wilkinson, voicing their concerns over a range of issues including the impact on wildlife, traffic and the possible loss of the dark skies over Bush Valley.

Upper Bush residents Paul Revell and Dan Gummer said people's lives had been "adversely affected" since Vineyard Farms started cultivating vines on land near their homes.

They alleged workers had sworn at residents, driven too fast along Bush Road and connecting routes, and created mud and dust which had been kicked up by farm traffic.

They claimed footpath signs had been removed, meaning ramblers were getting lost.

Mr Revell said he had also noticed piles of building waste, bin bags and plastic sheeting dumped around the land's boundary, and he couldn't understand why it hadn't been properly disposed of.

He added: "My wife and I have been forced off the road to avoid a collision with a large tractor and trailer failing to stop in time.

"The boundaries of Vineyard Farm land and public footpaths around Upper Bush have now been reinforced with mounds of spoil created from digging activity on the farmyard and through levelling an area of young woodlands behind their barns.

"Where deemed necessary, Vineyard Farms have dumped large logs – sometimes with anti-climb paint – to mark their territory.

"These piles of spoil, which also include building waste, have also been dumped on the boundary of my property.

"We do not wish to be part of a tourist attraction with hundreds of people wandering around."

Mr Gummer said: "There's always been activity on the farmyard, of course there has, and the lane could cope with it but it now can't cope with the amount of traffic that is coming up to the farmyard.

"It's not a pleasant place to be."

Sasha White KC, Vineyard Farms' barrister, said the company has planted 70% of the land it owns, and has committed to planting a further 8,000 vines by 2026 which aligns with its vision to start an "English wine revolution" and "put English wine on the map".

He explained how the company was therefore subject to an "agricultural ticking clock", saying a new wine processing facility was needed to accommodate the company's planting plans and produce a high quality product by reducing the distance grapes would have to be transported before they are processed.

He said: "The current processing facilities at Luddesdown Farm are grossly inadequate for current production and this problem will only get worse with time as the committed planting takes place and grape fields increase.

"Even if planning permission is refused, Vineyard Farms will have to construct a new winery and if necessary, they will do this through Permitted Development Rights."

Permitted Development Rights mean certain kinds of development do not require planning permission.

He added: "What is proposed is unquestionably an agricultural building, its primary purpose being the crushing, processing and bottling of wine made solely from grapes growing on the estate."