A PETITION opposing a giant freight distribution depot planned for Kent is being set up on the 10 Downing Street website.

Kent International Gateway said on Monday that it wants to build the 382,000 sq metre park with road-to-rail transfer facilities at Junction 8 on the M20 near Maidstone.

A local MP has slammed the proposal as "wholly inappropriate" and a Bearsted councillor has volunteered on KentOnline to spearhead the protest.

Now businessman Glenn Springett, who lives in Roundwell, Bearsted, has submitted the petition to Downing Street. It takes a few days for a petition to appear on line.

He claims that the proposed development would cover an area about the same size as 100 football pitches and would be a tragedy for Bearsted.

He fears the railhead will act as a magnet for road freight, attracting lorries from across the UK and Europe.

But KIG says the depot, which would be south of the M20 ansd straddle the railway line between Junction 8 and Bearsted, would take thousands of lorries off the roads as well as create 3,000 jobs.

It estimates 12 trains a day would use the terminal.

In leaflets distributed to villagers KIG claim the Maidstone site is the only location in the South East outside the Green Belt with the necessary land and transport links in place to meet the regional need for such a depot.

The leaflet says KIG is a partnership between AXA Real Estate Investment Managers and DMI properties.

AXA REIM is described on its website as one of Europe's largest and most diversified real estate investment management businesses with assets of more than 35 billion Euros under management and 430 staff in 10 offices in 15 countries. DMI Properties is based in Westerham.

Allan Bradshaw, Maidstone Borough Council Cabinet Member for Community Services and a ward councillor for Bearsted, says in a Speak Out on KentOnline that he is totally opposed to the "destructive" plans and is prepared to lead the fight.

"We must fight back. It's about time we lost our collective tempers and I'm more than willing to lead the fight," he said.

KIG is holding an exhibition of its plans at the Tudor Park Hotel, Ashford Road, Bearsted on Friday and Saturday.

Hugh Robertson, Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, was one of the first to condemn the project.

He said: "This proposal will horrify anyone living in Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Leeds, Langley and Otham and across the wider area of east Maidstone.

"A huge industrial park is wholly inappropriate for rural mid Kent and would change forever the essential character of the area."

FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL SEE THIS WEEK'S KENT MESSENGER.