SENIOR county planning officials warned developers behind controversial plans for a huge freight depot they would face major hurdles getting the go-ahead for the scheme.

Details of meetings several months before Kent International Gateway publicly unveiled its scheme for a site at Bearsted, show how Kent County Council planning chiefs left the company in no doubt of the challenges it would face, including widespread public opposition.

Notes from KIG representatives' meetings with KCC planners, suggest the company had already decided that, if Maidstone council rejected the plans, it would appeal, triggering a full public inquiry.

Details of the meetings were released to the Kent Messenger Group under the Freedom of Information Act.

KIG consultants told planners they considered the site appropriate as it was "large enough to accomodate longest freight trains" and was "not in Green Belt".

Richard Horton, chairman of the STOPKIG campaign, said: "The obvious conclusion is they intend the application to be called in by the Secretary of State so they can use their financial muscle to lobby for a decision in their favour."

* See the Kent Messenger (Friday, June 8) for more details.