Birchington residents united in opposition of the draft local plan as they delivered a petition with over 1,600 signatures to the council yesterday.

As part of Thanet District Council’s draft local plan Birchington has been named as a strategic site for 1,000 new homes.

Concerns were highlighted when two crowded public meetings were held at The Centre on February 12.

Birchington Residents Association chairman Neville Hudson organised the petition as feedback for the public consultation period, which ends on Friday.

He said: “Our members have been completely opposed to the prospect of housing on greenfield sites in the draft local plan.

“We are particularly concerned with the strain on services in Birchington and infrastructure in place will not be able to cope.

“The proposition of proposing 1,000 houses now with a possible 3,000 people will not be sustainable.”

Vice chairman of Birchington Parish Council Bill Furness was the only councillor to turn up and support the petition.

He said: “I object strongly to this being built without a transportation management plan - roads need to be put in place first.

“In terms of the viability, development costs here and in Westgate will be unfathomable to make this achievable.”

Council leader Iris Johnston received the petition from Mr Hudson, watched by a crowd of protesters on the council steps.

She said: “I welcome the effort the residents have made to get more than 1,600 signatures.

“In my 20 years as a councillor I have never known so much consultation and public interest.

“But if we didn’t have a local plan developers could build where they wished.

“It is important residents let us know their views about the land offered to meet what we are expected to provide based on government requirements.”

Cllr Johnston has a meeting with the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and other council leaders to discuss local plan ideas for Kent on March 19.

She added: “There is a dire need for housing in London and arguably more room on brownfield sites there.

“We have to consider people living longer and a growing population in Thanet in the planning process.

“There is a particular problem with infrastructure to support these proposed developments - stress on schools, water supply, sewage, air pollution and traffic - Birchington will need a relief road.

“The plan will finally be adopted in 2017 and we have been listening to residents and welcoming ideas and involvement from students with council officials visiting schools.”