Environmental protesters have called for a public inquiry into plans to concrete over part of Thanet’s countryside to make way for the giant China Gateway business park.

Gary Thomas, chairman of the Kent branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), has written to Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, demanding that the MP gives the matter her “urgent attention”.

Thanet councillors were last night (Thursday) recommended to challenge an assertion in the South East Plan that “major new employment locations are not needed” by the island.

Campaigners claim the document, which sets out how the region should respond to challenges such as housing, the economy, transport and protecting the environment, casts doubt on the latter stages of China Gateway at Manston.

Phases two and three are earmarked for land that is not currently designated as an employment area.

In his letter, Mr Thomas writes: “We consider this is a direct attempt by the council to facilitate phases two and three, and thus a reflection of the council’s support for the larger scheme.

“This raises serious questions about the council’s objectivity in considering both the current application and in making future decisions on the LDF [Local Development Framework].”

The MP for South Thanet, Dr Steve Ladyman, believes it will be necessary to designate more employment land to encourage future economic development.

He agreed that a possible change in plans for use of the Eurokent site near Westwood Cross could allow Thanet council to make a case for designating additional areas for employment use.

One proposal is to create an extra 700 homes off the Haine Road, less than a mile from a planned 1,000 home development off Nash Road.

Dr Ladyman added: “I’m not sure the new Eurokent plans are right for Thanet and that’s why I’m keeping an open mind.

“If 700 homes are built at Eurokent, do we still need the other 1,000 homes that were designated to be built at Westwood? Who’s going to live in them?”

In response to CPRE concerns that Thanet council are directly facilitating phases two and three if phase one is approved, planning officer Doug Brown said: "I have attended a meeting with Government Office Planners and the applicants in order to discuss the applicants' intentions with regard to phases two and three.

"At that meeting the applicants were asked to confirm that phase one is a stand alone project. The applicants confirmed this to be the case.

"We are liaising with Government Office for the South East and are not supporting a larger scheme in advance of consideration of the present planning application."