Statement from Annabelle Blackmore

“Frankly I am horrified about this development and it is so far from good road connections. There are few details available at present however it is clear that the traffic impact will be huge. All the roads leading from the village are narrow country roads. The traffic will have an impact on Collier Street, Yalding as well as Marden and roads to Paddock Wood are not able to sustain the volumes which will use that route. Then there is Linton Hill. New roundabouts are proposed for Marden but once Linton Hill is reached the route for the traffic is totally unsustainable. I do not believe this is a suitable area for this type of significant development.

Your concerns are totally valid considering the size of the potential site. The village has taken development over the past four years approximately 600 dwellings including the small windfall sites but this site is more than three times that number. The plan which I have seen includes green areas but the area is already green. It is totally frustrating that such a large site is being put forward in a location which is completely unsuitable.

All the sites from the call for sites will form part of the public consultation which is due to start in August. Please respond to this consultation. It is crucial that as many residents in this are do so to show this site is not appropriate.

It is too much development for a village. I am a relative newcomer and have lived here for 20 years and  I understand some growth is to be expected, but we have already had those houses built in the past few years. How can more in this area be justified. Vote against it. I want to stop it in its tracks.”