News Bearsted homes
Village homes a flood risk, say campaigners
MORE than 200 protestors packed into Madginford Hall to protest at plans to build 39 new homes in Bearsted.
Local developer Guy Osborne out-
lined his proposals for Roundwell Park – a development of three, four and five-bed detached homes, plus 10 affordable local-needs properties, a play area and public open space. If approved, the development
would infill land between Cross Keys and Sutton Street. Mr Osborne was joined by Chris Blundell, from social housing provider Golding Homes, who said: “This is one of the best schemes I have seen for quite some time.” But residents, many wearing “Pro-
tect Bearsted” T-shirts, were not con- vinced. They feared overcrowded schools and increased traffic flows – but of most concernwas the repeated flooding of the area, with the poten- tial impact on existing homes. Mr Osborne said his company – Country House Developments – had tried to come up with a scheme suited to the character of the neighbour- hood; access roads would be pro-
Protestors at the meeting
vided and flooding issues addressed. As the plan was still at outline
stage, hewas unable to give a detailed explanation of what these would be. One resident said: “The road is al- ready a bog at Cross Keys. If this de- velopment goes ahead, we will be underwater.” Lilk Meadow, which would be in- corporated into the scheme, flooded so frequently that it was more like “Lilk Lake” in winter, said another. Residents argued the flood risk
would put up insurance premiums. One resident asked Mr Osborne:
“How can you guarantee our houses will not flood and how will you com- pensate us when they do?” Mr Osborne said his engineers
would ensure the scheme met Envi- ronmental Agency criteria and said the agencywas satisfiedwith the pro- posals so far. Mr Trott, one of the authors of a de-
tailed document opposing the plans, claimed the EAwas actually opposed to the scheme and a report to Maid- stone Council had designated it the “least appropriate of all 293 sites put forward for future development”. Part of the proposal is to hand over
2.3 hectares ofwoodland andwetland to BearstedWoodland Trust (BWT). The parish council’s planning com-
mittee was unanimous in opposing the proposal, which will be deter- mined by Maidstone Council. Parish council chairman Richard
Ash, amember of the borough’s plan- ning committee, refused to be drawn on whichway hewould vote.
downsmail.co.uk
Schools ‘full to bursting’
COUNTYCllr JennyWhittle, of Sut- ton Street, said the area’s schools were already at bursting point, with children travelling out of the area. She said new residents would ex-
pect their children to be able to attend their local school – and would face huge disappointment. Golding Homes’ Mr Blundell said:
“There is clearly a deficit of places and this development could provide part of the answer. The provision of new homes generates revenue for new schools.” But the residents asked: “Where?
There is no land left!” Brian Clifford said: “Bearsted gave
up its green space when Madginford and the Landway estateswere built.” Cllr Whittle said while schools in Harrietsham, Lenham and Headcorn had the capacity to double in size, in Bearsted, Thurnham, Madginford and St John’s schools did not.
Urban sprawl
ROGER Vidler, joint vice-chair of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, said Bearsted was in danger of be- coming an example of urban sprawl if the last vestiges of green space were not retained. He said the de- velopment was an “unwarranted in- trusion” into that space.
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