Residents raise £46,000 to fight planning permission for the Lidsing Garden area
Members of the public have raised £46,000 to pay for appeal hearing costs to put an end to plans for a new-build development in the Lidsing Garden area of Kent.
The money was raised by local residents and Bredhurst Parish Council in an attempt to reverse the decision which saw planning permission granted back in February.
The funds will go towards a barrister and other experts who will challenge the inclusion of the development in Maidstone Borough Council’s plans for the area.
The hearing started in September but was paused and Sue Harwood who runs the ‘Save Capstone Valley’ Facebook page said: “Maidstone Borough Council tried to submit lots of additional evidence during the actual hearing. The Inspector rightly felt that this was unfair as all interested parties needed time to review this.”
All parties now have until the 20th of October to resubmit comments.
Sue Harwood is a member of the local community who is passionate about saving wildlife. She started a petition at the start of the year to fight against this development.
The petition was called Stop Lidsing Garden Village Development and gained nearly 15,000 signatures.
Many believe the area will suffer and not be able to cope with the influx of new residents in the area who will need to use services. The Alexandra Hospital is located near where the development will be, and it is already overstretched and overwhelmed with patients.
Local residents are already struggling with traffic congestion with over 4000 cars coming into the area and they say the development will cause even more problems.
A member of the community who signed the petition, but did not wish to be named, said: “These developments are being built under Maidstone Borough Council who will reap the financial support in the way of council tax but will not be providing schools, GPs, dentists, hospital services and all of that burden will fall on Medway residents.”
The land the development would be built on is currently home to wildlife that will be ruined if it goes ahead.
Member of Parliament Tracey Crouch said: “I have consistently registered concerns about the impact the development would have on our overstretched local infrastructure and the loss of a vital green lung.“
It is believed this development will cause significant, permanent damage to wildlife and animal habitats, raising serious concerns.
Tracey Crouch MP has been backing the petition as well as the hearing and was disappointed by the news that planning permission had been granted back in February.
“I know many residents will be feeling disheartened today and I fully understand that. However, we need to regroup and get ready for the next battle – I am absolutely committed to continuing to work with Medway Council to ensure we safeguard the Capstone Valley area from further development and joining local residents in campaigning against Maidstone Borough Council’s absurd proposals for a Garden Settlement at Lidsing.”
