Rival freight depot plan unveiled

Developers said the plans would bring transport links, jobs and a bypass

Plans to build a rail and road freight depot on land near Borough Green close to the M26 in Kent have been unveiled.

The development has been put forward as an alternative to the planned Kent International Gateway, near Bearsted, which residents opposed.

The latest proposal, which has been put forward by a group of landowners, would see quarries and sandpits turned into a transport hub and aggregates depot.

But both residents and Wrotham Parish Council have objected to the plans.

The 250-acre site is owned by Cemex UK, Borough Green Sandpits and adjoining landowners.

The project has the potential to take a significant number of lorries off Kent's roads

Colin Wilkins

Parish councillor Harry Rayner said: "I'm yet to be convinced that it is the right proposal in the right place. Certainly, green belt policy would be clearly adversely impacted."

And resident Derek Nelson said: "It's going to change the whole area from an area of villages and village life into an industrial area, and that can't be right."

Colin Wilkins, spokesman for the landowners, said the plans would bring economic benefits at a time of increasingly gloomy economic news, and also a bypass for Borough Green.

Significant number

He said: "The project has the potential to take a significant number of lorries off Kent's roads by integrating the South East's motorways with the rail network.

"It would alleviate the need for the proposed Kent International Gateway development at Bearsted, near Maidstone, and would provide employment for hundreds of local people."

Mr Wilkins said the proposals, which also include warehousing and commercial property, were at an early stage and developers hoped to submit an outline planning application next year.

Plans for the rival Kent International Gateway scheme will be considered by Maidstone Borough Council on 7 May even though that scheme has gone to planning appeal.

Councillors will decide how they would have determined the application and finalise a statement for the planning inspectorate.

The meeting is being held at the Maidstone Studios so as many people as possible can attend.