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Protect Forester’s Lodge farmland
Winterbourne Fields is a proposed unsustainable development of 1,815 dwellings and commercial floorspace in Dunkirk. It would be located in Dunkirk, 220 acres of important greenfield farmland. The site is a designated Area of High Landscape Value and is surrounded on three sides, by the ancient South Blean woodland complex. The Blean woodland has high landscape, ecological, historical and cultural value and is of national importance.
The development application is NOT on a site allocated in Swale’s Local Plan nor the Boughton & Dunkirk Neighbourhood Plan.
Please help us, the local community and ACT NOW to stop this development.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
BAT TALK & WALK – NOW COMPLETED
Thank you to everyone who came to the talk and walk. To see more information on how the event went, click this link.
information
Loss of Agricultural Land
The development would be sited in 219 acres of productive farmland. The land has been actively farmed for many years. It will be lost forever and is integral to local farming production.
Environmental Concerns
The construction and associated pollution will be detrimental to the health of the soil, contiguous woodland and varied habitat. This critical farmland is needed to maintain the flora and fauna ecosystem.
Lack of Adequate Consultation
The brochures and single meeting provided were inaccurate, confusing and misleading. Particularly regarding infrastructure claims such as the proximity and accessibility of the Selling rail station.
Ecological and Biological Concerns
The build will be detrimental to local biodiversity. The area is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, habitat will be lost and their corridors for movement will be hugely disrupted.
Historical Significance
The farmland offers contextual views of the historic Grade II listed mast of the home chain radar, a Scheduled Monument of global significance. The site is also covered in ancient hedgerow and surrounded by Blean ancient woodland.
Transportation Issues
The site is isolated and each new property will require at least one car to access key amenities. This will exacerbate traffic congestion on the A2 and local roads, particularly through Dunkirk and Boughton-Under Blean.
Infrastructure Issues
There is a lack of infrastructure in such an isolated area. Drinking water is poor quality, water pressure is low and there is a lack of mains sewage. Adding 4,000 people will create an unmanageable toll on local infrastructure.
Public Services Strain
The proposed new health centre and school will not help the strain on an overburdened public sector. The area already has a shortage of health professionals and teachers. Available buildings is not the issue.
How can you help?
Object
Please object NOW to this proposal if you agree that it will be hugely damaging to the local area. You can do this through email to planningcomments@midkent.gov.uk, quoting reference 24/502123/EIOUT and site address Land North And South Of The A2 Boughton Bypass Dunkirk Kent ME13 9LG or by clicking on the link below to take you to the Swale Planning Portal. The final method is through posting an objection to the address Mid Kent Planning Support, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Me15 6JQ. Objects must be dated with a name and address supplied and the application number and site address stated.
Contact Us
We would be grateful for your help supporting this campaign. If you would like further information or would like to volunteer please email us at: stopwinterbournefields@gmail.com or click the link below.
The Winterbourne Biodiversity Group is recording as many different species as possible on the proposed development site and surrounding woodland. Please contact us if you would like to join the group or have expertise species identification.
Petition
Please sign our online petition to protect Dunkirk Village, Foresters Lodge farmland, countryside and the Blean ancient woodland.
Donate
We are an apolitical group of local residents who passionately believe this development would be catastrophic for the countryside, farmland and local residents. This campaign is entirely funded by donations. Money will be used to fund advertisement, expert advice and legal fees. Please click below to support this important cause.
VIDEO
Aerial Footage of Forester’s Lodge Farmland
The attached video shows the aerial footage of Foresters Lodge Farmland, the proposed site of the development, and the surrounding area. This footage demonstrates the beauty of the area with the surrounding farmland, countryside and dense Blean woodland. It also shows its isolation and how Winterbourne Fields will dwarf Dunkirk village. A devastating change to the character of the local area.
What are the large agencies saying about the development?
Road Safety
“Given the above, it remains not possible to demonstrate that the applications would not have an unacceptable impact on the safety, reliability and/or operational efficiency of the SRN (Strategic Road Network)”
National Highways
Biodiversity
“In summary, the RSPB considers that the proposed development would greatly increase recreational disturbance, as well as causing unmitigable harm through the likely introduction of many domestic pets, to wildlife including vulnerable ground-nesting birds such as Nightingales in the important Blean
landscape woodlands.”
RSPB England
Ecosystem
“The Trust objects to this planning application on the basis of deterioration of a number of
areas of ancient woodland, including those with statutory designations, as well as
deterioration of a veteran tree.”
Woodland Trust
FAQs
How large is the proposed development?
The settlement is a total of 1,815 dwellings, commercial floorspace and major road infrastructure on 219 acres of grade 3 farmland in Dunkirk.
What is an Area of High Landscape Value?
Landscapes are assigned as Areas of High Landscape Value if they are of high visual quality and are worthy of conservation. This is determined by quality, scenic beauty, recreational significance, cultural associations, or other conservation issues. This site is defined as a “Valued” landscape in National Planning Policy (NPPF).
What sort of wildlife lives in the area?
The site has a diverse set of species, including owls, birds of prey, woodpeckers, Nightingales, deer, wild pigs, dormice, badgers, and a range of insects and other invertebrates.
Does the proposed settlement follow government promises?
NO
The planned development is on greenfield land. The government has committed to prioritising development on brownfield land which is previously developed land. They have also promised to protect the national and historic environment. The site does not fall under this category.
Will the development only have an effect on the local area?
YES
This development would have wide-scale effects on the character of Dunkirk & the surrounding villages. The large influx of people will bring a predicted minimum of 2,850 more vehicles to the area, a load that the roads will struggle to cope with, according to the National Highways. Water supply & quality, already an issue in the area, will deteriorate. Flood risk will further increase.
What are the main objections raised?
The main objections to this unsustainable development include the loss of farmland, woodland habitat and wildlife. It will have a devastating impact on the character of the area, as well as the landscape, the environment, the water supply & flood risk, the biodiversity, and the historic footpaths & monument. Traffic volume will increase on highways & local roads and the infrastructure will be put under strain.
How can I help?
ACT NOW to help stop the development.
Please object to the planning proposal, sign the petition, volunteer, or donate. See the section above for more details.
Stop Winterbourne Fields 