1. Loss of Agricultural Land
This unsustainable development will be built on Foresters Lodge farmland, 219 acres of greenfield land. This is Grade 3 farmland and has successfully produced crops for many years. It is integral to Kent’s local farming economy. Building on the site would cause irreversible loss of farmland. New research by CPRE, the countryside charity, found that almost 14,5000 hectares of the country’s best agricultural land, which could grow at least 250,000 tonnes of vegetables a year, has been permanently lost to development since 2010. Maintaining agricultural land for domestic food production is critical to maintain a secure food supply in the future as climate change continues to impact on our farmland.

2. Environmental Concerns
The site is immediately adjacent to the Ancient Woodland Reserve of South Blean Woods and is classified as an Area of High Landscape Value. Construction, chemical, noise, light and noise pollution coupled with the inevitable increased footfall would be hugely damaging to the woodland. This will lead to a permanent loss of important woodland habitat and wildlife corridors creating an unmanageable strain on the local ecosystem. The development location is also the source of the Sarre Penn river which runs from ditches in the fields through to Blean Woods National Nature Reserve, through Broadoak then joins the River Wantsum at Chislet. Building the development will be hugely detrimental to the river.

3. Lack of Adequate Consultation
There has been a lack of informative consultation with local residents in regard to the development. The brochures and meetings contained pieces of information that were confusing, inaccurate and untrue. This impacts on the ability of the public to make an informed judgement. Claims such as the site being within walking distance to Selling train station when in reality it would take well in excess of an hour along unsuitable terrain, is a clear example.

4. Ecological and Biological Concerns
There is abundant and diverse wildlife on or in close proximity to the site. There will be a potentially catastrophic impact to biodiversity because of the loss of this farmland which is contiguous to the ancient Blean Woods. It is well described and agreed that the siting of inappropriate development significantly threatens our ever-decreasing UK ancient woodland and its ecosystem. Blean Woods is designated as such, meaning it has been continually wooded since at least 1600AD. The surrounding, immediately contiguous farmland where this proposed development is sited is an intrinsic part of this ecosystem and protects and contributes to its abundance and diversity. Church and Blean woods are both RSPB reserves. A lack of meaningful surveys has been undertaken to study the effect of this development on local species, including no consideration to ground-dwelling birds. Many of the major wildlife conservation groups (Kent Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, RSPB England, Kent Countryside Charity and Natural England), have submitted objections or expressed significant concerns about the development.

5. Historical Significance
The development site is surrounded by ancient Blean woodland and traversed by a historic network of footpaths including the centre of the site, which is part of the Big Blean Walk, a recognised footpath of regional importance. It is also the setting of a Scheduled Monument – a WWII Chain Home Radar station first built in 1936 which played an important role in the Battle of Britain. The mast being best appreciated from its original rural setting, as most of the Second World War chain radar stations were constructed away from the main settlements and towns. The development would ruin the setting of these historic landmarks permanently and forever alter the surroundings on which Kent was built. The strain of so many extra people would damage these networks. The site has retained its 19th Century ancient field pattern connected to the Blean ancient woodland

6. Transportation Issues
The relative isolation of the site and lack of key local amenities means that private transportation is likely to be the main source of transport. Each new property will require at least one car. Traffic volume will cause additional congestion on local roads and highways, as well as an increased accident risk. National Highways formal recommendations is that ‘it remains not possible to demonstrate that the application would not have an unacceptable impact on the safety, reliability and/or operational efficiency of the SRN (Strategic Road Network)’.

7. Infrastructure Issues
The proposed construction would forever destroy the local character of Dunkirk and Boughton-Under Blean villages and tranquility of the lanes through to Dargate, Blean and Whitstable. There are no key amenities within walking distance of the development so traffic would be significantly increased. There is insufficient water and sewage supply.  Drinking water quality, which is already poor, will only worsen with the increased number of dwellings. The four homes on Foresters Lodge already report extremely low water pressure, which can sometimes reduce to a trickle at times of high usage. Access to Broadband on the site is unreliable and slow.

8. Public Services Strain
The area already has a shortage of doctors, allied health professionals and teachers. The proposed new health centre and school are unlikely to have sufficient population numbers available to offer a realistic chance to justify running and staffing costs. The local bus service is limited, buses are infrequent and only run between core hours. There is no easy access to local train stations, individual transport would likely be used by every new home.