Hoodwinked over new homes

Furious villagers claim they are being hoodwinked over expansion plans for the Kent Science Park, which could lead to the construction of 5,000 homes.

More than 300 residents packed Rodmersham parish hall to hear from Derek Wyatt and the owners of the park, formerly the Sittingbourne Research Centre, last Thuesday, but only vague proposals rather than precise plans were revealed.

Parish councillors from Rodmersham, Bapchild, Tunstall, Bredgar, Milstead and Iwade held a second meeting on Tuesday and decided to employ a planning consultant to fight the plans.

Cllr John Morley, chairman of Rodmersham parish council, said: “We are concerned the owners of the science park and the councils are going about this in a devious way.

Expansion

“Swale council must have known about this plan for a long time but they haven’t made it public. We are just afraid we won’t have time to object.”

“We know John Prescott wants to build homes in the South East – the science park will give the landowners the chance to build on green field sites.”

The Kent Messenger revealed the expansion plans for 1,000 hi-tech jobs, a road link with the M2 to Bapchild and what was thought to be 1,000 homes.

But it is understood the park is asking Kent County Council to change its structure plan to allow for 5,000 homes. Derek Wyatt said there would be plenty of time for residents to make their objections.

A Rodmersham villager, who asked not to be named, said: “This would be a disaster not only for Rodmersham but for the North Kent Downs. You have to look at what you are leaving for your grandchildren and make sure evertything isn’t just covered in concrete.”

A spokesman for LaSalle Investment Management, advisors to the science park said no decision had been made about where the houses would be built.