Science park is not popular with the residents

Battle ahead to stop the concrete jungle spreading

PLANS to expand Sittingbourne's Kent Science Park during the next 20 years could back-fire - if people power wins.

The chairman of the Five Parish Opposition Group, Andy Hudson, said he had been inundated with calls and e-mails from Sittingbourne residents opposing the plans.

He said: "My phone hasn't stopped ringing and I've been swamped with e-mails from people wanting to know how they can object to the scheme.

"Surprisingly, it's not the road so much but the new housing which is the biggest issue."

"What the Science Park is pro-posing is another 5,000 homes on top of 9,000 already planned for Swale over the next 10 years."

"They say they'll be 5,000 jobs but that doesn't mean that those people living in the new houses will take the jobs. People may come from outside the borough so it will be a negative for the town. We're not knocking the Science Park, we're just saying it's not been fully thought through."

Without the backing of the local people, consultation for the plans will be affected, and will be open to amendments.

Graham Jones, of Nativity Close, Sittingbourne, is opposed to the plans.

He said: "The list of problems it will lead to is endless, from traffic congestion to there not being enough essential services such as doctors and dentists.

"People are worried their countryside is going to be concreted over and they are going to get nothing in return."

The exhibition, entitled: Kent Science Park: The Future, is on display at the Woodstock Club, which is next to the Science Park, until 5.30pm today .

You can express your views about the proposals by filling in a comment form which can be found on the website www.kentsciencepark.co.uk. The closing date is this Sunday .

This article by Hayley Robinson is used with the kind permission of  Kent Messenger.