'Zero homes' outburst on Science Park plan

ZERO - that is the number of houses that should be built as part of controversial plans to expand Kent Science Park, formerly Sittingbourne Research Centre.

The comment was made by Swale borough councillor Chris Boden, who is also portfolio holder for finance on its. influential executive committee.

He told the committee's latest meeting: "When this scheme was considered at the Local Plan Panel there was absolute and unanimous rejection of the housing scheme.

"The appropriate figure is zero - and the housing plans are also not supported by the borough council itself."

There has been a storm of protest since the science park announced it was considering building 5,000 homes nearby to enable it to pay for the park's expansion.

The Local Plan Panel, which considers proposed planning developments for
 the future, said road net-works and Sittingbourne town centre could not cope with the additional population and traffic. It supported expansion of businesses on the park but not the houses.

The Kent Messenger was told in October by the park that the scheme would put Sittingbourne "on the global map".

But Derek Wyatt, Labour's MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has called it a "second rate deal for the county".

And prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Gordon Henderson said: "I welcome any expansion of Kent Science Park that will provide real hi-tech science based employment for future generations."

"However, no expansion of the park beyond its present boundaries should be allowed before all spare land and vacant buildings within the existing site are fully utilised. In addition, any expansion of the park should not be funded by, nor be dependent for its success upon a massive unsustainable housing development."

This article is used with the kind permission of The Kent Messenger Group