Bredgar residents speak out at the Highsted Park Inquiry

This week two days (Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May) were allocated for Third Party speakers at the Highsted Park Inquiry. Anyone could register to speak in favour or oposition to the two Highsted Park planning applications. There were at least 31 speakers and representatives from Rodmersham school who read out their statements. Only 3 people spoke in support of Highsted Park, all others were opposed.

Three Bredgar residents made Third Party statements at the Highsted Park Inquiry, including myself. We all made our own personal statements expressing our strong concerns about the proposals and opposing them. The main point in each of our statements were the impact on the rural lanes, harm to the Kent Downs National Landscape and harm to heritage assets.

My own statement was endorsed by the Parish Council and I included many of the concerns raised to me, as chair of the council, by Bredgar residents. The main focus of my statement was the harm the development will cause to the National Landscape. I built upon the earlier statement by a Bredgar resident about the rural lanes, and added a strong case against the damage to our dark skies in Bredgar. This was something that the CPRE speaker had spoken about earlier and something I care about too.

Should you wish to see the statements being read and hear their full content they can be seen on the Swale Borough Councils YouTube channel. The links to the correct sessions and the timing within are shown below.

Third Party YouTube broadcast of Thursday 15th May

Resident 1 makes his statement 2 hours and 48 minutes into the 15th May recording.

I make my statement 3 hours and 21 minutes into the 15th May recording. The text of my statement is also available to be read here.

Third Party YouTube broadcast of Friday 16th May.

Resident 3 makes his statement 2 hours and 4 minutes into the 16th May recording.

If you have time to watch there are many other compelling statements opposing Highsted Park made over the two days.