News release
Council protects English Oak trees
Maidstone Borough Council has
acted to protect trees which could be under threat in the time
leading up to a decision on the Kent International Gateway planning
application for a rail/road freight interchange close to junction 8
of the M20 at Bearsted.
So far six orders
have been made to protect individual trees, groups of trees and
three woodlands on about 11 hectares on the site. The trees,
all of which have special value, are mainly native broadleaved
varieties and include many notable English oaks. Other
varieties include Beech, Hornbeam, Elm, Ash, Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn
and Field Maple.
Senior Landscape Officer, Deanne Cunningham,
said: “These orders give immediate protection; no unauthorised
works can now be carried out to the trees without the permission of
the local planning authority. This should stop any works
which could harm the trees before the planning application is
decided.”
If no objections are received the orders will
be confirmed automatically. Any objections by the landowners,
within the 28 days allowed, will have to be considered before the
orders can be made permanent.
So far the orders have been served on eight
landowners and copied to local parish councils and about fifty
local residents whose land adjoins the site. Many residents
have written to support the council’s action.
All aspects of the impact of the development
on trees, landscape and ecology will be considered before the
application is decided. The borough council has employed an
expert consultant to advise on these issues.
Maidstone Borough Council has until 13
February 2008 to consider the KIG planning application and has
embarked on a massive consultation with local people and other
consultees.
The planning committee will decide the
planning application unless the applicant appeals because the
council hasn’t decided the application within 16 weeks or it is
‘called in’ by the Secretary of State for the Department of
Communities and Local Government. If the planning committee
refuses the application the applicant can appeal to the Secretary
of State.
The planning application documents are on
Maidstone council’s website - digitalmaidstone.co.uk - look for the
KIG link on the home page. The application is also available
for inspection at the Town Hall, at the council's London Road and
Tonbridge Road offices, libraries and from the parish councils in
the areas most directly affected by the proposal.
The official consultation deadline is 27
November but the council will consider all comments right up until
the application is decided - write to Rob Jarman, Maidstone House,
King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ or by email KIGcomments@maidstone.gov.uk.
Date:
21 November 2007
Reference:
RJA/071115