One of the most controversial planning applications of the past 12 months is finally due to be decided by Maidstone council’s planning committee this week.

The scheme to build 50 homes at a site off Crosskeys in Bearsted, variously known as Roundwell Park, Lilk Meadow or just ‘The Bogs’, was due to be heard last month but the meeting was postponed.

There has been widespread condemnation of the proposals to build on a patch of green-field land that is known to flood regularly. The council has received 128 individual letters of objection, local ward councillors Val Springett and Mike Cumming have both objected and Bearsted Parish Council has objected “in the strongest possible terms.”

Opponents are concerned about flooding, the effect on neighbouring listed buildings, the pressure on schooling, on roads and on the rural landscape.

The parish council said the scheme would the devastate the semi-rural setting of Bearsted’s oldest street - Sutton Street.

The scheme is contrary to Maidstone’s own Local Plan and is opposed by the council’s own conservation officer.

However all the objections are outweighed by Maidstone’s failure to provide a five-year housing supply say planning officers, who are recommending the scheme be approved.

KCC has acknowledged that the four local schools - Thurnham, Roseacre, Madginford and St John’s - are full and cannot be expanded, but has not objected. KCC Highways has not objected to the scheme despite raising “suspicions” that the proposed emergency access route was not in fact wide enough to take an emergency vehicle.

The planning committee meets in Maidstone Town Hall on Thursday (16) at 6pm. The meeting is open to the public. The Bearsted and Thurnham Society is organising a picket of the Town Hall in advance of the meeting from 5.30pm and would like all interested parties to join them. Further information from Mary Richards on 01622 736 865.