Video: Brian Lloyd from
Protect Kent on why the orchard is the wrong location.

by Gerry Warren

Protestors have stepped up their
campaign to stop an ancient orchard from being grubbed and turned
into a park and ride site.

Members of the parish council and
villagers at Harbledown have now put up a banner at the entrance to
the field in Faulkner’s Lane behind Vernon Holme School.

A large group of objectors gathered
in the lane for the unveiling of the banner which, they hope, will
draw attention to their campaign.

The campaign is also being backed
by Protect Kent, the county branch of the Council for the
Protection of Rural England.

The farmland is planted with pear
trees but is the city council’s favoured location for its fourth
park and ride.

Protesters say it would be an
environmental travesty to asphalt over the fields.

They are anxious because the scheme
remains in the council’s forward development plan for the district.
But it also includes alternative options to extend the Wincheap
park and ride and for a new site at Cockering Lane, Thanington.

Protect Kent’s senior planner,
Brian Lloyd, said: “If this prime farmland is turned into a car
park, it will be a travesty.

“We are not convinced that building
another park and ride site will make a tangible difference to
traffic congestion in Canterbury.

“The real answer is to improve
public transport so more people are encouraged to leave their cars
at home.

“But even if it can be proved,
surely extending the existing car park on a brownfield site at
Wincheap is preferable.”

Parish council chairman Janet
Larkinson added: “We have put up the banner with the farmer’s
permission so people passing will see exactly what a beautiful
location this is and where hundreds of cars will be coming and
going if this plan gets the go-ahead.”

Vernon Holme School headmaster Dr
David Lamper did not wish to comment on the plan.