A petition has been launched in a bid to stop a developer from building 440 homes in the heart of the countryside.

Bellway had submitted plans to Maidstone Borough Council for up to 440 homes including one and two-bed apartments and two, three and four-bed houses.

However, those living in the Downswood and Otham area are desperate for the proposals to be stopped.

Almost 30 people have already signed the online petition and dozens of people neighbouring the site between Church Road and Chapman Avenue have submitted objections to MBC's planning site.

In their plans Bellway said: "These application proposals will facilitate a sustainable new neighbourhood, which protects and enhances the existing communities around the site, providing real benefits and a place of the highest quality.

"Bellway Homes is seeking to deliver a high quality development which meets the vision for the application site.

"This Design and Access Statement has explained how the design of the proposed development has evolved from analysis of the site and its context. The process has been shaped around place-making, and delivering a scheme which fulfills the vision for the site."

The plans would also incorporate parking spaces for nearby St Nicholas Church while two access points would be put in place along Church Road.

However, those objecting to the plans suggested the roads in the area would not be capable of dealing with the added strains of hundreds more cars.

Simon Tickle, who lives in Gore Court Road, wrote: "It will increase traffic congestion, endangering pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife.

"It will increase pressure on the already stretched infrastructure of public facilities.

"It will have detrimental effects on the surrounding natural environment."

Beverley Neave, from Bearsted, added: "Where is the infrastructure to support all these new people coming to live in this area? Church road cannot even cope with the volume of traffic currently and it is a Lane, not a two-way road.

"There are no footpaths or lightening within the area, therefore, pedestrians have to run the gauntlet and put their own lives at risk every time they walk up and down the road.

"The volume of more cars not only using the road but also parking A typical family now has two to three cars per household where are these going to go? Emergency services have difficulties getting through the roads nowadays within Downswood it is a problem due not enough parking and the refuse service struggle just to do their job."

Mrs Neave also brought up the issue of where children new to the area would go for their education while also making the point of which doctors surgeries would be able to cope with such a big influx of people.

Anybody wishing to make any comments on the application can do so by clicking here.

To sign the petition please click here.

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