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Protestors against the Pump Lane Rainham development meet at Holy Trinity Church Hall Twydall

By: Rachel Dixon

Published: 10:46, 17 July 2019

Updated: 15:51, 17 July 2019

Hundreds of angry protestors filled a hall to rally against a proposal for 1,250 houses to be built over an orchard.

People from Twydall and the surrounding areas aired their concerns about plans at a public meeting in the Holy Trinity Church Hall, in Twydall Lane, Twydall yesterday (Tuesday, July 16).

The Pump Lane, Rainham development will include 1,250 homes, a primary school, a 60-bed extra care facility, an 80-bed care home, a village hall and green including a children’s play area.

Twydall residents were not impressed about the Pump Lane, Rainham proposals (13927420)

Twydall Primary School pupil Sam Bennett, 9, said: "I don't think we should build down there because the nature will be destroyed."

His comments were met by rapturous applause from the audience, many of which were crammed along the walls of the hall to fit.

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One lady said: "Every winter Pump Lane floods, the orchard used to act as a bit of a barrier to the water.

The landscaping proposals at the Pump Lane development consultation in Holy Trinity Church Hall, Twydall on Friday. Picture: Chris Davey. (13735191)

"What's going to happen now that it's concreted over?"

Another man said: "There's no mention of the council creating open spaces, we need areas to breathe.

"I want to live in Kent not London."

New homes depicted at the Pump Lane development consultation in Holy Trinity Church Hall, Twydall on Friday. Picture: Chris Davey. (13735192)

A local taxi driver said:"We used to have birds and squirrels but now we have nothing because they've been building outside our house in Lower Rainham Road.

"We've got no room, no parking and you can't get near the schools.

"If these houses are built Rainham will be gridlocked and the queues will back all the way to Sittingbourne."

Residents got a chance to air their concerns on the Pump Lane development (13928403)

Traffic was a key issue brought up as Councillor Mark Prenter (Lab) passed the microphone around the room.

The housing development will not lead to the destruction of Rainham Community Orchard, in Bloors Lane.

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However, volunteers who work in the fields are still concerned because if plans go ahead the homes will back on to the trees.

The extent of the Pump Lane development on show at the Pump Lane development consultation in Holy Trinity Church Hall, Twydall on Friday. Picture: Chris Davey. (13735199)

People were also concerned there are not enough GP surgeries and felt more police officers would be needed to tackle Twydall's "mini crime wave" according to one man.

The group has planned to crowd fund to pay for an environmental expert to look through the plans.

They hope this will give them a factual, rather than emotive, argument to appeal the decision.

The meeting was organised by newly elected councillors John Lloyd, Hazel Browne-Williams and Mark Prenter

Anti-development posters have been made and the group is in the process of creating banners.

A public exhibition of the plans took place last weekend at Holy Trinity Church Hall, which detailed the plans.

Medway Council planning committee will make a decision by the end of September.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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