Whitstable campaigners fight to save 1400 homes being built on farmland

The proposals form part of Canterbury Council's draft Local Plan, a commitment all authorities have have to follow to meet housing targets.

Transcript

00:00 A tranquil countryside, a spot in Whitstable locals are keen to preserve, but fear soon

00:07 this could be lost.

00:09 Plans to build 1,400 homes on Brooklyn's farm are currently up for public consultation,

00:15 as part of Canterbury Council's draft local plan.

00:18 But campaigners say there aren't enough schools or doctor's surgeries to accommodate thousands

00:23 of extra people.

00:24 "I just don't feel that Whitstable has the infrastructure to be able to sustain additional

00:30 housing and the people it brings and the traffic it brings and the sewage it brings."

00:34 "It's the sheer size, the number of houses going into this space which introduces a vast

00:42 amount of people into the town which changes the character of the town and puts the strain

00:46 on all the already struggling infrastructure."

00:50 Another fear is its location - it's on an area of ancient woodland, with locals fearful

00:56 this will disrupt wildlife.

00:58 If approved, it's said to be the largest development the coastal town's ever seen.

01:04 Canterbury City Council has a requirement to build more than 9,000 homes for its local

01:09 plan, but the potential of building here is a particular concern for another woman in

01:14 particular.

01:15 Emily's dad is a co-creator of Bagpuss, and some of his creations and ideas came to

01:20 life in the Kent countryside.

01:22 "He was a lover of nature and he taught all my family about the knowledge of different

01:30 things, rarities, how to look after things.

01:33 He was an early re-wilder so he let one of our fields go back to nature and now we have

01:39 nightingales there.

01:42 They used this area, the surrounding area, for filming and photographs.

01:49 It was really important to him and if he was alive today he would be behind this campaign."

01:55 The City Council's response to all this is that they have a requirement to build a certain

01:59 number of homes as part of their local plan.

02:01 No one from the council was available for an interview, but they did issue us with this

02:06 statement.

02:07 They said the proposal for a new development at Brooklands Farm is in the draft local plan

02:11 that's currently out to public consultation.

02:13 They say they welcome any views on the proposal and on everything else contained within the

02:17 draft plan.

02:19 More public meetings have been held over recent weeks where people could come and talk to

02:22 our officers about the draft local plan in person.

02:26 They say all the information can be found on their website.

02:29 Residents wanting to have their say on these plans have until the 3rd of June.

02:34 Sophia Akin for KMTV in Whitstable.