Facebook Farms, Fields & Fresh air Campaign group Farms, Fields & Fresh air are leading the fight against a huge planning application for a 2500 new build estate on Grade 1-3 agricultural land fields to the south east of Faversham.

The proposed estate would increase the existing population by a quarter (6,000). This is on top of 1850 new houses already granted planning permission and being built out around the town over the last few years.

Concerns are: increased traffic seriously affecting Junction 7 M2/A299/A2/Boughton Bypass and all local roads. The photo shows the queue of traffic trying to bypass a road traffic accident which has blocked one of the arterial roads, a situation which happens all too frequently. Poor air quality and noise pollution are associated problems. Worsening access to healthcare; our GP:patient ratio in Swale is already one of the worst in England at 1:2500. The loss of 320 acres of the best Grades 1-3 agricultural land taken out of use, by Prince William’s The Duchy of Cornwall, negatively affecting UK homegrown Future Food Security. We live in a water scarce area, with our wildlife and rare chalk streams suffering, due to growing pressures on the water supply. We have experienced excessive Government targets for housing developments in our Borough. This land also represents the loss of a last ‘green lung’ around this small, rural, historic, market town, of vital importance to nature.

We need to ensure the whole community are aware of the planning application. We hope to raise enough money initially to leaflet every household in Faversham (approximately 8,000) and let people know how the development might affect them and how they can ensure they comment on the plans.

If we raise £1200 in total, we will also be able to leaflet the villages surrounding Faversham including: Boughton, Dunkirk, Selling, Sheldwich, Graveney & Goodnestone.

We asked Faversham Town Council to display the key documents from the 353 contained in this huge application and let people know how to comment. However, we have received no commitment from them to do so. Several Parish Councils in surrounding villages are ensuring their residents know how to have their views heard by holding information evenings.

Excess funds raised will be kept as a reserve fund, in case we need to challenge any planning decisions in court.