Supporting Sellindge against Sludge
Published: 11-01-2010
Gemma Watts, Publicity Officer, Protect Kent
11 January 2010
Protect Kent will be attending Kent County Council’s latest meeting this week, to discuss controversial plans for a ‘sludge plant’, in the attractive village of Sellindge, situated on the A20 between Ashford and Folkestone.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 13 and many local residents are expected to attend in opposition to the proposal, which has been submitted by Countrystyle Recycling Ltd.
Kent County Council is expected to give a presentation for a possible facility at the Otterpool Quarry site, on Ashford Road, which Protect Kent has previously strongly objected to.
In November last year, Protect Kent wrote to Kent County Council urging them to object to this application on the grounds that; the risk of flooding and groundwater pollution is much higher than stated because no data has been provided on the annual maximum groundwater levels. Only three measurements were taken and done so when groundwater levels are typically at their lowest.
We also believe the design of the buildings, bunds and screening is not in keeping with the landscape character of open countryside. The proposal will create big ugly sheds which will be a blot on the landscape for many years.
Protect Kent feels there has also been little evident consideration of the light pollution impact this proposal will have on nearby homes. Local residents may face the added pressure of falling house prices as a result of the smell caused by the anaerobic digestion plant in the village.
Protect Kent will continue to campaign with local residents to protect Sellindge against this development, which we feel would cause more harm than good.
We are also continuing our fight against the contentious proposal for a new lorry park to be built in Sellindge, to ease the number of lorries queuing on the M20 when Operation Stack is in force. This would potentially concrete over 70 acres of this Kent village.
For more information on Protect Kent or to become a member, please contact our branch office on 01303 815180.
Please show your support against the sludge plant by coming along to the meeting on Wednesday 13 January at 7pm, Sellindge Village Hall.
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