No to riverside moorings

The only person who would benefit from the Fant riverside mooring proposal is the developer!

From left: Cllr Chris Garland (Shadow cabinet member for Regeneration), John Wilson (candidate for Coxheath, Hunton and the Farleighs), Steve Paine (candidate for Fant), Ed Winstanley (candidate for East), Cllr Mark Wooding (East), Cass Jappy (candidate for Barming)

The proposal is for a 1km riverside develpment running parallel to Upper Fant Road, along the Medway (with the access point at Unicumes Lane).

It will have a dramatic impact on the local ecosystem, which is the last unspoilt area of the Millenium River Walk between Maidstone and East Farleigh. Kingfishers will be disturbed, and the local otter population and fish stocks will be put at risk.

This area of land would be lost to anglers, cyclers and walkers, who currently have an unspoilt natural river basin to explore. River users will face anguish, where the river (at parts only 14m wide) will be closed down to a single lane of navigation.

At an appeal hearing on Thursday, I made it clear that the developer had misunderstood the environmental and navigational impact of his proposals. I pointed out the problem caused by pumping loos on boat toilets, the unworkability of his plans to control "invasive plant species", and the lack of demand for mooring spaces in this unpoilt area. I also ammended the meeting to ensure that issues affection Quality of Life would be discussed, because the plans showed no consideration for local residents who would have to contend with constant noise and traffic problems at unsociable hours.

This morning, despite the bitter cold snow, I took a team of Conservative councillors and candidates to see the site, and I explained the proposals. Fant's Conservatives are very troubled by the proposals to ruin the last unspoilt part of riverside land, and we will continue to fight the proposals.

From left: Cllr Mark Wooding (East), John Wilson (candidate for Coxheath, Hunton and the Farleighs), Ed Winstanley (candidate for East), Steve Paine (candidate for Fant), Cass Jappy (candidate for Barming), and Cllr Chris Garland (Shadow cabinet member for Regeneration)