'Pivotal' River Medway Planning Inquiry Looms

9.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Aug 2007

Our beautiful River Medway is under threat from a major planning application (MA/06/0788). This seeks to build a marina with extensive decking, moorings and other infra-structure which, if allowed, would damage fundamentally a wildlife-rich 900-metre stretch of the river bank to the West of Maidstone town centre.

The original planning application was refused on environmental grounds by Maidstone Council but the applicants are determined to progress their scheme and have now submitted a planning appeal to the Planning Inspectorate at Bristol.

Liberal Democrat Councillors Steve Beerling, Nick Schnell and Tony Harwood, representing wards strongly influenced by the River Medway, say that Maidstone Council's chances of upholding the refusal at appeal will be given a big boost if large numbers of local people stand up and be counted in the defence of our river-side heritage and wildlife. They are urging residents who are worried about the continuing loss of our precious natural areas to take a few minutes to write to the Planning Inspectorate prior to 17th September at the following address: Planning Inspectorate, Room 315, Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN quoting reference APP/U2235/A/07/2050921/NWF and including three copies of their submission.