What is KIG?
Kent International
Gateway is a
proposal to
obliterate a massive
area of mid-Kent
countryside
immediately north of
Bearsted from
Thurnham to
Hollingbourne in
order to build a
road/rail freight
interchange and
distribution park,
with warehouses and
associated offices
covering over 4
million square feet
- an area equal to
nearly 100 football
pitches!
The freight
interchange will
also require huge
gantry cranes to
move the containers,
which will be
stacked 3 high while
awaiting transfer.
There will be at
least an additional
12 freight trains a
day, each about 1/2
mile long, on the
existing commuter
line, NOT the high
speed line. The site
will operate 24hrs a
day
Who are KIG?
Kent International
Gateway Ltd is a
front for AXA Real
Estate Investment
Managers (AXA REIM),
part of the French
AXA Group which
includes AXA
Insurance. Another
small development
company, DMI
Properties, is also
involved with them.
With so many
Councillors and
others clearly
against it, why
worry?
Even if Maidstone
Borough Council
refuses the planning
application, AXA can
appeal and it could
end up being decided
at a public enquiry
or being called in
for decision by the
Secretary of State,
who may feel this is
a required
development!
I don't live in
the area - why
should I be
concerned?
This is not just a
local issue. KIG
will do huge visual,
sound and light
pollution damage to
the Kent Downs, one
of Kent’s greatest
assets beloved of
tourists, ramblers
and riders not just
throughout Kent but
nationwide, and
rightly nationally
designated as an
Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, The
sheer scale of the
proposed development
affects a large
area. The increased
rail movements will
affect everyone
living in the
vicinity of the
railway line along
its length. Although
KIG claim they are
trying to take
freight off the
roads and on to
rail, they admitted
themselves at the
consultation that
lorry movements in
the area would
INCREASE. This will
obviously impact on
the surrounding
roads and daily
traffic movements,
and become even
worse on the
occasions when the
M20 is closed, and
traffic needs to
find alternative
routes. There would
also be the
additional car
traffic for the 3000
staff KIG claims it
will employ, who
will probably travel
in from outside the
area.
Is STOPKIG.org a
registered charity?
We have investigated
charitable status
but our judgement at
present is that the
administrative
burdens do not
justify the benefits
and would impede
rather than
strengthen our fight
to save this very
special area.
We therefore remain
an unregistered
voluntary
organisation with a
treasurer and
accountant. Full
records are being
kept.
Can I speak at the Public Inquiry?
Yes you can, and we
would encourage you
to do so. You must
register your
request to speak
with the Programme
Officer, Brenda
Taplin. Contact her
on 01403 219892 or
by email:
BrendaTaplin@personassociates.co.uk.
Please also let us
know if you are
speaking. We are
offering guidance on
subject matter to
avoid duplication.
I don't want to speak, but can I attend the Inquiry?
Yes you can, and we
would like as many
as possible to
attend, especially
on the 13th October,
the first day |
