Public Meeting Update

03/02/2009

The public meeting organised by KCC at Invicta Grammar School was hailed as a great success. Despite treacherous road conditions and the authorities’ pleas to the public not to go out unless their journey was essential, more than 300 people felt so strongly about the proposed development by Kent International Gateway that they turned out to hear the latest situation and offer their views. Bearsted & Thurnham 270 Other villages 44 Geoff Mee, Director of Integrated Transport described the process to date and also the process leading to the Public Inquiry. Explanatory booklets were made available. These may also be obtained from KCC or StopKIG. It is vital that everyone stays in touch with the process as there will be set time periods for each part of the process, including the need to respond to the Government Planning Inspector who will be appointed very shortly. Each speaker described their organisation’s work to date and nine questions were fielded from the floor. Hugh Robertson has sent this message: 'I am desperately sorry that the impossible weather conditions meant that I was not able to join you at the KIG meeting last night. I was slipped from Parliament for the night and had intended to catch the train to Maidstone for the meeting where my car was prepositioned in a car park. However, the cancellation of all train services left me stranded in London with no means of getting to you. However, many congratulations to everyone who made it to the meeting. In my view, the planning arguments for KIG are unconvincing so force of public opinion will be extremely important. Please write in - and get as many others to do so as well.' All speakers emphasised the extreme importance of sending comments in to MBC by the deadline of Friday 6th February.