Review of the sixth week of the Public Inquiry 17th November - Day 19 Excellent public support this morning – thank you! As the Inspector noted ‘Your supporters have turned out in force Mr Ashness’. Richard, presenting evidence on the need for an SRFI at this location was cross examined by Mr Katkowski, but gave very little ground under questioning. The Sevington site at Ashford, (also owned by AXA) came under discussion today, as we do not think it has been sufficiently considered as a viable alternative to KIG. The Inspectors took an extended lunch break so that they could drive around the roads surrounding the site including routes through Bearsted in order that they could familiarise themselves with some of the junctions and roads being discussed, prior to the start of the Highways Agency evidence. (There will still be an official site visit at some stage, when they will be asked to visit key locations.) After lunch, Peter Rosevear, the KCC witness on Highways, was taken through his evidence by Mr Howell Williams QC, representing KCC. This took almost two hours and went well.Mr Rosevear will be cross examined by Christopher Katkowski QC for KIG tomorrow, starting at 9.30am 18th November – Day 20 The morning was taken up with KIG’s cross examination of Peter Rosevear, and it transpired during cross examination that there was a problem with some of the results from the VISUM traffic model used by the Highways Agency to predict the effect KIG traffic would have on local roads. The Inspector requested that the model be looked at again to try to resolve discrepancies. Following on from Peter, was STOPKIG’s Highways witness, Geoff Heard. Geoff is experienced in traffic issues, presented a very solid case, and gave very little ground at all when cross examined by Mr Katkowski. It was also mentioned that the Fire Service, who had not previously been consulted on the implications of KIG issues, will now be sending a written statement on their concerns to the Inquiry. We at STOPKIG find it quite surprising that over the last 2½ years, KIG have not contacted or involved the Fire Service in any way to obtain their views. Incidentally, MBC had not consulted them either, as the Fire Service is apparently not a statutory consultee! 19th November – Day 21 The day commenced with Councillor Dan Daley, Borough and County, speaking, to give his objections to the proposal. Councillor Daley, having spent over 45 years in the transport industry (both road and rail in both Britain and Europe), spoke about the wider implications of the impracticalities of this project. He was followed onto the witness stand by KIG’s Traffic witness, Les Rivers. Mr Rivers was a very robust witness, giving little ground, but Mr Howell Williams, QC for KCC questioned Mr Rivers at length on the date used for ‘Traffic Impact Assessment’ that KIG would have on local roads arguing that policy guidelines would seem to require the figures to be for 2026, and that these would be more realistic. STOPKIG’s Richard Ashness pursued this point, commenting that the figures were hardly worthy of consideration as it was highly unlikely that KIG would be completed and fully operational by 2017, the year used by KIG to produce its figures! 20th November – Day 22 Today was set aside for discussing Conditions and Section 106 Agreements. These are required to be discussed without prejudice at such a Public Inquiry and in no way imply that the Inspector will recommend to the Secretary of State that the Appeal be upheld. The Inspector asked MBC and KIG to produce a document to include conditions they can both agree upon and also those that they cannot. Such conditions might include a level of protection for local residents, such as restricting the number of vehicles allowed to enter the site in the morning and evening rush hours, and putting restrictions on HGVs using local roads as shortcuts. Please be assured that they do have to be discussed at some stage during the Inquiry. Any such conditions would, if planning permission were to be granted, be imposed and enforced by MBC. STOPKIG have submitted some suggestions to MBC. During the week a letter from SEEDA was delivered to the Inspectors withdrawing support for KIG. SEEDA has withdrawn its support on the basis of advice from the FTA, which means that in effect both the Freight Transport Association and the South East England Development Agency are against KIG. The programme for next week will include KIG witnesses presenting their evidence on Logistics, Rail issues, Logistics operations, Night Time Visual Impact (lighting) and Historic Built Environment. PLEASE DO SUPPORT STOPKIG BY YOUR ATTENDANCE IF POSSIBLE.