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Extract from Kent Messenger published 18 July 2008

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOR FOREVER?

 

Campaigners have won a reprieve in their fight against plans to cover 60 acres of Kent with plastic sheeting.

 

A planning battle over polytunnels designed to increase strawberry production at Waterham, near Favisham, was due to be decided at a Swale Borough Council planning meeting on Thursday night.

 

But Councillors voted to defer the application while the Environmental Agency carried out an ecological study.

 

Retired boxer Barry McGuigan who lives at Dargate is one of the objectors to the scheme put forward by Hernhill Nurseries, part of the S&A Group.

 

Cllr B. Mulhem said the flood risk from the proposed polytunnels should be investigated and the residents of Seasalter consulted too.

 

He said Canterbury City Council should be consulted because people who live in Seasalter Road could be at risk from flooding as well as the people who live near the site. If there was a flash flood, the water wouldn't be absorbed by the soil because of the polytunnels.

 

The company has promised that 300 permanent jobs for local people could be created.

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AVRA: We believe that Swale Borough Council should also be asking how 300 permanent jobs would be created by this proposal.