Fears farm growth will put more lorries on roads
Residents express concerns over increasing number of HGVs
A village will come under siege from rising numbers of lorries if a large-scale farming operation is given the green light to expand, it has been claimed.
Bardsley Farms wants to grow its fruit-packing operation at its headquarters at River Farm in Chart Hill Road, Chart Sutton, with more storage, covered access and an extension of its loading bay.
However, villagers say plans would bring more heavy goods vehicles which would have an even greater impact on their quality of life.
As if to underline their concerns, on Friday an HGV turning left into Chart Hill Road from Chart Road became stuck at the front of a cottage after hitting the wall, according to residents though this is disputed by police.
No one was hurt, but this is the third such incident in two years.
Clinton Green, who lives in the road and witnessed the aftermath, said signs warning lorries of the unsuitability of the roads were installed six months ago, but are often ignored. The 74-year-old said: “Lorries who go up this road must be mad or they have really bad sat navs.”
Mr Green said residents are also concerned about the impact of more lorries on the medieval bridge over the River Beult and a lack of notice about the consultation.
Bardsley is one of the UK’s largest producers of fruit supplying supermarkets with apples, pears, plums and apricots. So far it has invested £5.5m, but says further expansion is needed to remain competitive.
In its supporting statement, it said if the proposals were not approved it would actually increase traffic as fruit would be taken off site for storage and then back to River Farm for grading and packing.
Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council and Staplehurst Parish Council are objecting to the proposals. Chart Sutton Parish Council has not yet made a decision.
KCC Highways has requested a review of injury crash records and the effects on transport movement of the increased number of fruit storage bins which are more than doubling from 10,840 to 28,000.
The consultation period ends tomorrow (Friday).
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