Gerry Warren

As decision day looms on the biggest planning application in the city’s history, campaigners tell they will fight to the bitter end to try and save precious, high quality land which has been farmed for generations

The fields of south Canterbury provided a quintessential image of the British countryside this summer, as they have for generations with grazing cattle and golden fields of wheat.

But it is a scene which is set to disappear forever with the 4,000home Mountfield Park development on 560 acres of green space.

While developer Corinthian claims it will make the new ‘garden city’ as green as possible, campaigners say it will still result in the loss of some of the finest arable land in the county.

But opponents admit they face an uphill struggle to prevent the flood of new house-building demanded by the government – even if it involves concreting over the countryside.

The public consultation on the outline plans for south Canterbury, which includes shops, two primary schools, playing fields and a now-unlikely new site for Kent and Canterbury Hospital, ends today (Thursday).

As of Tuesday, there were 181 representations from residents’ groups and individuals, the vast majority expressing concerns about various elements of the application.

It is expected to lead to a lively and emotional meeting of the city council’s planning committee, when members are soon faced with making a decision. No date has yet been fixed for that hearing.

Among those objecting is the Council for the Protection of Rural England, whose Canterbury committee chairman, Dr Alan Holmes, has urged the city council to consider the cost to the landscape and farming.

He said: “The development would be on some of our best and most versatile farmland – it is vital to preserve this because we already import over 60% of our food, and food security is an important issue. There are other lower grade sites, or we advocate prioritising development on brownfield sites.”

Dr Holmes also fears the development will have a “severe negative impact” on Canterbury, considerably worsening traffic congestion and air pollution on major routes.

His worry over the loss of such precious farmland is echoed by the Langton and Nackington Road Residents’ Association (LANRA), which is part of the South Canterbury Alliance group.

For members like teaching assistant Lucy Tyler, 48, who lives in Nackington Road and grew up playing in the fields with her sister Penny, the landscape has been appreciated by generations of families.

“It seems to have been hugely overlooked and kept quiet that this is grade one agricultural land,” she said.

“There is such a small amount

Picture: Corinthian Land Ltd How the development could look