Landowner warns area will become ‘gypsy dump’

jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk A BUSINESSMAN claims Ashford will become a “giant gypsy dump” unless more official sites for travellers are created.

American businessman Kent Armstrong, 60, issued the warning after he offered his 45-acre wood at Shadoxhurst to Ashford Borough Council but was told it was unsuitable.

Mr Armstrong, who used to live in the area but has since moved to Vermont in the USA, felt Bambridge Wood was the perfect place for gypsies and travellers, given its proximity to Nickley Wood, which is already home to 17 families from the traveller community.

He offered the land to the council after an appeal for potential gypsy sites a few years ago.

“We put a proposal to them about this land,” he said. “Five months later they decided they didn’t want to do anything.

“They found every reason in the world not to use it.”

Mr Armstrong, a world-renowned guitar pick-up maker who boasts clients including Carly Simon and Pete Townshend, warned that unless sites were allo- cated then it could become an “open borough” for gypsies.

“Ashford is going to become a giant gypsy dump,” he said.

“I think the borough needs to be warned because the council are negligent in their duty.”

“This could be on their doorstep. The council no longer has any places to put gypsies so they can take a class action against them to get a permanent home.

“There is one site where gypsies owned a whole farm. They took a class action against Maidstone Borough Council and they won.”

Ashford Borough Council said Bambridge Wood was not suitable because it was designated ancient woodland.

Regeneration and development manager Giles Holloway told Mr Armstrong: “Given the land is designated ancient woodland; is covered by a tree preservation order and also Article 4 Directions imposed by this council specifically to protect it, it would be extremely difficult to promote this use here.

“The site survey, habitat evaluation and other work needed to support a planning application would be expensive and the capital costs of making fully-serviced site provision would be very considerable.

“We have decided not to pursue this option but would like to thank you for putting the opportunity to us.”