Dozens of construction trucks heading for a renowned golf course have residents fearing their old houses will be \u201cshaken to bits\u201d.<\/p>\n
Tensions are mounting after proposals were launched to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to remodel the driving range at Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden, near Tenterden.<\/p>\n
Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden, near Tenterden, was designed by former world number one Nick Faldo. Picture: National Championship Golfer
Plans have been submitted to improve the driving range at Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden, near Tenterden. Picture: National Championship Golfer<\/p>\n
Currently, it is susceptible to surface-water flooding, but applicant Roger Body of Bowyers Field Developments Ltd hopes that improving the facilities will enable the driving range to be used year-round.<\/p>\n
However, concerns have been raised that residents will be forced to endure disruption for up to thirty months during the works, with a truck potentially driving by every six minutes.<\/p>\n
A construction traffic management plan (CTMP), submitted on behalf of the applicant by agents Fortis Planning, states that a maximum of 50 lorries a day could be heading to and from the site via rural roads.<\/p>\n
The proposed route will see trucks use Smarden Road, The Cut, Biddenden Road, Bethersden Road and Pot Kiln Lane, then join the A28 in Bethersden via Bull Lane and heading onto Ashford.<\/p>\n
However, highway bosses at Kent County Council (KCC) have objected to the plans, insisting that construction traffic should use the A road network, travelling through the centres of Biddenden and High Halden to reach Bethersden.<\/p>\n
Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden, near Tenterden. Picture: National Club Golfer
KCC has opposed the applicant’s proposed route, using country lanes for construction traffic to access Chart Hills Golf Course in Biddenden, near Tenterden<\/p>\n
But ABC Cllr Neil Bell (Con) believes neither option is ideal, fearing residents will pay the price.<\/p>\n
Speaking to KentOnline, the Biddenden representative said: \u201cThe application proposed going through country lanes, which was inappropriate, but KCC are saying it will only go through A roads, meaning it will go through the centre of Biddenden.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a number of hugely fragile Grade II-listed buildings along the route, close to the road, and we\u2019ve had many reports over the years that they\u2019re basically shaken to bits when heavy vehicles go past.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe document says 50 loads, 50 vehicle movements to and from the site. It\u2019s potentially a maximum of 100 movements a day, over a 10-hour period, that\u2019s one every six minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBiddenden has A roads, but it\u2019s not built for heavy traffic, and this is intended to go on for thirty months. What state will the roads be in?<\/p>\n
Conservative councillor Neil Bell fears residents will pay the price from the high volume of construction traffic
Smarden Road, near Tenterden<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be general deterioration when you\u2019ve got heavy trucks going past every six minutes, in addition to the normal traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs things stand, I don\u2019t see how I could support this application at all, and I\u2019m desperately going to try and oppose it.\u201d<\/p>\n
ABC cllr Kayleigh Brunger-Randall (Ind), who represents Weald North, also expressed concerns over the plans to use rural roads.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter contacting KCC, I\u2019m happy to say swift action was taken and a document was submitted to ABC highlighting the exact safety issues raised as a reason to reroute the lorries, avoiding Smarden\u2019s narrow lanes entirely.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is great news for the village, which has been the subject of many road closures that have affected local trade.<\/p>\n
Kayleigh Brunger-Randall was pleased to see KCC object to the use of country lanes during construction. Picture: Tenterden Town Council<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with the road closures, local businesses are still open as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the application went live in mid-December, 20 objections have been logged on ABC\u2019s planning portal, with no supporting statements.<\/p>\n
Michael Richards and Rosemary Vanns commented: \u201cThe village of Biddenden and the high street in particular is already plagued with HGVs, and further traffic over a two-year period is completely unacceptable and ill-considered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe high street has a row of Grade I-listed buildings with shallow foundations and a number of Grade II-listed structures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are already endangered by the current level of traffic and an increase of this magnitude – simply to enhance a golf course – would cause irrevocable damage.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Street in Biddenden<\/p>\n
Last year, Chart Hills, which opened in 1993, was named as one of the 100 best golf courses in England and has hosted the Ladies European Tour and the European Tour Qualifying School.<\/p>\n
Judges were impressed by the course, designed by former world number one Nick Faldo at the height of his playing career.<\/p>\n