CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after a plan to open a landfill site in Westerham was rejected.

The proposal to transform Covers Farm, on the Squerryes Estate, has been refused by Kent County Council after almost eight months of controversy.

People living in the town have fought against the site becoming a disposal ground for builder's rubble and soil because of extra noise and lorry traffic.

Peter Cashmore, the driving force behind the No To Westerham Landfill committee, was overjoyed with this week's result.

"I think it's an excellent decision and it is what Kent County Council has been saying all along, that the landfill site is unnecessary. It has stuck to its guns.

"Whether our campaign had an influence we will never know, but I like to think we helped.

"I am very pleased and it is great news for Westerham.

"This means we won't get all the lorries coming through and we will not have increased noise pollution.

"This is the best possible outcome for Westerham."

The parish council is equally pleased, but aware the formal consultation is not over until April.

Angus Knowles-Cutler, a member of the Westerham Society and supporter of the anti-campaign, said: "I am delighted that KCC has made this decision. I think everyone in Westerham will be relieved.

"We are all very thankful for the efforts of Peter Cashmore and his campaign, and also Michael Fallon and his evident efforts to help the town.

"This has been a good example of the community coming together and speaking with one voice."

Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon has spoken out about how negatively the town would have been affected if approval had been given.

He said: "Westerham would have been blighted by this landfill. If the proposed development had gone ahead, there would have been an intolerable increase in the number of large lorries in and around Westerham.

"This would have had a detrimental effect on local residents, local businesses and the environment.

"This is a victory for common sense and the people of Westerham. Kent County Council has made the right decision."

The proposal, supported by landowner Henry Warde, was part of KCC's Minerals and Waste Development Framework,

The scheme would have returned the quarry area to its original landscape before it was excavated.

Mr Warde was asked about the collapse of the waste site plan but said that he did not wish to comment.

A spokesman from Kent County Council said: "Currently, Kent has sufficient inert landfill sites with planning permission to last until 2030. Therefore there is no requirement to allow proposed inert landfill sites, such as Covers Farm."

Despite Westerham residents having won their fight, the battle continues for other areas in the district.

The fate of two sites in Badgers Mount and one site in Shoreham will be decided in March and April, when villagers find out if plans will move on to the next stage.

It is proposed, however, that these sites will be used for recycling, not landfill.