Residents rage at planned development in Kilndown

KILNDOWN councillors have denied "bulldozing" through controversial plans for affordable housing.

Goudhurst and Kilndown Parish Council has set a deadline of today for comments, via a village newsletter form, on plans for five homes on National Trust land in Church Road.

Beresford Close resident Jo Stevens, who campaigned against developing a nearby plot in 2008, said the council lacked transparency in its consultation. She said: "Before we had a ballot box in the hall, people put their signature to a piece of paper, and we counted them.

"Everybody could see it. This isn't the way to go about it. They can't just bulldoze in."

Parish council chairman Tom Crookall said: "The NT says it will not release land unless it's the clear wish of the people of Kilndown.

"We've given a comprehensive run down of the facts and are prepared to make the responses available for inspection. We've been trying to 'bulldoze' this through for two years, so we've obviously got a very slow bulldozer."

Mrs Stevens said about 20 residents oppose the scheme on road-safety grounds.