Back to list

Date submitted

12 Sep 2025

Submitted by

Interested Party

We need a commitment from D of T for the long term protection of the land to the East of Highfield Lane up to Blind Lane to be preserved as a green buffer between Mersham and the IBF. This land has been designated a buffer under the current Ashford Borough Local Plan to 2030 Policy SP7 to protect the integrity of the village of Mersham from encroachment. We also need assurance that the land will be managed in the future to prevent the spread of noxious weeds onto adjoining land. More recently, the land has been maintained to a more satisfactory level, which is very encouraging and welcome. However, there are still areas of hedgerows, particularly adjacent to Kingsford Street, which have been damaged by original earthworks and not been reinstated. We would request that hedges are replaced, as they help protect the village from the light pollution from the IBF. In addition, there are numerous trees which formed part of the original planting, but have since died. These need replacing and maintaining. We are still experiencing errant HGV's travelling into Mersham village and into Kingsford Street. This presents a very dangerous situation along a narrow lane, with no pavement and numerous dog walkers, children in prams, joggers and cyclists using the road. The signage is still not working. We were promised a permanent sign at the entrance to Kingsford Street, but this has not materialised the signage on the A20 is obviously not working. The light pollution from 12 metre high lights is very significant and intrusive and we have lost the night sky. Any improvement/lowering of the lights would vastly help restore the dark sky to residents and wildlife, particularly bats. We have had complaints from residents in Kingsford Street, of a low frequency hum which is present 24 hours a day and seems to have coincided with SPS inspections. This is affecting residents' quality of life, particularly at night, because there is nothing one can do to protect your home against this low freqency noise. I am aware of complaints of this noise pollution from the Sevington side of the site also.