00:00As developers proposed plans for hundreds of new homes on the green spaces in Mepham,
00:05residents living in the area say their beloved countryside would be lost forever
00:08and have come together to campaign against the change.
00:12Because of the rural locality of these areas, because of the village landscape of these areas,
00:17because of the individuality of these areas as well within these communities and these applications
00:24don't fulfil the need for these local communities in these areas.
00:30So I think it will radically change Mepham forever more.
00:34I'm absolutely horrified. I think so many applications all at once is bamboozling us or trying to.
00:40There are many plans proposed and if approved the developments could see almost 1,500 new homes
00:47built across the parish. The largest application is for 725 homes off Cammer Road and Norwood Lane.
00:54With other proposals including sites west of Norwood Lane, in Blackthorn Farm in Culverstone Green
01:00and land near the Parade and Longfield Road. Plans also include new roads, open space and in some cases
01:07facilities such as a school, shop and sports centre. The residents say they don't want any
01:12houses to be built here and these kinds of spaces need to be protected. But with government housing
01:17targets to be met, what is the alternative? Graves Inn, North Fleet, Swanscombe.
01:21There are, there's a big hospital in Gravesend which has just been left. I understand that
01:26developers bought it but they've done nothing with it. Even heard that the civic centre might be
01:31closing in Gravesend. That would reveal another brownfield site you could say. I've actually got
01:36Gravesend, to be honest with you. Gravesend is always a big area. Of course there is still the
01:41argument that younger people need homes to buy or rent. Well there's a need but if you look at for
01:46example the Rose Farm development and Iceded Rise they're not affordable for young people to get
01:51onto the property market. Well they're saying they're making them affordable but there's no way
01:55a first time buyer can afford them. You know even if they lower it by 20% it's still got,
02:00it's not enough.
02:01We do need houses. My daughter's renting at very high rent. My grandsons have got very little chance of
02:07buying houses but there are plenty of brownfield sites that are being left to ruin. You've got so many,
02:14so many things which basically point to let's do this building. The government thinks we need
02:19the housing. Let's build it on the existing brownfield sites where they've got all the
02:23amenities they need. Building on these sites is both profitable and meets the Labour Party target
02:29of building but it's not good for the environment. The application is due to be discussed at the
02:35planning committee on May 5th. For now though, campaigners say they will continue fighting to
02:40protect the countryside on their doorstep. Kristen Hawthorne, CAM TV, MEPM.
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