Show your objection!
Plans for the new winery were rejected by Medway Council’s Planning Committee in March 2022 and are now being appealed by Vineyard Farms at an Inquiry to be held at the Corn Exchange, Rochester at 10am on Thursday 23rd March 2023 for between 9 and 11 days. Individual speakers may request to speak if present on the first day of the appeal.
Below is the full Statement of Case submitted by Cuxton Parish Council and Cuxton Against the Winery in December 2022, together with the Barrister’s advice, courtesy of Brian MacDonald, on the legal situation regarding Green Belt.
Click here to download the CPC and CAW Full Statement of Case
Click here to download the CPC and CAW proof of evidence for Heritage
Click here to download the CPC and CAW proof of evidence for Traffic
Click here to download the document containing Legal Advice on the Green Belt
Click here to download the document containing advice on how to present at a public inquiry
- This will not bring jobs to Medway
The UK has an acute shortage of workers in agriculture, hospitality, construction, and transportation, and, importantly, seasonal migrant workers. This facility would take workers from employment elsewhere in Medway, Kent and from abroad. - KWV’s ‘sustainable transport’ plan is misleading
It is based on traffic data taken at one edge of the village, not those entering the congested village centre. An independent survey showed levels of traffic were actually 4 X greater. This will be intolerable for residents. - Insufficient waste water capacity
Southern Water’s current capability to dispose of wastewater environmentally safely is insufficient for this development. Other areas in the region are halting construction work because of water shortages and contamination. - This huge commercial building
With an area of two football pitches, gouged 11 metres into the chalk hill, will function 6am – 12pm in an area of peace and dark skies, nationally protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Green Belt. - AONB damage
In adjacent Luddesdown, also in the AONB, KWV have ploughed up the same type of chalk grassland habitat, including nesting ground for skylarks, a bird on the Red list of greatest conservation concern. The Biodiversity Officer considers this habitat essential for maintaining biodiversity.
