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Welcome
to the STOPKIG Website |
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This is the official website of
STOPKIG.org
, the umbrella organization formed by
the community for the community to fight
K.I.G (Kent International
Gateway).
KIG is a proposal to obliterate a
massive area of green space in mid Kent
with a four million square feet
industrial estate....
read more |
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Howbury Park Freight
Interchange at Slade Green,
nr Dartford is approved
Planning consent was granted
just before Christmas for a
large rail freight
interchange at Slade Green,
Bexley after a Planning
Inquiry.
STOP KIG supports the
ambition of Government
Policy to use rail for
transporting freight.
However, the interchanges
must be built at sites which
do not create unacceptable
costs to the environment and
to peoples’ lives. STOP KIG
considers the proposal by
KIG to build an interchange
between Bearsted and
Hollingbourne demands too
great a sacrifice. It
considers the Slade Green
site to be more suitable
because:-
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Cross Channel freight
will stay on trains
through Kent thus
reducing lorry traffic
on M20 – UNLIKE KIG
which will increase
lorry flows along M20.
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It is ideally located to
serve South East London
and Kent and has the
support of the Greater
London Authority and
Kent County Council as
strategic authorities.
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It complies with
Government Policy which
is to have 4 rail
freight interchanges
around London which are
close to the M25.
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It is well situated to
benefit from the large
labour supply in London
and North Kent. Whereas
KIG would have to import
nearly half the labour
from outside Kent.
The Slade Green rail freight
interchange has been
designed for around 12/13
cross channel freight trains
per day – the same as KIG.
There is therefore no need
for KIG now that a much
better located scheme has
been permitted by the
Government at Slade Green.
It remains to be seen
whether the AXA Group, which
is backing KIG, will now
defer to the legitimate
wishes of the people of Kent
and withdraw its planning
application. |
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AXA
Real
Estate
Investment
Management
are
the
driving
force
behind
the
KIG
proposal
and
they
are
part
of
the
AXA
group,
which
includes
AXA
Insurance,
PPP
Healthcare
and
Sun
Life.
In
effect,
this
means
we
are
funding
the
AXA
proposal
with
our
insurance
policies,
investments
etc. |
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The
KIG
proposal
is
all
about
making
money
for
AXA
and
its
clients.
BOYCOTT
AXA
–
DON’T
FUND
KIG!
Tell
them
you
don’t
want
to
benefit
from
profits
made
from
the
destruction
of
the
environment.
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When
getting
any
insurance
quotes, refuse
any
AXA
policies
and
tell
them/your
broker
why!
Write
to
AXA
Group
and
its
companies
(click
here
for
contact
details)
and
inform
them
that
you
will
not
be
using
their
services
while
AXA REIM
insist
on
pursuing
this
proposal,
and
you
will
also
be
advising
friends
and
family
to
do
the
same.
Ask
for
an
acknowledgement
of
your
letter
so
they
can’t
ignore
it!
Check
who
the
insurance
company
belongs
to –
DENPLAN
(dental
healthcare
plan
used
by
many
dental
practices
is
an
AXA
company!
It
may
not
be
possible
or
practical
to
cancel
existing
policies
or
investments
but
as
AXA
are
driven
by
the
requirement
to
make
money,
we
say
DON’T
GIVE
THEM
OURS! |
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THANK YOU!
Many thanks to all those who
have emailed plenty of helpful
suggestions and ideas over the
last few days. They are all much
appreciated. We are a small team
and so apologise if we don't
reply to everyone individually,
but please be assured that every
message is read and forms part
of the big jigsaw in this long
term campaign. Many thanks ,STOPKIG.org |
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PLANNING DECISION DELAY
It has been
confirmed by Maidstone Borough
Council (MBC) that the decision
date for the KIG application has
been put back. This is because
MBC are waiting for additional
information from KIG, requested
in December 2007 and also
because the Highways Agency (HA)
has put an Article 14 Direction
in place which means until the
information that the HA require
is made available by AXA/ KIG to
MBC a Planning Decision may not
be taken by MBC.
This is similar to what happened
with both the Maidstone Studios
application and the Eclipse Park
development, both of which were
subsequently approved so
although it may give more time,
it does not mean that KIG is ‘on
hold’ or has gone away!
Maidstone BC is unable at
present to say when the new date
will be. |
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SAY ‘NO’ –
NOW!
Although the official
deadline for objections was
27/11/07, Maidstone Borough
Council has stated that it will
consider ALL comments received
before their decision date
(Jan/Feb2008) so it is
NOT TOO
LATE!
IT IS VITAL
THAT EVERYONE SENDS THEIR
OBJECTION – PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE
IT TO ‘SOMEONE ELSE’
Now is the time to act –
your objection is crucial
Lodge your objections with MBC
as follows:-
• In writing to Rob Jarman, 13
Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, Kent
ME16 8HG
• By email to
KIGcomments@maidstone.gov.uk
or use above link on post-it
note.
Click here
for objections guidance.
See full
planning application here
It’s
really easy and requires only a
few minutes.
You simply need to state that
you object to the proposed
development for the following
reasons:
That the development will:
• Result in irreparable and
significant harm to the
character, appearance and
setting of the North Downs, and
the designated Special Landscape
Area
• Result in a significant loss
of trees, landscape features and
cause significant harm to the
amenity of Maidstone and
surrounding villages.
• Result in huge increase in
traffic both on the M20 and on
local roads already struggling
at peak times.
• Result in light, and noise
pollution, and massive
disturbance.
PLEASE DON’T LEAVE IT TO SOMEONE
ELSE
YOUR OBJECTION IS VITAL.
ACT NOW - NUMBERS REALLY DO
COUNT |
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STOPKIG T-Shirts |
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Order your STOPKIG
T-Shirt today!
Click Here
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STOPKIG Posters |
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Click Here
download the "Say No
to Kent
International
Gateway" poster.
Alternatively
click here
to see where you can
collect your poster
from.
Downloading and
printing the poster
to A5 size makes a
good car sticker! |
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Latest
News |
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18th December 2007 |
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Campaign to Protect
Rural England (CPRE) |
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The Kent Branch of
the Campaign to
Protect Rural
England (CPRE) are
active supporters of
STOPKIG in
the fight against
the monstrous Kent
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International
Gateway development
proposal.. CPRE Kent is a
charity dedicated to
protecting Kent against bad
development and promoting
the best that our
countryside has to offer.
They are offering discounted
membership for all
supporters of STOPKIG:
Discounted Rates:
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Individual |
£20 (down from
£27) |
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Joint |
£25 (down from
£36) |
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Family |
£30 (down from
£42) |
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Under 25 |
£12.50 |
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Concessionary* |
£12 |
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Local Group |
£30 |
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To take advantage of this
offer, email
info@cprekent.org.uk,
or call 01303 815180. For
more information about CPRE
Kent’s other campaigns and
membership benefits visit:
www.cprekent.org.uk
or for the national picture
visit
www.cpre.org.uk .
*For those living solely on
state pension, income
support or jobseekers
allowance.”
Not registered yet as a
STOPKIG
supporter?
Click
here to register.
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7th
November 2007 |
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Guidance for
Objections to MBC |
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We now have
information that may
assist you when
writing your
email/letter of
objection -
click here for full
details.
IT IS VITAL THAT
EVERYONE SENDS THEIR
OBJECTION – PLEASE
DO NOT LEAVE IT TO
‘SOMEONE ELSE’
Your letter need
only be “I object
strongly to this
application for the
following
reason/s...” and
then state whichever
reason/s you choose.
(The Planning Ref is
07/2092)
Now is the time
to act – your
objection is crucial
Objections must be
with MBC by 27th
November 2007
Thank you for your
support |
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5th November 2007 |
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KIG Objections :
What do we do Now? |
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By now, many of us
have received
letters from MBC
asking us for our
comments/objections
to the KIG
development by
November 27th 2007.
It is vitally
important that we
make our objections
but MBC will only
accept them if they
are made on certain
grounds. They have
issued a list of
matters they can and
cannot take account
of. (Click here to
view list and MBC
letter) We do not
want them to be able
to discount ANY of
our objections just
because they do not
fit their criteria!
STOPKIG are
currently working on
a list of objections
that ensure ALL our
objections count!
It is a HUGE
application and we
are working as fast
as we can and aim to
have more
information
available early next
week, so have your
pens/computers at
the ready!
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25th October 2007 |
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PLANNING APPLICATION
VALIDATED |
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The KIG planning
application has been
validated as of 23rd
October 2007.
Maidstone BC has 16
weeks from this date
to make its
decision. They will
be asking for your
views! For more
details and to view
the application
online, go to
www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk
Your input WILL
count!
Please be ready to
make your
objections. We
will continue to
issue updates as
more details become
available |
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19th October 2007 |
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AXA Ploughs on with
controversial plans |
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Maidstone Borough
Council has received
a Planning
Application for the
Kent International
Gateway development.
Although the volume
of paperwork
accompanying the
application was one
of the largest ever
received by the
council, Maidstone
Planning authority
has asked for more
detail before it can
begin determining
the application.
Maidstone Council is
insisting that
details of the
height of the
proposed warehouses
are supplied before
it will accept the
submission as valid.
Read Full Article |
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11th October 2007 |
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KIG - Planning
Application Received |
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Maidstone Borough
Council has received
a formal planning
application for the
Kent International
Gateway development.
It seems that,
despite the enormous
opposition to this
proposal, AXA are
determined to press
ahead.
As soon as more
details are
available we will
send another update
and post them on the
website.
We will also be
giving information
on how and when
objections can be
lodged, along with
other campaign news.
Meanwhile, show how
you feel!! Display
your posters, get
your T-shirts out
and be ready to make
those vital
objections. |
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21st September 2007 |
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KIG - Real Aim
Revealed! |
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StopKIG
has proof that
French insurance
giant, AXA, has been
concealing its real
purpose for
developing land
below the Kent Downs
near Maidstone.
Read full Article |
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9th July 2007 |
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Meridian News Report |
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View the Meridian
Coverage of the KIG
open Meeting that
took place last
Friday - its
actually the second
item on the news
after the advert!
Click Here
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14th June 2007 |
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INFORMATION LEAFLET |
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View the STOPKIG.org
leaflet recently
distributed in
Bearsted and the
surrounding areas.
Click Here
(Opens in a new
window) |
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12th June 2007 |
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PUBLIC MEETING - 6TH
JULY |
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Public Meeting will
be held at Invicta
Girls Grammar School
on the 6th July
7pm-9pm -
Click Here for full
details |
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5th June 2007 |
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REGISTERING SUPPORT
FOR STOPKIG |
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Many thanks to
everyone who has
signed up to
STOPKIG.org to show
their support so far
BUT the Downing
Street petition
currently has 2490
names on it. If you
have encouraged
family and friends
to add their names
to the petition,
have you also
reminded them to
register their
support on our
website? They can
also do this by
phone or mail as
follows:-
Telephone 01622
621077 and leave
their details (answerphone)
or
Send their details
to:- STOPKIG.org
3-4 Tovil Green
Business Park
Maidstone
Kent
ME15 6TA |
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25th May 2007 |
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PARISH COUNCIL
POSITION |
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Local parish
councils are against
the KIG proposal and
some, inculding
Downswood and
Harrietsham, have
invited
representatives from
STOPKIG.org to speak
with them, and asked
to kept updated.
Click here
to read more |
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14th May 2007 |
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FREE CAR/WINDOW
STICKERS |
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In this week's Kent
Messenger you will
receive a free
Car/Window sticker
so you can show your
support in opposing
the Kent
International
gateway. |
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29th April 2007 |
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DOWNING STREET
PETITION |
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Click Here
to sign the online
Downing Street
Petition - Now over
2200 signatures.
Please don't forget
to
signup to stopkig.org as
well! |
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24th
April 2007 |
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"MAIDSTONE
DOESN'T WANT KENT
INTERNATIONAL
GATEWAY" |
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Maidstone Borough
Council speaks out -
click
here |
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19th April 2007 |
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"RAPE OF OUR
COUNTRYSIDE" |
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Read the Kent
Messenger's damning
report on the
proposed Rail & Road
Freight Site in
Bearsted
-
click
here |
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View more news in our News Archive |
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