Council demands Cabinet Reconsider Support for the destruction of Ancient Woodland at Oaken Woods

Despite the opposition of almost all of the Conservative Group, including the Local Members the Council voted on Wednesday night to ask the Cabinet to reconsider is support for the proposal to massively extend ragstone quarrying at Oaken Woods that would destroy a huge and irreplaceable swathe of ancient Woodland. With the exception of Fay Gooch all non- Conservative Members of the Council present voted for the motion.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Clive English who seconded the motion said: “A majority of Members of the Council have shown that they do not agree with the Cabinet’s support for the destruction of this irreplaceable habitat and wish the Council to think again. Maidstone’s Cabinet are literally the only people other than the applicant who have given the proposal unequivocal support. The public response and that of Tonbridge and Malling has been very different. Even  Kent County Council has wavered in the face of the united opposition and has issued another call for sites. Maidstone Borough Council should not be the one’s to offer succour to this ill conceived and damaging proposal."

Cllr Tony Harwood built on this in the meeting highlighting the highest of protections that ancient woodland is given in the National Planning Policy Framework and with only 2.5% of the land area in the UK being ancient woodland, it is one of the lowest percentages in the world.  In the meeting he added:

"We have heard a lot of warm words from councilors across the council chamber regarding the urgency of tackling the climate and ecological emergencies. We now have a chance to do something about it and vote to protect Oaken Wood."

Cllr. Brian Clark also added:

"“There are pockets of ancient woodland across our borough but many are dwarfed by the ancient woodland at Oaken Wood. Make no mistake, if the Tories wave this plan through, developers will be sent a strong message that the borough’s ancient woodland is available for development."

More than 25,000 members of the public submitted objections to the grubbing of this irreplaceable ancient Kentish coppice woodland during an earlier KCC consultation.  

The vote itself was recorded; those voting For are asking the cabinet to reconsider the previous broadly supportive response to the destruction of Oaken Wood in line with campaigns from groups like the Woodland Trust and the more than 25,000 objections.  Those voting Against are happy with the broadly supportive response submitted at this time.

For (28)

Against (21)

* Edited: The original list had Cllr Tom Cannon as voting against this motion in place of Cllr Denis Spooner.  The author would like to extend his apologies to both councillors for this mistake.

Abstentions (2)