I am a resident of Snodland, deeply concerned about the proposed development under Planning Application 23/03397 by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. This application seeks to erect 35 apartments on land at 4 Cemetery Lane (Woodlands Lake, formerly Holborough Quarry). The development plan involves extensive earthmoving works that would drastically reduce the lake's area by a third to accommodate parking spaces and imposing blocks of flats.

I understand thathe works will involve pile driving steel sheets into the lake bed to enable back filling material to obtain the necessary land to accommodate the proposed parking area and construction and landscaping for the three blocks of apartments which in my opinion is unnecessary over engineering of the site. I believe that the Biodiversity plan submitted by the developers to be totally optimistic as to the effect these works will have on the existing lake inhabitants,  bird nesting, and ground fauna, which I believe will be drastically affected and driven out.

The provision in the plans for just 40 parking places for the 35 dwellings, 21 two bed and 14 one bed, I also believe to be under required, averaging potentially 2 cars per 2 bed and 1 car per 1 bed flat which would require at least 56 spaces without spaces for visitor parking. This, I believe, is an underestimate of parking facility that will cause overspill parking onto Cemetery Lane affecting parking access for funerals and visits to the Cemetery and general traffic congestion in the lane.

There are many other factors in this proposed over development, great increase in traffic movement, bringing about more pollution and noise for local residents and potential increase in traffic accidents as there is extensive parking for schools and Snodland Community Centre events in access roads to Cemetery Lane

In my opinion, this development will not be in character with the street scene of the narrow Cemetery Lane's rustic nature. It contains massive earthworks that will cause much noise and pollution to residents just to manufacture the land necessary for the construction of limited occupation value buildings, together with extensive road traffic movements  of heavy vehicles bringing materials to the site. There has already been extensive development, which has removed the original Biodiversity of the Northern Bank of the lake and what remains should be left alone.

The natural beauty and ecological balance of our community are under threat. The construction will necessitate large-scale felling of numerous long-established trees and decimate existing flora and fauna. Our local wildlife - birds, animals, fish stocks - will lose their habitat.

Moreover, there is a potential risk associated with this project that cannot be ignored. The compression of the lake's area could lead to an increase in its water level causing possible flooding or landslips for gardens and grounds of houses along the lake edges.

This development is not even for much-needed family homes but merely studio flats and some two-bedroom flats. We must protect our community from such short-sighted planning decisions that prioritize profit over people's needs and environmental sustainability.

We urge Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to reconsider this planning application in light of these concerns raised by residents like myself who cherish our local environment. Please sign this petition to show your support for preserving Woodlands Lake as it is today – a haven for wildlife and a cherished part of our community.