Hugh Robertson MP speaks out against the Kent International Gateway Development

Hugh Robertson, the Member of Parliament for Mid Kent and The Shadow Sports and Olympics Minister, has today spoken out against the Kent International Gateway development as part of the first day of The Planning Inquiry.

It is extremely unusual for an MP to take part in a planning inquiry but Mr Robertson sought permission from The Inspector to be allowed to speak because of the devastating consequences for the area.

In his submission, Hugh Robertson said to The Inspector that he was there not as a planning or legal expert but as the local Member of Parliament. He drew The Inspector’s attention to the extraordinary fact that not a single elected representative of any political party, at any level, supported the proposal. He also cited the huge numbers of the public who had turned out at the various protest meetings and the nearly 9,000 local people who had joined StopKIG.

Hugh said, “It is an extraordinary feature of The Kent International Gateway proposal that not a single elected representative, at any level or of any political party, supports this application. Furthermore, I have not received a single letter or e-mail from any of my constituents in favour of KIG.”

He went on to say, “If the opinion of local people counts for anything, this development must be rejected.”