PRESS RELEASE: Sevenoaks Town Council's response to proposed modifications to Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan consultation

Published: 18 December 2024

Sevenoaks Town Council recently responded to Kent County Council’s latest consultation on its Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan, which was submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination in May 2024, and has subsequently been recommended for 75 “Main Modifications” to make it legally sound and compliant.

While the Town Council considers most of the proposed changes to be sensible and supportive of its Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Plan, it has raised a number of concerns with regards to a potential shift in prioritisation of quarrying versus protection of nature, as well as whether the amended Local Plan will help to achieve national objectives for waste management.

Amongst the Town Council’s comments is the following key headline that it remains unclear how Kent will meet the following nationally set objectives:
To achieve 65% of municipal waste, including household and commercial, being recycled by 2035
To halve the volume of waste per person which is not reused or recycled by 2042, from 2019 levels
To eliminate all avoidable waste by recycling or reusing by 2050

Finally, the Town Council has recommended that Kent County Council (KCC) introduce measures to ensure that Districts who are delivering waste to them for disposal are doing so while meeting both KCC’s and the government’s requirements.

Full copy of the Town Council’s response is available to view in the Planning & Environment Committee Agenda papers for 16th December 2024 via the below link (Reference Pages 15-16)
https://www.sevenoakstown.gov.uk/_UserFiles/Files/_Agendas/190089-2024_12_16_Agenda_of_Planning__and__Environment_Committee.pdf

If you have any queries, please contact:
Georgie Elliston
planning@sevenoakstown.gov.uk
18/12/2024