Alpaca Glamping

Linda 2026-10-07 14:30:34

I object to this Planning Application. It is totally inappropriate development for a conservation area of outstanding natural beauty, which supports a wide variety wildlife, day and night, including numerous local horses all of which thrive in the local tranquil environment. A camp site no matter how `upmarket` would also mean outside fires. BBQs, music and other leisure activities day and night causing noise and light pollution affecting the many surrounding dwellings and wildlife. It seems illogical to promote outside camping sites, where BBQs are common in an era when summer temperatures are rising and the risk of serious country fires given the surrounding by Woodland. Longage Hill is not only used for local access for the many residents it is also a bus route to Canterbury and a popular cut through for cars vans etc between Elham valley and Stone street or Stelling Minnis. Furthermore, Longage Hill is also very popular with cyclist being a recognised UK cycling route, e.g. the Tour of GB used Longage Hill and in the summer we have dozens of bikes including clubs in Pelotons cycling the route and there are also many walkers, both local with their dogs daily and hikers enjoying the N Downs. A busy site entrance for access to the visitors of the 5 proposed units and trade and site servicing vehicles would introduce a real risk of accidents hence it would be irresponsible to allow this.

Finally I fail to see the benefit for the local community as it has no commercial, environmental or cultural benefit for us. Indeed the proposed development is being imposed on the community by a non-resident with all the associated risks mentioned to the community without any benefit. This is an imposition on the community from a non-resident for their own gain.

Michael 2026-10-05 12:22:58

I object to this for the following reasons:

1. Longage Hill is narrow poorly maintained and already too busy with farm traffic, cars using it as a short cut to Stone street, trade vehicles and a bus route. It does not need a further traffic causing further conjestion and damage to the road and hedges and gutters.
2. We are already surrounded by Air BB and we don't need more visitors with their noise at night. People live here for because it is peaceful.
3. The area is home to a number of horses and in fact the proposed plot backs onto established Horse Fields.
4. With our summers becoming hotter increasing fire risk this development is dangerous given the amount of trees and dwellings in the vicinity. It is illogical in the face of global warming to develop this camp.
5. Finally the area is one of natural beauty blessed with wild life and to develop a camp site here would destroy this.

Hayley 2026-09-29 16:21:54

I object to the glamping Alpaca site in Rhodes Minnis. It’s in an area of ANOB and we already have a noisey Airbnb to deal with especially at weekends. The area has many wild animals as well as horses and farm animals that would be impacted by the extra noise and light pollution. The road is used as a cut through and where the entrance to this proposed site is situated is on a corner and bend where people already drive way to fast for the small country lanes, the extra traffic on already busy country roads must be taken into account. There is a footpath which is regularly used by the local community. There are lots of owls that use this area as their territory. Also the site is fairly small for the potential alpacas who surely need more acres. I strongly disagree with this application.

Sophia 2026-09-29 16:02:54

I strongly object to the proposed glamping development on Longage Hill.

This is a quiet rural location within the Kent Downs National Landscape, and I do not believe the proposed commercial use is appropriate for the site. Glamping units, parking, wood-fired hot tubs and saunas, external lighting and regular visitor activity would materially change the character and tranquillity of the area.

I am particularly concerned about traffic and road safety. Longage Hill and the surrounding lanes are narrow, with little or no pedestrian provision. The development would create additional movements from guests as well as cleaning, servicing and waste vehicles on roads that are simply not suited to increased traffic.

There is also the impact on neighbouring properties. Noise from guests and outdoor facilities, smoke from multiple wood-burning amenities and additional lighting, particularly during evenings and weekends, have the potential to cause significant disturbance in an area valued specifically for its peace, dark skies and rural setting.

Questions also remain around water supply, drainage, sewage and waste management, particularly given the existing infrastructure issues experienced locally.

This should not be viewed simply as five accommodation units. Taken together, the accommodation, parking, traffic, outdoor facilities and associated activity represent a significant intensification and commercialisation of a sensitive rural site.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the application and ask the Council to refuse the proposal.

Neil 2026-09-29 13:02:44

I object to the Glamping Alpaca site in Rhodes Minnis Kent Downs National Landscape/AONB for the following reasons: The impact on
landscape and visual impact in an ANOB area, the
change from agricultural to commercial tourism use which will cause traffic problems on already narrow roads. The impact to protected nature and surrounding wildlife. The noise that would be caused by the amount of people and traffic. Smoke and the effect to horses in the opposite field. The risk of wildfires during the summer period. This offers nothing to the local community, this is again people trying to abuse the country side for their own financial gain. These people have invested nothing into the local community and do not even live in the area. This is not acceptable in any way.

Zoe 2026-09-28 18:20:56

I strongly object to this application, there is no proper access off a fairly busy road, no electricity, water or mains drainage on site so how will the waste be dealt with?

We have several camping and Airbnb sites locally, some of which I didn't even know existed so are presumably no problem as they are positioned near the owners houses but the ones that are a big problem currently are where the owners don't live on site so don't have to put up with the noise and disruption or be in a position to police it or respond quickly to complaints.

The idea of alpacas is frankly ridiculous in a site right next to a public right of way where the owners live remotely.

The land is agricultural (not waste) land and should remain so.

Should it get that far I will be objecting to any planning application brought to the council,

Linda 2026-09-27 10:29:42

I object to the Glamping Alpaca site in Rhodes Minnis Kent Downs National Landscape/AONB for the following reasons: The impact on
landscape and visual impact in an ANOB area, the
change from agricultural to commercial tourism use which will cause traffic problems on already narrow roads,
access and highway safety for pedestrians, overload of
traffic on the local rural roads.
noise and disturbance which gatherings of party people will bring to the area,
lighting and loss of tranquillity/dark skies, also the
number and appearance of glamping units
alpaca-related visitor activity.
parking which will be visually intrusive and would further erode the rural character and tranquility of the area.
sewage, drainage and water supply will be further affected as after months of longage hill being closed relating to water supply/sewage issues already existing, and the impact on neighbouring properties.
For all the reasons i object to this planned development.

Chelsea 2026-09-27 10:07:39

I wish to object to this site due to many reasons, Due to the area being an ANOB for a reason, why people think they can just do as they please is beyond me. Everyone pays a ridiculous premium in this area due to the ANOB and this is for a reason so companies cannot just buy land and do as they please. If it was that easy do you not think everyone would do it on the land we already own? There is a large air BnB a stone throw away that has caused unnecessary noise and stress, completely destroyed our peace and quiet and I strongly object to your plans. The land you are trying on has a right of way through that many locals still use. I strongly object to this planning and will be seeking advice through the local council.

Sarah 2026-09-27 02:29:59

Objection to the proposed site

I am writing as a neighbour immediately opposite this proposed site for the following reasons:
Severe Impact on Residential Amenity: The application proposes a highly dense, commercial-scale cluster of 5 wood-burning stoves, saunas, and fire pits and potentially sewage incineration. These will be only meters away and opposite my bedroom window and that of three of my children one of whom has a long term cough and is under doctors supervision for it which is one of the reasons we moved to a less polluted environment. Because the separating country lane is narrow, the concentrated smoke plumes will lack the spatial clearance to dilute. On cold, still nights, thermal inversion will cause toxic, low-lying smoke (containing PM2.5, benzene, and PAHs) to pool and infiltrate my home, creating a severe statutory nuisance.

Lack of any consultation apart from a notice going up on the gate which is heavily concealed by hedges which have overgrown up until last Friday when the parish council have cut it as the adjoining bus stop was obscured and the gate to this proposal is even more obscured by this same hedge.
Our garage and vehicle parking are located directly opposite our house on the other side of the narrow lane which has no pavements of any description. Because of this permanent structural layout, our family has no option but to physically walk our five children (three of whom are very young) across the open lane multiple times every day to access our vehicles, bins, and garage storage. We ride our bikes out of this access point. They also have lots of other friends of similar ages arriving in cars. Opposite is a busy driveway for a house, farm, 10 person air BnB and construction workers as another air BnB is being built behind us and therefore utilising this access point which is directly opposite the access point to this field. We have been asked not to park outside our house as it creates a pinch point which makes it hard for the tractors coming out of this exit to get past us but I fear that visitors may park there and interfere with them or that we will forced to park there in order to gain safe entry to our house.
Given that we have multiple adjoining boundaries including a garage wall I feel as though there is a significant fire risk from wood burning stoves, wood burning saunas, fire pits, sewage incineration, cooking equipment, vehicles etc that may directly affect our property and we may have higher insurance premiums as a result of this added risk but I am more concerned about the safety element. We currently store combustible materials, have a compost area and wood for our own domestic use within this area.

This proposed site is not far at all from ancient woodland preserved by forestry England. In the event that the old trees, barns and houses surrounding and also part of this field did catch fire it may spread to this ancient forest. Forest fires are on the rise due to climate change with the previous summer being a good example and, in fact, that was a contained fire that was managed by the local fire department over a few days this year. There is also a chance that the potentially large volume of firewood which maybe transported from further afield may carry pests that could affect these woodlands.

As we are in an AONB the presence of commercial scale wood smoke, light and noise goes against the principles of creating a clean and tranquil environment. I don't imagine that geodesic domes will have much sound proofing qualities and also guests will be encouraged outside by the al fresco arrangements.

I don't believe that there will be alpacas and I think that this is to make the proposal sound more appealing.

In summary I have thought long and hard about this and I cannot see past the health and safety concerns for my family, neighbours and people using this environment and the lack of consultation is a sticking point. As woodland champions I believe that a letter in my postbox being the most direct neighbour to this proposal would have been a courtesy at the very least.

Janet 2026-09-23 18:00:07

As stated this is not wasteland but agricultural land. The well used footpath HE46 runs through this land and the site can be seen very clearly from the road and the footpath. The proposal is unlikely to support the immediate local area as the village has no pub or shop. It will however generate noise and disturbance as it is extremely close to residential dwellings.
The sewage issue is of great concern as there are no mains drains in the area.

Susan 2026-09-23 11:14:32

This site is currently agricultural land, not waste land. There is currently no water supply. There is no sewage disposal on site and no mains drainage in Rhodes Minnis. Non of the amenities stated currently exist.. The site is clearly visible from the highway and a public footpath (HE46) running through the site. The owners do not live close by and would therefore be unable to monitor visitors compliance with procedures. The site would require planning permission from the local authorities. The site is too small and in close proximity to residential dwellings. Neighbouring fields are used for keeping horses which would be severely impacted by a camping site. The site is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a camping site would create noise and light pollution and impact the visual amenity of the area. The plant and wildlife existing within the site would be affected by a camp site.

Chloe 2026-09-22 20:03:54

Objection to Proposed Alpaca Glamping – Application 632

I wish to object to the proposed Alpaca Glamping site on Longage Hill, Rhodes Minnis.

I have serious concerns about the suitability of this location for commercial glamping, particularly as it is within the Kent Downs National Landscape and is currently a quiet and peaceful rural area.

The proposal would introduce regular visitors, vehicles and outdoor activity into an otherwise tranquil environment. I am particularly concerned about noise and disturbance, including from guests using the proposed wood-fired hot tub and sauna, particularly during evenings.

There are horses and other livestock nearby, which could be affected by increased vehicle movements, unfamiliar people and sudden noise. This could cause unnecessary stress and potentially create safety and welfare concerns.

I am also concerned about the impact on local wildlife. Increased human activity, vehicles, lighting and noise could disturb wildlife using the surrounding fields, hedgerows and woodland, particularly during the evening and at night.

I also have significant concerns about the entrance to the field from Longage Hill. This entrance is not currently subject to regular traffic, and the proposal would introduce a new and potentially significant number of vehicle movements. Visitors unfamiliar with the area may slow down, stop or manoeuvre while trying to locate and enter the site, creating a potential highway safety concern.

Overall, I do not believe this is an environmentally or practically suitable location for commercial glamping. The proposal risks affecting the peace and tranquillity of the area, nearby horses and livestock, local wildlife and highway safety.

I ask that these concerns are fully considered before the application is approved.

Stacey 2026-09-22 18:43:52

We moved to the area for the peace & quiet as you described in the information. Unfortunately with the large air b n b we already have here and now this I'm afraid the residents who live here will no longer be able to enjoy the peace & tranquility within our own homes that we all moved here for.