Charlton Farms has sparked outrage among Chart Sutton residents, near Maidstone, Kent, by lodging two planning applications for extensive polytunnel developments.

If approved, these plans would transform 55 acres of pristine farmland into a sea of plastic, with rows of polythene-covered tunnels, each standing 4.45m tall and 8m wide.

The local landscape already features several patches of polytunnels, some of which are owned by Charlton Farms.

However, residents with homes facing the fields off Rectory Road and Forsham Lane fear that the new additions will turn their beloved countryside into something resembling an "industrial landscape."

Charlotte Pearson, whose home faces one of the proposed sites, expressed her dismay: "We will look straight out onto them. 

"There is a public footpath through one of the existing polytunnel sites that I often walk on, so I know what it is like."

Pearson is sceptical about the assurances given: "Promises are made of increasing hedgerows and keeping green corridors between the tunnels, but that is not what happens.

"Instead, it ends up looking like an industrial landscape."

Echoing these concerns, another local, Jo Turnbull, remarked: "One of the applications will bring polytunnels right up to the hedge around my garden.

"At the moment there's a lot of wildlife on this site - you quite often see buzzards flying overhead. There are owls, snakes, even a kingfisher. But these polytunnels will bring an end to our bucolic countryside. It's quite depressing."

She added: "We do have a lot of polytunnels around already and when you walk the footpath between them it is like being in a wind tunnel, with all the plastic flapping madly.

"The application refers to these as temporary structures - but plastic is forever."

Local homeowner Aaron Mitchell, whose property overlooks a potential future site, expressed his dismay: "We bought seven years ago and then the fields were attractive orchards. Now the trees have been grubbed out and we are to face row after row of polytunnels."

In what could be seen as a countermove, Maidstone council is working towards granting the Greensand Ridge the prestigious title of National Landscape—a term that has replaced 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'.

It was Cllr Brian Clark (Lib Dem) who initially suggested this strategy in October last year, aiming to strengthen environmental defences of the ridge.

Reacting to news of the new applications for polytunnels, he underscored: "These applications highlight the urgent need to reinforce protection for the Greensand Ridge through national landscape designation."

Both Chart Sutton and Sutton Valence parishes, over which the proposed developments spread, have officially opposed the introduction of more polytunnels to their areas.

Sutton Valence Parish Council has voiced strong opposition, stating: "This proposal is not proportionate in view of the cumulative impact on what is a landscape of local value and in Maidstone Borough Council's own view, worthy of National Landscape Area Protection.

"The proposals will have an unacceptable impact on residents living close to the proposed site and will impact on the unique and distinctive character of this area."

Chart Sutton Parish Council echoed these sentiments, condemning the scale of the project: "The scale of the proposal is completely unacceptable."

They warned of the visual pollution that would ensue if the plans were greenlit: "If both applications are approved, it will result in a vast expanse of polytunnels which will be a plastic-covered blot on the landscape."

The council also urged for measures to safeguard the countryside from such developments: "Every effort should be made to protect the landscape from such a concentration of these inappropriate, ugly structures."

In contrast, DHA, representing Charlton Farms, downplayed the potential visual disruption, claiming: "The farm site is well screened from public views outside of the site by the existing boundary hedgerows and trees which will be retained and reinforced with the native species hedge and tree planting.

They acknowledged some visibility from certain vantage points but suggested it would be minimal: "The proposed polytunnels will be partly visible from public footpaths KH571, KH500 and KH501. Therefore, there would be some change to the experience of walkers using the bridleway and public footpaths."

DHA also argued that any alteration to the landscape would be fleeting for those passing through: "However, the change in the experience and the view would be transitory as walkers travel along the route.

"Charltons have been farming in the Maidstone area for over 75 years and operate a very successful top fruit, soft fruit, stone fruit, and fruit packaging business, employing between 700 and 2,000 workers depending upon the time of the year.

"The proposal will provide polytunnels for soft fruit production (strawberries) and will increase fruit yield produced on the farm, thereby helping to maintain and enhance the viability of the farm business carried out by Charltons."