A CAMPAIGN group has accused a council of attempting to “rush through” a planning application for a controversial £150m regeneration scheme.

Urban Gravesham claims Gravesham Council is trying to prevent genuine public consultation on developer Edinburgh House’s plans for Gravesend’s Heritage Quarter.

The planning application was re-submitted on November 30, after previous designs featuring a 33-storey tower were heavily criticised, and public consultation runs until January 13.

Chairman of Urban Gravesham Jonathan Clay said: “The council and developer appear to be fearful of what local people will say about the plans.

“They are desperately trying to rush the application through over the Christmas period, which is notoriously the consultation graveyard.”

A council spokesman denied this, saying the council is running a four week consultation period despite legally being required to provide only three weeks.

He said: “More than 3,600 letters are being sent to residents and firms inviting them to comment.”

Mr Clay also accused the council of not allowing Gravesham residents to see the plans by failing to put them on display in the Civic Centre in Windmill Street.

The council spokesman said: “The plans can be viewed at the Civic Centre free by appointment, online on the council’s website at any time and a CD has been produced with a full set of plans for consultees.

“Urban Gravesham has already been offered a copy of this and, indeed, have collected it.

“Enlargements of key drawings in the planning application are being prepared for display in the Civic Centre.”

Mr Clay also accused Edinburgh House of not making copies of the plans available to the public at a reasonable price, charging £680.

An Edinburgh House spokesman says it costs £680 to produce a hard copy of the designs, but they can be viewed for free at the Civic Centre as well as online.

The council’s independent regulatory board will decide whether to approve the planning application at a public meeting early next year.

History of dispute

Urban Gravesham’s accusations are the latest battle in their long-running war with the council over the Heritage Quarter. Here is a history of the feud.

The campaign group was established in January 2007 after the council and Edinburgh House announced plans for the redevelopment of the Heritage Quarter.

Urban Gravesham stickers opposing the 33-storey tower are plastered on lampposts and street furniture in Gravesend at the end of 2008, leading to the council threatening the group with legal action.

The council and Edinburgh House scrap plans for the tower in January this year after Urban Gravesham submits a petition with 7,000 signatures against it.

Following this, Urban Gravesham applies to Kent County Council (KCC) to have St Andrew’s Gardens designated a town green, which would bar any development on the land.

Gravesham Council and Edinburgh House react by opposing the application, and KCC decided to hold a public enquiry into it in spring next year.

Urban Gravesham posters, including one mocking council leader Councillor Mike Snelling, are plastered on a town centre shopfront in August, leading to the council threatening legal action.