An army of volunteers is at work to scupper Kent International Gateway’s bid to concrete over huge swathes of countryside at the foot of the North Downs.

There are just two weeks left of a public consultation into the plan to build a giant road-rail freight depot between Bearsted and Hollingbourne.

The main focus of the protesters is to ensure that everyone who could be adversely affected by the plans – and they say that is everyone in Maidstone – writes to the borough council to state their opposition.

When the planning application was first submitted 15 months ago, 2,400 people sent in objections. But now the applicants, who are backed by the multi-national company AXA, have submitted a raft of new details and Maidstone council is having to consult the public all over again.

Members of StopKIG.org were hard at work over the weekend folding 7,000 leaflets.

This week 100 distributors are putting them through letter-boxes throughout Bearsted and Thurnham.

Elsewhere neighbouring parish councils have been conducting their own leaflet campaigns. Altogether 15 parish councils have come together to fight the scheme, engaging their own professional planning consultant to advise them.

Each council believes that the proposals for vast warehouses on land between the A20 and M20 near junction 8, with the accompanying 1,100 HGV deliveries every day, will have a devastating effect on their communities.

They have printed 12,500 newsletters that are being distributed to villagers urging people to object.

Richard Jacques, chairman of the joint parishes group, said: “We must stand together on this.

“It is incredibly important that everyone takes the time to respond to the consultation and lets the authorities be in no doubt as to the extent of the opposition.”

Mr Jacques said that everyone who objected before should do so again, but he also urged: “If you didn’t write the first time around, now is your chance to let your views be known.”

The deadline for responses is February 6.

• To comment on the application, write to Steve Clarke, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ or email KIGcomments @maidstone.gov.uk