Walkers using footpaths alongside land earmarked for more than 300 new homes have been startled by CCTV installed on the site, carrying a sinister message.

The security system on the pea fields in Barming, near Maidstone, barked out a recorded message warning those nearby their "presence has been detected" and that the "owner and police have been informed".

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Neighbours who have long used the land for exercise and dog-walking say this is just the latest heavy-handed move by developers Taylor Wimpey, who as yet do not have planning permission for the site.

There was previously outrage when the area was fenced off, restricting access to narrow paths at a time when exercise was limited and social-distancing measures were in place.

Now Anne Ludgate, who lives in nearby Beechwood Road, says she was shocked to come across the cameras and hear the loud warning they emitted.

The 63-year-old retired civil servant said: "It frightened the life out of me, all of a sudden it started shouting at me and it was quite disconcerting.

"It just seems over the top, it feels very heavy-handed.

Watch: Listen to camera's sinister recorded message

"I am not sure why Taylor Wimpey is behaving in such an intimidating manner to discourage local residents from using the area before they have planning permission and the area becomes another building site that we can no longer use for recreation."

The developers have since acted to tone down the surveillance equipment on the site.

Fay Gooch, chairman of Barming Parish Council, told KentOnline: "The Taylor Wimpey site manager has had the CCTVs muted - they have been switched to inaudible and only flash if there is movement.

"But if they're actually disturbed they'll become audible."

Opponents of the house-building giant's plans for the new homes have lodged hundreds of objections with Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), which is considering an application for 187 properties on the site.

The developer has also indicated it wants to build 118 homes on part of the field which falls under Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's jurisdiction, bringing the total number to 305.

Would-be residents of the new homes have also been warned by bosses at the nearby Hermitage Quarry not to complain if they experience issues with dust, noise and vibrations from the mining activity next door.

Gallagher Aggregates, whose quarry is as close as 100m from the proposed housing site, has written to MBC warning any complaints from future residents about its operation should be given “absolutely no weight” if the development goes ahead.

A noise and vibration report commissioned by Taylor Wimpey found there would be an adverse impact on the closest of the proposed homes.

But the report concluded the noise “would not be prohibitive” if measures such as acoustic glazing and garden fencing were put in place.

Responding to concerns of neighbours regarding the installation of the CCTV system, a Taylor Wimpey spokesman said the security cameras had been installed on privately-owned land following incidents of vandalism to fencing around their proposed development.

They said: "We understand this may be a cause of concern for local residents and we have put up signage to alert the local community to the presence of the cameras."

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone