Don’t blame us, says the potential developer of a huge housing estate in Aylesford, after it dropped plans to provide land for a doctors surgery on the site.

Gladman Holdings’ original planning application for the land to the east of Hermitage Lane included the promise of 0.2 hectares’ of land for a doctors surgery, and 1.8 hectares for a school or nursery provision.

Both were shown to border a triangular open green space in the centre of a development of 840 homes.

But a recent amendment has seen the company drop the offer of land for a doctor’s surgery and the repositioning of the school to the front of the site bordering Hermitage Lane, adjacent to the proposed new roundabout access to the estate.

The revisions have angered Tracey Crouch, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, who urged her Facebook followers: “If you haven’t yet put in your objection to this ridiculous proposal that will place even more pressure on the already creaking infrastructure, including the doctors, hospital and the peak-time car park that it is Hermitage Lane, then please do so asap.”

Her views were echoed by the New Allington Action Group which has written to Tonbridge and Malling council to object saying: “This development will generate more than 2,000 new patients in the area where GP practices are full and highlights a necessity to have a surgery included within the development.”

But Chris Still, the planning and development director for Gladman, said the doctors surgery had been dropped because “the borough council told us they were no longer seeking its provision.”

He said: “The recent changes to this application reflect the detailed discussions that are ongoing with Tonbridge and Malling council and the key consultees including Kent County Council, the NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group and Highways England.

As part of those discussions, we have been advised a significant financial contribution will be sought by the CCG so that additional doctors capacity can be provided elsewhere.

“We were advised land for a doctors surgery was not required on this site because the CCG were already in discussion about alternative arrangements in the local area.

“The amendments include the provision of a serviced site for a two-form entry primary school and we will make a significant contribution towards the construction costs of this school.

“In addition, this application will contribute towards significant highway improvements to address the congestion on the A20 including a new link road, improvements to the Poppy Fields roundabout and a new pedestrian/cycleway link to Barming station.”

The school had been repositioned to front Hermitage Lane to provide easier access for children from the wider area, and not just from within the new estate.

Earlier this year, thousands of patients feared losing their GP access after doctors at both Allington Park surgery and Allington Clinic announced they were retiring.

The situation was only saved when the Maidstone College Road practice agreed to open a satellite surgery at the Allington Clinic site and take on the patients.

Even before the MP’s Facebook appeal, there had been 100 letters of objection to the scheme, but another 179 have been added since.

The key concern for most residents is the additional traffic on Hermitage Lane, which is already heavily congested.

Meanwhile residents in nearby Allington have been informed by Clarenden Homes that the company is considering submitting a planning application for 150 homes at Bunyard Farm, with the egress onto the A20 London Road.