A protest banner and posters opposing a controversial plan to build 1,250 homes on farmland have disappeared just days before a planning inspector is due to make a site visit.

Police have been called to investigate the mystery of anti-development material going missing in the rural area off Pump Lane, Rainham.

Meanwhile campaigners against the development, proposed by fruit farmers AC Goatham and Son, are frustrated after amendments were lodged at a planning inquiry.

The Planning Inspectorate has been hearing representations from politicians, residents, and developers regarding the scheme.

The online inquiry began on Monday, February 15, and last week, developers AC Goatham and Son submitted their proposals on how to mitigate the impact on traffic at the Bowaters and Will Adams roundabouts, Gillingham, should the development be approved.

The submission means experts at Medway Council need to model the impact of the measures before proceedings can go ahead, and this is expected to take up to mid-April.

Planning inspector Jennifer Vyse is due to make a site visit tomorrow (Thursday). The hearing will adjourn on Friday before resuming mid-April.

The inquiry comes after Goatham's, which has a base in Hoo, issued an appeal after its plan to build the housing estate, care home and primary school on orchards was turned down in June last year.

The planning application was thrown out after a "Save Our Orchards" campaign, which attracted an online petition of more than 1,000 signatures and the council's planning portal saw 3,307 comments made.

Kate Belmonte is a member of the Pump Lane Steering Group from which three members will be making representations at the inquiry.

The Medway Green Party press officer said: "New information submitted by Goatham's regarding the road network on the A2 means we might not get a final decision this side of Christmas. This would seem to be delay tactics thrown in at the last minute."

Ms Belmonte said several residents in the Lower Rainham Road and Berengrave Lane area had called police after a banner and posters had been removed.

Among concerns are over-development of the rural area, noise and pollution. There are also fears that the narrow road, already widely used, cannot cope with extra traffic.

Goatham's, which has apple and pear farms across Kent, has applied for a two-form entry school, a 60-bed extra are facility, an 80-bed are home, hall and village green as well as the housing.

Among those against the development are ward councillors Cllr Kristine Carr and Cllr Martin Potter, who believe it would be "detrimental" to the quality of life of residents.

A spokesman for AC Goatham and Son said the company was declining to comment at this stage.

Police spokesman James Walker said: "Kent Police has received a report that a banner had been stolen from a fence belonging to a property in Lower Rainham Road, Rainham. It is reported to have been taken between February 15 and 21.

"At present no suspects have been identified and anyone with information can contact Kent Police on 01634 792209 quoting 46/29433/21."

You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete an online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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