The whole of Bush Valley and way beyond, right down to Pilgrims Road in Halling, has been recently acquired by Vineyard Farms Ltd, and will probably suffer the same uglification as Luddesdown valley has, for the ostensible purposes of planting a vineyard. Some heavy geological survey work is now taking place on the top of Barrow Hill in Upper Bush, suggesting that they have plans for something far more substantial than a few vines...
The core sampling is going down deep - at least 10 metres, and the pit sampling is all over the top of the hill. The chaps doing the digging were quite tight-lipped about who their clients were when I asked them, but there can be little doubt that the work is at the behest of the new landowners. If it was in support of utilities they would have cheerfully said so.
And whatever is being planned is big. Very big.
I heard rumours that Vineyard Farms had submitted tentative plans to Gravesham Council for a wine manufacturing facility much larger than their current area at Court Farm, and which included a cafe and wine bar that would have involved the demolition or conversion of the Golden Lion pub.
Apparently Gravesham took one look at the scale of the proposals and told Vineyard Farms to forget it, probably because of the access issues and the impact upon the quiet little village of Luddesdown.
Now it seem that Vineyards Farms have gone to Medway Council, who are, of course, a much softer touch. The very fact that geologists are crawling all over Upper Bush suggests that Medway Council have already given the nod to whatever Vineyard Farms have up their sleeve.
To stick a factory in such a visible spot on top of Barrow Hill seems an odd choice of location. You'd think a factory would be tucked away at the bottom of the hill and nearer the road. It is also obviously going to be very big and yet the area is Green Belt land, so new buildings of the scale that look to be on the cards are pretty much prohibited, even if they are for agricultural purposes.
Time will tell. But I fear the worst for Bush Valley...
