The KIG public inquiry must be halted, according to parish councils opposed to the giant rail-freight depot planned for Bearsted.

They made the calls within minutes of the public inquiry into the Kent International Gateway being opened this morning (Tuesday, October 13).

In a letter to the government, the Joint Parishes Group claims that not enough information on the environmental and human impact of the 285-acre KIG depot has been revealed ahead of the hearings.

The group represents 14 parish councils opposed to the plan, put forward by French company AXA.

The group's chairman Richard Jacques said: "The Joint Parishes Group is outraged that AXA has still failed to provide fundamental evidence on matters such as ecology and the impact on human health, even though the inquiry is about to begin.

"The delay or failure to provide key environmental information is a clear breach of EU law that requires developers to consult the public 'early' in the process. The public inquiry must be halted to ensure missing evidence is produced and the public are properly consulted”.

The hearings are expected to last eight weeks and will hear evidence from KIG's architects and a wide range of campaigners. The inspector will then recommend KIG for approval or rejection to the government.

But the groups said the hearings should be delayed until more information is available. They claim that if the hearings do go ahead, the final decision could be overruled by the EU.

In his opening statement at the hearings, Mr Jacques said: "The lack of timely and adequate information and consultation is an insult to local democracy."