Waitrose on the cards for Kings Hill


UPMARKET food retailer Waitrose is the front runner to occupy a proposed new su- permarket at the heart of Kings Hill. Plans for an 847 sq metre food store close


to the existing Asda shop is among a raft of proposals for the central area on the afflu- ent estate. Liberty Property Trust UK Ltd also wants


to build new smaller shops and business units, an extension to the doctor’s surgery, car parks and a landscaped public area with artworks. The developers say the future of the derelict grade II listed Control Tower will be safeguarded with plans to convert it into a coffee shop, cultural centre and offices. The former air base building would be


given a new lease of life with two modern- design side extensions providing a cultural centre and coffee shop with offices above. The choice of budget retailer Asda for the


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ted to Tonbridge and Malling Council said there had been a high level of requests for these shops. The parish council said it would welcome Waitrose as an operator. It was also keen to investigate any link be- tween a heritage collection at the Control Tower and the Twitch Inn – the cellar bar created at Douces Manor atWest Malling by pilots from the airfield. A resident commented that it was impor-


The Control Tower – could be converted into a coffee shop and offices


estate’s key store has been criticised by many residents who considered an operator such as Waitrose or M&S Simply Food would have been more suitable. Planning application documents submit-


DETAILS of local MPs' expenses have been published – the first to be released since new rules were introduced in the wake of the out- cry over the previous system. Chatham and Aylesford's new


Tory member Tracey Crouch claimed £8,624.92 between the May election and the end of No- vember. The details, which include constituency office rent of £396.56 per month plus several hundred pounds for stationery and Black- berry hire, can be found on her website www.traceycrouch.org She said: “The expenses scandal


tant that the new store should complement, rather than duplicate or extend the existing Asda offering. “For this reason Liberty Property Trust should be required to use its best endeav- ours to ensure that the operator of the new foodstore is of a suitable high quality.” James Armstrong, Waitrose property and development communications manager, said: “We are certainly keen to increase our presence in Kent and Kings Hill is an area of


MPs’ expenses claims published


brought the reputation of Parlia- ment into disrepute and I shared the anger of the public at the abuse of taxpayers’ money. That is why I pledged to be open and transparent about my own expenses.” The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority recently pub- lished figures for all MPs for the May-July period. No claims were recorded for Ton- bridge and Malling MP Sir John Stanley. Maidstone and TheWeald MP Helen Grant claimed nearly £12,000 and Mid Kent's Hugh Robertson more than £9,000.


interest for us.” But he added that an agree-


ment had not yet been fi- nalised.


Churchyard will be


heaven for wildlife A CORNER of the churchyard at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church,Aylesford, has been set aside as a wildflower area. A representative from Kent


Wildlife Trust helped to iden- tify plants growing there which would flourish if not cut down. The patch will be mowed


only once or twice a year, and parishioners are waiting to see what new species will appear.


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