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Solar supply to village could lead to council tax cut


RESIDENTS in Lenham could benefit from lower council tax if the proposal for a solar farm gets approval. A solar power supply could be estab-


lished on Lenham Community Centre as part of the proposed scheme to create a large solar photovoltaic park near the vil- lage. Solar engineering company Kronos Solar


Ltd held a public presentation on its pro- posal to develop a 5-megawatt capacity solar farm consisting of 20,000 1m-long angled solar panels on 40 acres of land, off Lenham Heath Road, a mile south of the village. Should the scheme get the go-ahead, Kronos Solar would undertake a Section 106 agreement to give the parish council some financial recompense. This is most


likely to be through the construction of a series of solar panels, possibly on the com- munity centre, to feed electricity into the National Grid and provide a 25-year in- come stream for the parish council. One of the landowners, AndrewBarr Jnr,


said: “The idea is that Kronos would do- nate solar panels for the roof of the com- munity centre, which would generate an income. That would hopefully mean a lower parish precept in council tax.” He also dispelled local speculation that


his family would become rich through the venture. He estimated that renting out the land would generate his business around £25,000, less expenses to be divided be- tween four partners. The community centre solar panels idea is still to be fully explored for its viability.


Though the parish council would not for- mally comment on the solar farm proposal until a planning application has been sub- mitted, members were tentatively in favour of the overall scheme. However, they highlighted two main


areas of concern. The solar panels would be connected to the grid via copper wiring, which could attract thieves, it was argued. The other issue was disruption through the construction phase, which would last an estimated three months and lead to around 700 lorry movements. Lenham Heath resident and parish Cllr


Colin Gillett said: “People in Lenham Heath had to endure the construction of the motorway and the CTRL. These did not lend themselves too well, with roads widened and hedges taken.”


It’s Mote Park’s view of the future


WORK has finally got under way on a major conser- vation and improvement scheme at Mote Park. About 140 trees will be planted in February, while


areas of scrubland and some poor quality trees will be removed to recreate historic views that have been lost over the years. An example is the vista between the historic Volun-


teers Pavilion and Mote House. The reinstatement of such views has been carefully coordinated with Kent Wildlife Trust to ensure that the park’s ecology is pro- tected. No substantial trees will be removed. The new trees will include alder, birch, hornbeam,


sweet chestnut, Indian bean tree, eastern walnut, beech, tulip tree, oak, redwood and lime. Maidstone Borough Council was awarded a £1.8m Heritage Lottery grant towards the £2.5m revamp. It is the biggest investment in the park since the council purchased it from Lord Bearsted in 1929 for £50,000. Cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Richard


Ash, said: “Mote Park is one of Kent’s biggest and best parklands and it has a special place in our lives. “These improvements will conserve the natural habitats of the park, restore many of the features lost over time, and add better facilities for families and dis- abled people.” Meanwhile, the council is offering volunteers the chance to get involved. “Maidstone people really care about Mote Park. This is a chance to be part of the next chapter in its history, recreating the historic park- land of a bygone age and adding the facilities for more people to enjoy it,” said Cllr Ash. To volunteer, call Alan Frith, Mote Park audience development officer, on 01622 602119 or email alan- frith@maidstone.gov.uk


Scouts’ plan for


new county HQ KENT Scouts want to convert agricultural/equestrian build- ings in Grange Lane, Boxley, into their county headquarters. A planning application says


the Scouts want to provide ed- ucational and leisure facilities, while retaining the existing use of White Cottage for a manager. The plans also include exten-


sions and alterations to the ex- isting buildings, erection of a new building to house a climb- ing wall and formation of car parking areas.


Members needed BEARSTED Badminton Club is on the look-out for newplayers. Members play at the Memo-


rial Hall most Thursday evenings. Further info from Geoff Tester on 01622 739471.


30 East


£500,000 backing is ‘absolute sense’


Arrows indicate the historic views which will be opened up by the clearance work


Police get a new deputy chief


KENT Police have a new Deputy Chief Constable, Alan Pughsley. His predecessor Adrian Leppard has been appointed Police Commissioner for the City of London. DCC Pughsley’s po-


sition is temporary, until spring, when a permanent appoint- ment will be made. He joined the force in 2009 as an Assistant Chief Constable. He has been heavily involved


in the Kent and Essex collabo- ration project. He has helped to create one of the largest joint crime units in the UK called the Serious Crime Di- rectorate. The unit is made up of five new teams focusing on murders, rape and kidnapping, as well as drug dealers and bur- glars, on both sides of


the Thames estuary. DCC Pughsley, 45, is married with two children.


Almshouses ask for more car spaces


THE Cutbush and Corrall charity has applied to create three new parking spaces close to its Ellis House almshouses in Vin- ters Road, Vinters Park. The spaces would be used by residents and visitors to the almshouses and pavilion at Cutbush and Corrall Court.


MAIDSTONE Council has agreed to contribute about one-fifth of the £2.5m costs of regener- ating Mote Park. Cabinet members en- dorsed a recommenda- tion to release £524,802 from the capital pro- gramme. Last Septem- ber, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted £1.8m to- wards the revamp. Cllr Richard Ash (leisure and culture portfolio) said the scheme would improve "what is a very faded jewel in the crown". Council leader Chris Garland said it would be a "huge boost" and that, as £524k repre- sented 21% of the total cost, it made "absolute sense" to proceed with it.


Swinging Sixties! FASHION from the 1900s to the 1960s is the subject of a fund- raising event at St Nicholas’ Church, Otham, organised by the Soroptimists of Maidstone. Sixty Glorious Years Of Fash-


ion will be presented, with ex- amples, by Janet Godfrey, of The Kent Costume Trust, on March 12 at 7pm. Tickets £10 in advance. Con- tact Brenda on 01732 822032.


Holistic proposal THE Beauty Tree Holistic and Beauty Clinic has applied to set up a shop above the Macmillan Cancer Support office at 20 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone. The enterprise would provide


therapy rooms for massage, fa- cials, manicures, pedicures, spray tanning and waxing over the top two floors of the three- storey building.


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