Sanctuary animals are under threat
A 72-YEAR-OLD Teston woman fears she may have to put down the animals she gave up her home for, after failing to overturn an enforcement order. Maggie Marfell has run a private livery
stables and animal sanctuary at Hop Farm Garden Centre for the past 20 years. Three years ago, she decided to move out of her home in Lower Fant Road, Maidstone, into a caravan on the site so she could copewith an ever-increasing workload and act as a se- curity presence to deter thefts. But Maidstone Council invoked an en-
forcement order on the caravan, saying it constituted unlawful residential develop- ment in the open countryside. This decision was upheld on appeal, leaving Maggie with adeadline of September to move out of the caravan. Over the years the sanctuary has contin-
ued to expand and is now home to seven Shetland ponies, two donkeys, a sheep, goat, horse, geese and ducks. Ironically, MBC requested Maggie to take on the ownership of Mini, the goat, after it
A PROPOSAL to open aroute linking Aylesford and Larkfield to relieve traf- fic on the A20 has been sent to Ton- bridge and Malling Council. Ditton Parish Council suggested that Bellingham Way, which is currently blocked off at its junction with Station Road, could be opened for public use. It was hoped that if the barriers were removed, this would relieve much of the congestion on the A20 at Ditton Corner.
pening, it was becoming harder for Mum to look after the animals without moving here. “We have had young people down here
doing work experience and youth offenders as well. Local people get a huge benefit from it.” Planning inspector Alan Woolnough re-
Head volunteer Fred Durham with Shet- land ponies Mitch (right) and Ziggy (left).
was discovered living in a ParkWood flat. Maggie’s daughter Fred Durham, the head
volunteer, said: “With an increasing amount of animals to look after and more crime hap-
Wide support for road-opening plan Parish councillors at East Malling
and Larkfield supported the idea and agreed it could help address poor air quality at the pollution blackspot. It was also felt that it could help relieve New Hythe Lane as traffic coming from the Aylesford area and beyond currently has to use the A20 and the lane to access Tesco and Larkfield Leisure Centre. Aylesford Parish Council also sup- ports the suggestion.
ported: “The mobile home, extension and associated paraphernalia, considered as a whole, detract from the wider landscape. “I conclude that, with the exception of the hardstanding, the appeal development causes significant additional harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and that the attributes of the animal rescue centre and livery are not sufficient to out- weigh this.” However, Fred responded: “On our left is sewage works and on the right hand side is a mobile home. Mum has planted trees that hide the caravan. “They talk about the view from the Med-
way, but in the summer the other side of the river is opened up to caravans, which seems to be acceptable.”
Polytunnels objection withdrawn NATURAL England has withdrawn its objection to controversial proposals at Barons Place Farm, Mere- worth, for plastic polytunnels. A spokesman said that strawberry-growers Hugh
Lowe Farms had demonstrated that any potential im- pact on the Kent Downs and HighWeald Areas of Out- standing Natural Beauty was insignificant. Natural England had assessed the topography and woodland cover with vantage points from both AONBs and con- sidered they would mitigate any potential impact. Tonbridge and Malling Council put back its decision
on the application, which affects 400 acres of farm- land, to allow more time for consultation.
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Malling 9
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