PLANS to create a strategic em- ployment site on the edge of Maidstone near junction 8 of the M20 have been thrown out by the borough council's cabi- net.


Junction 8 jobs site is jettisoned Where 10,080 new homes might go


The decision delighted repre- sentatives from several neigh- bouring parish councils, including Bearsted, Thurnham, Hollingbourne, Leeds and Lan- gley, who packed the public gallery to hear the debate about the council's Core Strategy for the 15-year period up to 2026. But it disappointed Gallagher Properties, which had wanted to establish about 600,000 sq ft of employment space south of the A20 near Hollingbourne. The firmsaid its plan fitted in


with the long-term aim to create a new road linking the south of Maidstone with J8, but insisted that the existing infrastructure would be sufficient even if the Leeds/Langley bypass was not delivered. Council leader Chris Garland


discounted the chance of the link road being built in the fore-


THE panel below shows the proposed dispersal of housing across the borough. At the cabinet meeting, David Edwards, director of change, planning and the environment, referred to a map showing urban Maidstone and the large villages to the south-east and south. He said: “These recommendations are not site-specific, but I’m


sure many people will be speculating. Any speculation is, at this stage, premature.” Sue Whiteside, who presented the Core Strategy report, said


the aim was to “balance the needs for prosperity and regeneration and satisfying housing needs”.


MAIDSTONE BOROUGH URBAN SOUTH-EAST SOUTH Harrietsham/ Staplehurst/ Lenham


Headcorn/ Marden


Completions + consents,


2006-10 New greenfield dwellings Urban brownfield potential


4,910 2,100


1,550


seeable future. "Never say never – maybe it


will come forward in future – but in this plan period to 2026, it will not happen." Cllr Garland went on: "We


have made it pretty clear that the former KIG land will not be


THERE was high praise for the cabinet’s decision from local communities. Cllr Peter Waite, vice-chairman of Thurnham Parish Council, said: “The decision to remove land around Junction 8 from the search area for commercial, industrial and warehouse use must be the right decision. “Development in this area would be contrary to


the council's objective of concentrating employ- ment in the central area. Undoubtedly developers will challenge this but the evidence produced to combat the KIG application, and accepted by the inspector, should overcome this." Roger Vidler, chairman of the Bearsted & Thurn-


125 425


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235 705


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developed. There is absolutely no intention for this council to build on the KIG site." He added he also had a num-


ber of concerns about develop- ment at J8, particularly putting employment space and housing in close proximity.


KIG opponents congratulate cabinet on decision


ham Society, said including the 11ha would have been “nonsense” as the necessary infrastructure would not have been there to support it. He added: “Planning permission already exists


for more than 32,200sq m of office and commer- cial development in the immediate environs of Maidstone – more than three times the space ac- tually built and occupied over the last 11 years at Eclipse Park. “At that rate, the permissions already granted should be sufficient for the next 10 to 15 years.” Cllr Dorothy Parvin (North Downs Ward) said


there were more suitable sites than J8, such as Springfield, Maidstone.


Who’d A Thought TV crew would be here?


TELEVISION presenter Alex Polizzi checked in at the Who’d A Thought It at Grafty Green to film a new show. Alex, who presents the Channel 5 programme “The


Hotel Inspector” will be seen on screen helping propri- etor Joe Mallett to revamp some of the guest rooms. “She is going to restyle the rooms with themes, so there


will be a geisha room and a gentleman’s club-style room, “ said Joe. The crew have already spent five days filming at the


hotel and are due to return to complete shooting. The show will be aired later this year.


Leader urges EU budget cut


MAIDSTONE Council leader Chris Garland is angry about the UKfacing a rise in its contribution to the EU – at the same time as local authorities are being forced to make massive savings. A motion to this effect was due to be debated by the


full council as the Downs Mail went to press. It stated: "The council believes the EU should be


treated the same as other tiers of government and, in these austere times, should share responsibility, along with central and local government, for public spend- ing reductions. Sharing the burden would result in less severe cuts for local authorities, and give more assis- tance to councils to protect front line services.” Cllr Garland told the Downs Mail: “The UKshould


cut its funding to the EU, just as it is to councils across the UK. To do otherwise would fly in the face of the sense of British fair play.”


8 East To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


"I don't think J8 is appropri-


ate. The local community has undergone the trauma of KIG. Having a development at J8 will still be too close to that area," he added. Fellow cabinet member Cllr Richard Ash did not think 11 hectares at Junction 8 – as rec- ommended by officers in the Core Strategy report – would be a "sustainable" development. He said it is a sparsely popu-


lated rural area. At one time the council had suggested putting a large number of houses there, but that was not happening now, and he wondered if in- dustry of any type should be sited there. He said workers would be totally reliant on cars to get there as there was no public transport. "I can't sup- port that," he added. The cabinet agreed to delete


J8 from the Core Strategy and agreed to Cllr Ash's recommen- dation that the issue of poten- tial employment sites, and their dispersal, be deferred for a re- port in April. Meanwhile, itwas agreed that


the borough's housing target for 2006-2026 (including comple- tions and those already planned) should be 10,080. The focus will initially be on rede- veloping brownfield sites in the urban area, followed by new greenfield sites. Development will be on a “dispersed pattern” rather than concentrated on one large estate, as had been previ- ously suggested. The council plans to consult


the public on its Core Strategy proposals later this year.


Three Barrels theft SIMOS Praniulis (28), of Ash- ford Road, Maidstone, stole a bottle of Three Barrels brandy, valued at £17.64, from Sains- bury’s in the town. He was or- dered to undertake 40 hours of unpaid community work .


Leeds homes plan


THE Rochester Bridge Trust wants to convert two former agricultural buildings into three homes at Abbey Farm, Lower Street, Leeds.


Pub development


AN application has been sub- mitted to erect a block of four homes at the car park of the Yew Tree Inn pub in Grange Lane, Sandling.


Oak tree must stay


MAIDSTONE Council has blocked an application to fell an oak tree, subject to a tree preservation order, in Celestine Close,Walderslade.


Hospital’s gold star THE Somerfield Hospital in- London Road, Maidstone, has been awarded an overall satis- faction score of 99 per cent by its patients.


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