Lights go out on festive canopy
MAIDSTONE High Street is to loseits trademark canopy of all- whiteChristmas lights – as a result of a controversial “im- provement project”. Thefirst phases of theHigh
Street regeneration, costing £2.2m, aredueto start later this year. But a report to councillors said it would result in the loss of thelighting canopy and some trees in which lights have been displayed. “It is not within thescope of
Sports and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson with Kent Scouts at the new activity and education centre.
Minister sees Scouts’ scheme
A NEWyouth activity centre in Sandling was given a boost when Sports and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson paid a visit.
Lower Grange Farm, in Grange Lane, is set to become an en- vironmentally friendly activity and education residential cen- tre, for both indoor and outdoor activities, with a versatile barn space and conference facilities. The centre was recently bought by Kent Scouts, who applied
for planning permission to build a sustainable barn to house a world-class climbing wall. A specially designed area of the barn will allow disabled users the chance to take part in climbing activities. “This is exactly what this area needs,” said Mr Robertson,
MP for Faversham and Mid-Kent, who saw the site where the climbing facility will stand. Lower Grange Farm is open to all, not just Scouts, so every- one will be able to benefit from the new facilities.
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the project to design and pur- chase a replacement Christmas lights display,” it added. Cllr FranWilson, leader of the
Lib Dems, who have opposed the scheme for the past two years, said: “What wearegoing to re- ceive is design over common
sense and public enjoyment.” A few years ago, Canterbury
praised Maidstone for its “par- ticularly dramatic and effective” all-white canopy effect when the city was reviewing its fes- tiveoptions. But lights will continueto be funded by Maidstone Council in the town centre, though a deci- sion will be taken later about contracts and spend. Several thousand people are attracted to the lights switch-on event at the end of November but thecouncil has not yet as- sessed the event’s economic im- pact. Investment in lights for the last three years has meant costs have exceeded budget, though it is expected to be out of the red this year.
Sandling pub homes plan turned down SHEPHERD Neame’s planning application for four houses in the pub car park at the Yew Tree Inn at Sandling has been refused. Maidstone Council claimed the proposal would result in the un- justified development of countryside within the Maidstone-Med- way Strategic Gap and North Downs Special Landscape Area. The proposed design was also criticised, and it was further ar-
gued that the occupiers of the development would be subject to “unacceptable” levels of road traffic noisefrom theadjacent M20 motorway in their rear gar- den areas - exceeding guidelines set by the World Health Organi- sation.
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