Concern over


quarry plans YALDING Parish Council has expressed concerns about pro- posed quarrying at a site close to the village. Replying to consultation on a


KCC blueprint for minerals and waste development, the parish has requested a number of con- ditions be considered regarding Woodfalls Farm quarry, Laddingford. Parish councillors are con- cerned about noise, road usage, screening and the towpath and suggested a restriction on the amount of open quarry areas at any one time.


Firm seeks additional space for stock storage


CLAYGATE Distribution Ltd has applied to erect a 2,716 sqm warehouse building at its premises in Pattenden Lane, Marden. The company has been based on the site since


2008. Maidstone Council granted planning permis-


sion as a departure from the development plan – the development was constructed outside the ex- isting designated employment area and the de- fined settlement boundary for Marden – on the basis of the economic benefits of the scheme. The applicant’s planning statement says: “Since


the building was occupied, despite the current economic climate, Claygate Distribution’s busi-


Marden sports ground


plan comes under fire MARDEN Parish Council’s vote to object to a new sports ground raised cheers from an angry audi- ence.


Residents had earlier voiced their concerns


over the outline planning application to relocate Marden’s cricket, hockey and tennis clubs from Albion Road to a site in Maidstone Road desig- nated for agricultural use. Locals argued against the proposal – on land


just north of the railway line – on the principle of development on agricultural land and raised con- cerns about safety of access, lack of security, pos- sible land contamination from previous use as sheep dipping and loss of privacy for Maidstone Road users. It was further argued that the present site brings people to the village, benefiting local shops and businesses. Also, the proposed site would effec- tively isolate the village from the sports facilities. The project would be funded through redevel- opment of the existing headquarters, which also raised concerns among members of the public re- garding lack of infrastructure. The parish council’s objection was sent to offi-


cers from Maidstone Council, who will refer the matter to planning committee if they recommend approval of the scheme.


Application for solar panels SIMON Allfrey has applied to install a group of 58 solar PV panels at Clock House, Heath Road, Coxheath. The 240 watt panels, each measuring 16.6m x


9m, would be laid out in three rows. A 9m high inverter would also be built on the site. The predicted output of the


solar panels would serve the house, with 50% exported to the National Grid. Maidstone Council will decide on the planning application.


Cannabis factory is dismantled


KENT Police shut down a cannabis factory discovered in Collier Street. Following a tip-off, officers executed a warrant at commer- cial premises just off the B2162 near St Margaret’s Church and discovered a sophisticated fac- tory, designed for the cultiva- tion of cannabis. Plants in the early stages of production found growing at the property were to be destroyed. Inspector Jay Allen from Kent


Police said: “The factory is in the process of being dismantled and our attention is now turned to identifying those involved.”


ness has grown considerably beyond expectations to the point that the company now finds itself in need of further stock storage space. “Existing space is limited due to the growth and


has left little flexibility to meet orders as well as limiting the potential for the company to grow further. “As progress towards [Maidstone Council’s]


Local Development Framework remains slow, with a Site Allocations DPD unlikely to be adopted until late 2012 at the earliest, the com- pany has no option other than to submit a plan- ning application for additional floorspace.” MBC will decide on the scheme.


Garden safari raises bloomin’ good amount Chainhurst residents Peter and Sue Jones (centre and right) receive a cheque for


£3,200 raised from the village’s garden open day


A TOTAL of £3,200 was raised for Mid Kent Breast Cancer Research at the Chainhurst Garden Safari. The charity, which is specific to the


clinic at Maidstone Hospital and is run by Chainhurst residents Sue and Peter Jones, was given the cheque at a themed ceremony where visitors ar- rived in gardening outfits, complete with forks, spades, trugs and clippers. The hand-over was held at the Dairy


Lane home of Rosemary Turnbull, who said: “For such a small settlement (only 107 houses) the involvement of residents is quite amazing. “I estimate at least half of the houses


have been involved in some way or an- other and it has certainly made the vil- lage a much more friendly place - it takes us all much longer to go for a walk as there are so many people to stop and chat to now!”


Stays at caravan park extended


PLANNING permission was granted to allow guests at a Boughton Monchelsea holiday caravan site to stay longer. Henry Boswell was last September given planning permission


to site 10 caravans at the Cherry Tree Park, Church Hill, on con- dition that the maximum spell of occupancy is one month. One of the reasons was to prevent permanent occupation, but


Mr Boswell has overturned this condition by vowing to maintain an up-to-date register of the names and home addresses of all own- ers/occupiers of individual caravans on the site, which will be made readily available to Maidstone Council. The planning committee voted through the application by ama-


jority of 12 votes to one, despite local ward Cllr Mike FitzGerald’s objection: “If it’s not unreason- able to remove it now, was it unreasonable to put it [the con- dition] on last September?” Committee member Cllr Clive English said the past year had seen changes in this area of planning policy through suc- cessful appeals elsewhere in the country,meaning a Govern- ment inspector would be likely to overturn a refusal.


Roof tiles taken ROOFING tileswere stolen fromW&RCaudwellin Heath Road, East Farleigh. A white Y-reg Ford Tran-


sit van is believed to have been used and a white man, aged 23-27, 6ft tall, of thin build, with short, light brown hair, is suspected.


Pair admit to five


charges of arson TWO Shepway men will be sentenced a year after a series of arson attackss. Neil Clark (34), of Surrey


Road, andMark Hitchcock (19), of Oxford Road, both admitted five counts of conspracy to commit arson when they ap- peared at Maidstone Crown Court. The attacks, which started


last October, targeted properties including the Lenham office of MP Hugh Robertson, a petrol station in Boughton Monchel- sea and a newsagent’s in Head- corn.


They also admitted threats to destroy the Kent Messenger of- fices in Middle Row and Supt Andrew Rabey’s home. The pairwill be sentenced on October 3.


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