‘Travesty’ of refusal for live-work unit


THE decision to refuse consent for the con- version of an agricultural unitwas described as a “travesty”. In August last year, Alan Bishop, who


runs Bishop Consultancy,was refused plan- ning permission to turn Beast House, West Street, into a live-work unit after planning officers argued that he had not provided ev- idence that the proposal was economically viable. In 2008, the site was given consent for hol-


iday accommodation, but Mr Bishop claims this would not be of financial benefit. His latest application successfully ad- dressed the economic issue, but the council underlined its two other reasons – the exist- ing building not being worthy of preserving on heritage grounds, and lack of sustain- ability – for previously refusing. Hunton Parish Council chairman Roger Sawtell argued that there was little differ- ence between a holiday let and a permanent


residence, but devel- opment control man- ager Rob Jarman said: “With the residential element, people are more likely to have permanent parapher- nalia in and around the building, such as washing lines and swings, so it is likely to cause more harm to the countryside than a holiday let.” Planning commit-


Refusal of permission to develop Beast House, Hunton, into a live/work unit has been described as a ‘travesty’


tee member Cllr JohnWilson, who is also a ward member for Hunton, said it was a “travesty” that the application was refused, adding: “This would be an improvement in the countryside and doesn’t cause any harm. We will end upwith a derelict building that looks awful and could be dangerous.”


Staff paid beneath ‘living wage’


ADOZEN staff employed byMaidstone Council are paid beneath the ‘living wage’ of £7.20 per hour. Campaign group Citizens UK has calculated that all workers should earn this figure to provide their families with the essen- tials of life. Maidstone Council pays one person over the age of 21 a rate of


£6.19 per hour. Eleven othermembers of staff get £7.02 per hour. The minimum wage for over 21s is £5.93 per hour. Stuart Jeffrey of Maidstone Green Party said: “I challenge any


of the councillors to try to survive on just £11k a year while pay- ing rent and the ever increasing fuel bills. “The council has a duty to its employees that it is clearly fail-


ing in.”


Council confident about achieving budget COUNCIL leader Chris Garland says the borough has already identified most of the savings it needs to make in the 2012/13 budget. After making cuts of £1.92m for 2011/12, Maidstone Council


needs to trim another £1.86m from its bill next year. Cllr Garland says he has already identified savings of £1.1m.


He added: “I am more than confident that by December we will have found the rest.”


Village power plan


making progress PLANS to install solar panels on roofs of the school and village hall at Hunton are making progress. Contractors have quoted £12- 14,000 for a4kWscheme, which it is hoped would reduce electricity bills. The village hall committee is ob- taining advice on grant funding and a working group is being set up. Chairman Alan Bishop has been liaising with the school which is carrying out a similar project.


Concert raises £4,000


for Army welfare fund THE Band of The Royal Brigade of Gurkhas and the Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkhas, gave a concert to an audience of nearly 300 people in the sports hall of Sutton Va- lence School. The concert was held in aid of


the Army Benevolent Fund. Over £4,000 was raised for the charity, which seeks to provide welfare support for serving and ex-sol- diers and their families.


12 South Green light for


pet hydrotherapy GRAHAM Cooper has been given planning ap- proval to set up a hy- drotherapy referral centre for dogs at 40 Jaggard Way, Staplehurst. He plans to operate out


of a 25 sq m self-con- tained building, which would replace an existing timber shed.


But Cllr Tony Harwood said: “There are buildings unworthy of conservation in every part of the borough. If we were to accept this, it would make a mockery of our coun- tryside protection policies.” The vote for refusal was carried by eight to two, with two abstentions.


Concern over public convenience facilities MAIDSTONE Council should review its community toilet plan, ac- cording to Cllr Mike FitzGerald, leader of the Independents. The community toilet scheme was introduced two years ago and


saw the closure of a number of the town’s public toilets but, at the same time, agreements with local shops allowing non-customer use of their facilities. He told full council: “I turned right out of the Town Hall and saw people urinating against this very building. Then I turned left and saw a sign from Age Concern telling people not to urinate. “After 6pm it is very difficult to find somewhere to go to the toi-


let. I amconcerned about places for women to go.We need to have a fresh look at it.” Council leader Chris Garland replied: “The community toilet has proved successful. It works and there have been very few com- plaints.”


Chiropractic seeks change of location AN applicant who was recently given permission to add a resi- dential element to his chiropractic clinic in Coxheath now wants to relocate the business to his home inWest Farleigh. In August, Maidstone Council allowed Alasdair Smith to live on


the same site as the Coxheath Chiropractic and Natural Remedy Centre at 43 Stockett Lane. Mr Smith now wants tomove the business from Stockett Lane to


Pub to homes THE Wild Duck pub near Sta- plehurst is to be converted into two homes after Maidstone Council granted planning per- mission.


Maidstone Council refused


Alter Image Property Ltd’s pre- vious application for the vacant pub, in Pagehurst Road, be- tweenMarden and Staplehurst, but is now satisfied with changes made to the roof de- sign and ridge length of the pro- posed rear extension.


an outbuilding adjacent to White House Cottage, Heath Road, “for economic reasons”. The supporting statement added: “The mixed use devel- opment at 43 Stockett Lane, , will not be implemented and that property will revert to do- mestic use.” Maidstone Council will de-


cide on the proposed change of use.


Thieves strike twice BICYCLES were the target of thieves at properties in the same road on the same night. A maroon-coloured ladies’ Raleigh cycle with wicker bas- ket at the front was stolen from a house drive in Bell Lane, Sta- plehurst, while a blue Shi- mano cycle was stolen from the back garden of another property.


Alpaca unit A PLANNING application is to be submitted for the erection of an alpaca husbandry unit at Great Oak Farm, Friday Street, East Sutton.


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