Objections stack up to lorry problems
MAIDSTONE’s Lib Dem councillors are op- posed to plans to build a massive lorry park off theM20 to avoid the implementation of Operation Stack. A formal planning application for a 70-
acre lorry park near Aldington, Ashford, ca- pable of accommodating 2,000 vehicles, is expected to be submitted later this year. KCC hopes the scheme will prevent the use of Operation Stack, which affects Maidstone during the Phase 2 closures of the motorway, between J8 and J9. The plan was a huge waste of money at a time when funds were tight, councillors told the town’s Joint Transportation Board. Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem) said building a lorry park could cost up to £50m – and still be in- sufficient to cope with the build-up of traf- fic when there were problems at the Channel ports. Cllr Daley said the number of days Oper-
ation Stack was brought into play were re- ducing – five in 2010 and four in 2011 – and
Support group
extends welcome FIBROMYALGIA sufferers are invited to join a Maid- stone and Weald Support Group meeting. The group meets at the Sal- vation Army Hall in Union Street, Maidstone, for support, friendship – and to have fun. The condition causes pain
all over the body and symp- toms can include difficulty in sleeping, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and muscle stiffness. The next meeting, in the Cobtree Room, is at 1.30pm on Wednesday, April 18. The support group workswith the FibromyalgiaAssociation UK. Info: email
Julie.amos@sky. com or call 01622 739010.
Ashford Road
semis proposal KING & Johnston Homes has applied to build four homes on land adjacent to 37 Ash- ford Road,Maidstone. The scheme involves two semi-detached
houses
fronting Ashford Road and two semi-detached bunga- lows fronting Huntsman Lane. Maidstone Housing Trust
(now Golding Homes) re- ceived planning permission for a similar scheme in Sep- tember 2007, but it lapsed before the commencement of building work.
A REQUEST to provide better planning protection for the Greensand Ridge has been re- ferred to Maidstone Council’s ruling cabinet. A 1,200-name petition calls
for the open countryside around Wierton Place, in Boughton Monchelsea, currently subject to a planning application to re-
18 East
he believed that building a lorry park for such a minimal amount of use did not rep- resent good value for money. He argued: “The use of that amount of money will be to the detriment of those schemes that are desperately needed.” Cllr Malcolm Robertson (Lib Dem) said it
years ago to allow a mobile contra-flow to be set up on a stretch of the M20, has only been used a handful of times, he said, but the leasing fee was paid irrespective of whether or not it was used. Cllr Daley said that £50m would have
COMMITTEE chairman Cllr JohnWilson (Con) expressed frus- tration that the county had been looking at a FreightAction Plan since 2007 and it was still no further advanced. The Kent Freight Action Plan is meant to be a comprehensive
guide as to what KCC will do over the coming years to alleviate freight-related problems across the county. Consultation on the plan, which will involve freight genera-
gone a longway towards providing a south- ern strategic link road to alleviate congestion in Maidstone town centre – something which would have proved its worth during the imminent gas main replacement works in Stone Street. He said: “There is simply no
tors and haulage companies, is due to take place later in the spring. KCC traffic manager Andrew Westwood said the plan had been written with the current financial situation in mind and many of the proposals were low-cost ways to influence freight transportation and change behaviour.
was ironic that the highways agency was spending more than £500,000 a year on a ‘quick movable barrier’ which had hardly ever been deployed – funds which could have gone towards the lorry park. The barrier, which was installed four
otherway outoftowntothe south for traffic – and here we are planning to spend a vast sum of money on something which will not be sufficient to cure the prob- lem as and when it occurs.” However, Cllr Eric Hotson
(Con) said the impact on the county’s econ- omy, even in just five days of Operation Stack, would be in excess of £50m and that a car park, available for overnight parking, would reap benefits by saving money on repairing the county’s roads and lay-bys.
Hotel manager who Councillors try out the new fitness equipment at MallardsWay New outdoor gym for Downswood
THE new outdoor adult gym in Downswood is up and running, offering everyone the chance to get fit – for free. The equipment at Mallards
Way, thought to be the first out- door gym on Maidstone Coun- cil land, has been installed by the parish council for the bene- fit of the local community. Roz Cheeseman, chairman of
the parish council, said: “Out- door gyms are a way to make af- fordable exercise available for
the whole community. Here in Downswood, we are delighted to be leading the field.” The 12 pieces of equipment
have been designed for use by people of all ages and fitness. The project cost the parish council £10,495, which mem- bers believe is already proving money well spent. The parish council’s next project is to get recognition for theMallardsWay open space as a nature reserve.
Bid to improve waste and recycling TRADERS in town are to be asked about their waste disposal and recycling habits, ina bid to improve the commercial waste service. Following a series of complaints from the business community, Maidstone Council is looking at providing a commercial waste col- lection and recycling service. At present, the council is only re- sponsible for the collection of domestic waste, with private companies collecting rubbish from commercial premises.
place a nightclub and apart- ments with a total of 24 homes, to be protected. The Greensand Ridge –which extends across Boughton Mal- herbe, Ulcombe, Sutton Va- lence, Linton and Yalding – is under pressure from developers because, unlike the Kent Downs, it is not categorised as
an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Gaining AONB status is an as- piration for Cllr Tony Harwood, who called for the petition to be discussed by cabinet. He said: “I am particularly concerned that the new national government framework proposes the end of countryside protection outside
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
goes the extra mile VERONICA Kingham has been honoured by her peers for her work in the community. Ve ronica, general man- ager of Maid- stone’s Village Hotel at San- dling for the past five years, picked up the annual Extra Mile Award, given out by the hotel trade journal Caterer and Hotelkeeper, at a London gala dinner. Veronica, a non-executive di-
rector on the Federation Trust of Schools, is in charge of a hotel that regularly organises charity events and last year raised more than £40,000, split between 20 different causes. The Village Hotel recently hosted a gala dinner for the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion, which raised £2,000 for the charity. The next fundraiser, on March 30, is for Help for Heroes.
Dancing lessons DANCING lessons for the over 50s are on offer at the Hazlitt’s Exchange Studio in Earl Street, Maidstone. Dance teachers John and Karen Sweeney run the Tuesday sessions, from 2pm to 3.30pm. Info: call 01233 625362 or email
info@contrafusion.co.uk.
Call to protect unspoilt beauty spot from ravages of development
national parks, AONBs and metropolitan green belt. “In many ways, the Green-
sand Ridge is far less spoilt than the Kent Downs AONB, which has been very industrially farmed. Because of the paucity of its soils, the Greensand Ridge is unspoilt and some of the views are superb.”
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