Homes plan for Old Rectory club
THEOld RectoryHealth and Fit- ness Club, near Barming, could be converted as part of a devel- opment of two large houses. Torch Fitness Ltd has lodged
a planning application to close the health club and gymnasium, which has been trading at the Old Rectory in Farleigh Lane for over 20 years, and turn it into a six-bedroom home. A further five-bedroom home
is proposed to the north of the Old Rectory and would be served by a three-bay detached garage with studio. The coach house to the front of the main building would be converted to a studio and garden store area. The scheme involves the demolition of modern exten- sions to the Old Rectory, to- gether with some dilapidated
Floral display tips ANYONE who finds them- selves ham-fisted when it comes to flower arranging can pick up some simple tips from top judge Renee Fry. Renee will be giving a talk
and demonstration in Yalding Church at 2pm on Wednesday April 18. Later in the year, she will be speaking about church flower arranging. Tickets for each event are £4. Contact SueWilliams on 01622 815403.
outbuildings to the north west of the main building. According to the applicant’s planning statement: “The health club is no longer a viable com-
mercial business due to the sig- nificant changes in the health industry since the Old Rectory opened in 1991. “The potential to use the site
Members shocked by reports SOME members of the health club claimed management had kept them in the dark about the proposals. Staff said the application was
a long-term plan for when the manager retired. Others said they had been told the club in- tended to honour weddings booked for the summer. One member said: “Planning consent can take some time, so I am not unduly concerned, but I shall be sorry to see it go.” The Old Rectory opened in
the late 1980s and went into liq- uidation within its first year. TorchFitnesstookonthe business after it had been man- aged by administrators acting for the Official Receiver. Since then, its fortunes have varied, but business has de- clined in the past five years. One former member said:
“The staff said press reports were incorrect and there was nothing to worry about.” Another said: “I only found out from reports in the press.”
The luck of the Irish BUSINESS folk who celebrated St Patrick’s Day at The White Hart, Clay- gate, were treated to free food and beer. Shepherd Neame put on a beer- tasting session, which included its flagship beer Spitfire. Licensee Robert Auldjo supplied
Irish stew and soda bread to more than 70 members of the Network of Rural Business Forums as well as Maidstone Borough Council leader Cllr Chris Gar- land. A raffle raised £140 for the Ken- ward Trust.
Robert Auldjo, Chris Garland, LewisMoullin and Elaine Collins
for business or tourist uses has been appraised, but these are not considered viable and do not deliver the same benefits as the scheme proposed. “A scheme for the conversion
of the Rectory and provision of one further dwelling creates a viable level of return, whilst al- lowing for the removal of the modern extensions. “This has a beneficial impact
on the historical character of the Rectory, the landscape and vi- sual value of the area and on the level of vehicle movements. “The design and siting of the proposed dwelling are consid- ered appropriate within the context and allow for an im- proved situation to be estab- lished regarding the mature trees of value on the site.”
Solar panels plan A SOLAR photovoltaic array could be installed on a free- standing frame in Southacre, Plain Road, Marden. The system would generate up
to 4kW peak electricity from up to 18 panels. Applicant Peter Kershawwrote in his supporting statement: “It would not be prac- tical to install a solar PV system on the roof of Southacre.” Maidstone Council will de-
cide on the planning applica- tion.
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