Flats plan for ex council offices


MICHAEL Folb has applied to convert former Maidstone Coun- cil offices at 2-3 Bedford Place, Maidstone, into seven flats. The proposal also requests the erection of two semi-detached houses in the north-west rear corner of the site and the demo- lition of a single-storey exten- sion to the rear of No 2. The building housed Maid-


stone’s planning department be- fore Church In Society moved in seven years ago. The planning statement said: “There is an over-supply of of- fice accommodation and the loss of this office accommoda- tion would not be detrimental to levels of provision of such ac- commodation inMaidstone. “It would be reasonable to


infer that there is little to no de- mand for this type of office ac-


A PLAN for two semi-detached houses – one with two bed- rooms, the other with three – next to 20a Wordsworth Road, Penenden Heath, was approved by Maidstone Council. A similar scheme for two two- bedroom houses was given per- mission in February last year. A supporting statement from


Bag it – then bin it! MOTORISTS are being urged to carry plastic bags in which to put their rubbish so they are not tempted to throw it out of their cars. Maidstone Council spends


£1.5m a year cleaning up litter and fly-tipping. Cllr Marion Ring, Cabinet member for the environment said: “This money could be spent elsewhere. The ‘Bag it, Bin it!’ message is an easyway to reduce litter.”


80mph trial on M20 A SECTION of the M20 be- tween Larkfield and Detling could be used to test a new na- tional speed limit of 80mph. The stretch between junctions


4 and 7 is expected to be chosen as part of a national trial to speed up traffic at quiet times. Full public consultation is planned this year, prior to im- plementing any change in 2013.


Ambulance parking ST John Ambulance Maidstone is looking for somewhere to park its frontline ambulance and support vehicle. The charity needs level ground


with 24-hour access. Anyone whocan help should call Shirley Collins on 01622 833241.


Planning success MAIDSTONECouncil leaderCllr Chris Garland praised planning officers for having the “best ever” success rate at appeals. In 2011/12, they successfully de- fended 79% of decisions.


28 Town


commodation in this area. “The houses will allow the


entire scheme to be viable, pro- viding funding for the careful conversion and restoration of the existing building. “The recent one-storey exten-


sion to the rear is of a low aes- thetic value and poor build quality, detracting from the asset. Removal will improve the silhouette and overall appear- ance of the existing building.


applicant Penenden Heath De- velopments said: “It is consid- ered that the site’s location as the last plot on the northern side of the road, before this turns north, makes it a special case. “The applicant’s site is simi-


lar to sites at numbers 1 and 2 Wordsworth Road, where con- sents have been granted


“Its removal will improve the


site access and ‘open-up’ the north elevation of No 2 to create generous, double aspect flats.” The main building was previ-


ously threatened with demoli- tion, requiring a Secretary of State’s decision to enforce restoration in the 1970s. The statement added: “The applicant wishes to re-establish a residential use for the build- ing that utilises the site’s foot- print to achieve a long and stable future for this sensitive and historic site. “Mr Folb has successfully re- developed a Mill Street prop- erty in Maidstone to provide central, high quality rental apartments and is committed to both Maidstone, where he has long standing family ties, and to sensitive development.”


New semi-detached homes are ‘a special case’


…[where] the building is set for- ward of the prevalent building line to compensate for the ta- pering rear site boundary. “In response to this, the build-


ing frontage is pushed toward the street-line. This provides vi- sual definition to the end of the row of buildings when viewed along the road.”


Traffic fears as work starts on


new hospital WORK has begun on Maid- stone’s £78m private hospital, near Bearsted – nearly nine months later than scheduled. Construction work was due to


start on The Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery, near Newnham Court, last summer, but problems with bank fund- ing delayed the project first to October, then to Christmas. Thework is expected to cause


traffic delays at New Cut Road, Weavering, and junction 8 of theM20. The contractors are due to set


up a website to advise on progress and potential traffic problems, The hospital, being built by


Vinci Construction UK Ltd, will provide specialist procedures and care in areas such as cardi- ology and neurology for private and NHS patients. The project is expected to pro-


vide high-quality jobs in the town and the potential for allied businesses to move into the area. Completion is now scheduled


for January 2014. Although the hospital will be clearly visible during the con- struction phase, long-term plans include a high degree of landscaping. The builders hope that cre-


ation of a new roundabout to the south will alleviate some of the current traffic congestion at the junction of Bearsted Road and New Cut, while allowing efficient access to the site for hospital traffic.


Lots of mucking in for Medway litter pick A CLEAN-UP took place along the River Medway, from Tovil footbridge to the Lockmeadow Centre, as part of the Medway Valley Countryside Parnership litter pick week. Councillors Mike Hogg and Stephen Paine joined the Envi- ronment Agency, Tomorrow’s People volunteers and residents, who collected 35 sacks of rubbish in two hours. A further litter pick is planned for September 2012. To take part, contact Cllr Hogg on 07964160282 orMikeHogg@Maidstone.gov.uk.


STUDENTS writing for a town’s teen magazine dropped into the Downs Mail offices to check out life on a local newspaper. The students, from Oakwood


ParkGrammarSchoolandMaples- den Noakes, who write for Maid- stone’s magazine The Vibe, toured thepaper’s Bearsted offices tosee the editorial department, where they enjoyed a Q & A session with editor Stephen Eighteen. TheyalsometsalesmanagerBill


Brett, who gave them an insight into a career in advertising. Maplesden Noakes teacher Chris- tine Jones said: “Pupils thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Downs Mail. Itwas informative to seehow a newspaper is brought together.”


The Vibe is nowin its fourth year


and is the only free magazine writ- ten and produced by young people living inMaidstone. Issue 10 is about to hit the streets and can also be viewed on-


line. Anyone interested in joining The Vibe team, which meets each month at the Switch Youth Café in Maidstone, can email them at vibe@mitchellmediauk.com or call 0796 1051654.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


Plan for bungalow A THREE-bedroom chalet-style bungalow was allowed on land to the rear of 85 Boughton Lane, Maidstone. Toby Staff’s outline applica-


tion included an access road. His planning statement said: “We should also point out that there is a similar development 50m to the north, where 71 Boughton Lane has been built.” Maidstone Council’s planning commitee granted permission.


Press gang get the ‘Vibe’ of Downs Mail


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