Row over affordable homes


THE developer of an affordable housing scheme earmarked for Coxheath insists it will only go ahead if residents support it. Hillreed Homes wants to


build 28 local needs homes, 34 apartments for the over 55s and eight industrial units on agri- cultural land at Clock House Farm, off Heath Road. A petition of more than 300 names opposes the plan, pre- sented to residents last October. Hillreed has been encouraged by a 2005 survey, as part of the village’s parish plan, which said residentswere in favour ofmore affordable housing. Alister Hume, strategic land manager for Hillreed Homes, said: “The parish council is de- veloping its own parish plan and we are providing ideas that


Green energy A PROPOSAL to install two 4kW arrays of solar photo- voltaic panels at Brishing Court Farm, Brishing Lane, Boughton Monchelsea, has been accepted by Maidstone Council. Planning permission was granted for the arrays to be connected to the main house, Brishing Court – which is a 600-year-old timber framed hall house – and the ragstone stables.


seem to be fitting in with the parish council’s idea. “There would have to be a proven need for it and support from the village. If these aspects are not demonstrated, it would not stand any chance of over- riding greenfield land policies.” Villagers want the developer


to kick out its proposal before even submitting a planning ap- plication. The petition was started by Adam Close resident Marjorie Johnson, who feels Coxheath has reached capacity since 148 homes were devel- oped on the site of the former Linton Hospital, in Heath Road. She said: “The original survey


was undertaken before the Lin- ton Hospital development, which was on brownfield land. The village is full and they are


now intending to build outside the village envelope. “The doctors’ surgery in Stockett Lane is chock-a-block; the chemist can’t cope with the number of prescriptions it re- ceives, people are saying they have to wait a week for their medication; the main road is re- ally busy, as is the school. “We have done our bit with the hospital development and other villages should do their bit.” Ms Johnson was due to pres-


ent her petition to Coxheath Parish Council as Downs Mail went to press. The parish is carrying out a survey to discover how many affordable homes are needed in the village. Mr Hume added that the details of the proposal would depend on these results.


Walkers let the train take the strain MOREthan30peopletooka2.7 mile stroll around the Farleighs to help re-launch the Medway Valley Rail Trails. The packs of 13 walks, which


are free from tourist information centress, contain details of a walk from each station on the line from Strood to Paddock Wood, via Maidstone West. They vary in length from 1.8 to 7.1 miles, some flat and some involving climbs. The group, whichjoinedKentCommunity RailPartnership for the stroll,


followed the “Kettles and Crossings”walk from East Farleigh station to Barming Bridge and then back along the river to East Farleigh station and The Victory pub.


School parking


land proposal EAST Farleigh Parish Council agreed to consider purchasing about half an acre of land ad- joining the south boundary of the village school to create a car park. The aim is to provide con- venient off-road parking to al- leviate the serious traffic congestion problems in Vic- arage Lane at school peak times. Recently, police have in- creasingly become involved. The strip of land is about


20m wide and 100m long, reaching roughly to the recre- ation ground, and could take about 80 cars. DHA Associates has been commissioned to draw up a fea- sibility study, which will be considered by the parish coun- cil, the Village Plan Action Group, school, neighbours and then Kent Highway Services.


Solar panels A SOLAR photovoltaic array is to be permitted at Southacre, Plain Road,Marden. A free-standing, ground mounted timber frame will gen- erate up to 4kW peak electric- ity from up to 18 panels. Maidstone Council granted permission on condition that any plants within the existing hedge to the north of the site are retained or replaced.


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