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Parish is braced for development


BEARSTED is bracing itself for some form of development near J8 of theM20. With meetings about Maid-


stone’s core strategy now gain- ing momentum, borough Cllr Val Springett told members of the parish council: “You will get something at Junction 8”. Although proposals for KIG –


the Kent International Gateway – were thrown out two years ago, the borough council still has the site earmarked for com- mercial development. Bearsted and Thurnham Soci-


ety had submitted a detailed re- sponse to the MBC Core Strategy and had received no re- sponse, the meeting heard. Bearsted Parish Council vice- chairman Denis Spooner con- firmed that BPC had also submitted strong objections to


MBC about possible develop- ment at Junction 8 and re- mained resolutely opposed to development in this location which would fly in the face of the Government's decision on KIG and be in an isolated and utterly unsustainable rural lo- cation. Brian Clifford, co-vice chair-


man of the Bearsted and Thurn- ham Society, said: “This proposal seems to be moving re- lentlessly forward, regardless of the commitment to protect the J8 area following the KIG in- quiry.”


Maidstone Borough Council


has adopted a “site specific” ap- proach and identified 27 acres for commercial development. A residents’ meeting was due


to take place as the Downs Mail went to press on June 22.


Reconstructed windmill ‘would be a landmark’


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AWINDMILL that last stood in Lenham Heath 90 years ago could be re-built. The only section remaining of


the windmill at Bull Hill is a two-storey brick base, but Je- remy Cottrell has applied to re- construct it. According to the applicant’s planning statement: “It is our intention to replicate, as near as possible, the construction of the windmill externally, while using modern structural tech- nology and achieving high in- sulation values. “It is hoped to generate elec-


tricity from thewindmill. How- ever,thiswouldonlybefrom the rear fantail as we have been unable to find a reconstruction that has generated electricity from the main blades.” Historic details of the wind-


mill are sketchy, but in 1769 it was listed as one of only 95 windmills in Kent. The planning application, which will be determined by Maidstone Council, includes


the erection of a single-storey extension and lower-ground ex- tension, erection of a detached garage block, construction of a repositioned driveway, and earthworks to create a recessed garden and raise the land level to the rear of Mount Pleasant. It is understood that the windmill was one of many that lost its tower during a storm in the 1920s. The statement added: “Local residents appear to be supportive of the wind- mill being reinstated to bring back a local landmark.”


Golfers tee off to boost charity GOLFERS got together at theWeald of Kent golf course for Bill’s Round – a charity golf tournament that began as the result of a discussion at a fund-raising supper in Harrietsham. The event is held twice each year, and more than 150 different players, men and women, have taken part over the years. The winner selects the charity to be supported. The event started in 1998 as a nod to the late Bill Butler, who organised charity events, including safari suppers and the Blue- bellWalk Alec Richards, in his second appearance at Bill’s Round, won


the trophy for the first timewith an excellent 38 stableford points off a handicap of 20. He selected the Great Ormond Street Hos- pital Children’s Charity to benefit from the funds raised. Second was last time’s winner, Paul Davies, with Mike Kings-


man third and John Coupe fourth. The total amount raised for charity was £350.


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