Housing scheme at hospital approved


QUESTION marks over trans- port and parking failed to pre- vent a 40-home scheme on the grounds of the former Oakwood Hospital in Maidstone from gaining planning permission. Taylor Wimpey’s scheme for


land off Marigold Way, bounded by Hermitage Lane to the west and St Andrew’s Road to the south, was generally praised by the planning com- mittee in design terms. But there were calls to defer


the scheme until Maidstone Council’s revamped integrated transport strategy had been drawn up. The original strategy had included opening up St An- drew’s Road for through traffic but was thrown out late last year after vigorous opposition. Jan Prior, chief executive of


the Blackthorn Trust, in St An- drew’s Road, said: “Over 600 people had concerns about the St Andrew’s gyratory plan. “Twenty per cent of our in-


come comes from our café and people visiting our site.We ask that this is suspended until a workable road system has been agreed with the community.”


Cllr Gordon Newton raised concerns about users of the nearby hospital parking at the new development. He said: “I recently had to visit Maidstone Hospital and the car park was choc-a-block. All the roads around this area are solid with parked cars, and this will be- come an overflow car park for the hospital.” Council planning officer


Chris Hawkins said the parking situation presented no highway safety issues. The situation re- garding the proposed opening up of St Andrew’s Road was not a planning consideration be- cause no policy had been laid down on this. Committeemember, Cllr Tony Harwood said: “This is a very high quality application.” Per- mission was granted by 10 votes in favour, with one abstention. The development will com-


prise 10 four-bedoom houses, 21 three-bedroom houses, seven two-bedroom houses and two one-bedroom wheelchair flats. Sixteen of the homes are to be affordable.Anew access will be created from Marigold Road.


Crocuses boost polio campaign


lioPlus campaign in 1985 to raise money and organise mass vaccina- tions. At that time there were about 350,000 cases of polio per year–last year therewere fewer than300cases and only three countries where the disease is still endemic. Purple is thecolourassociatedwith


polio eradication because, on immu- nisation days, volunteers keep track of children who have received the vaccine by painting a finger purple. Mary Lynn, chairman of the Inter- national and Foundation committee of MaidstoneRiversideRotary Club said “Polio is only anairline flight away, even from theUK. Until it is elim- inated everywhere, no child is safe.We raised almost £100 today, which will buy 250 doses of vaccine.”


Collector SoniaWright


MP opens charity conference HELEN Grant,MP for Maidstone and TheWeald, opened Maidstone’s fourth annual Voluntary and Community Sector Conference. The conference focused on how social enterprise is transforming


the voluntary, charity and business sectors, with delegates hearing from inspirational people who have set up their own initiatives. Mrs Grant said: “This was a wonderful opportunity to speak to people who want to start up small enterprises with a social aspect. It is groups like these who play an invaluable role in driving for- ward community and voluntary activity in the borough.” Charlotte Osborn-Forde, chief executive of Voluntary Action Maidstone, said: “We have already had some excellent feedback from people that it will make a real difference to their plans.”


Flats proposed SHAUN Wager has applied to Maidstone council to build two one-bedroom flats and one stu- dio apartment on the junction of Brunswick Street East and Melville Road,Maidstone.


Cattery permission JANINE Cox has been given permission to set up a cattery at 38 Plains Avenue, Shepway.


Maidstone Council granted consent on condition that the cattery caters only for cats.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk Town 17


SHOPPERSat TheMall, Maidstone, helpedmembersofMaidstone River- side Rotary Club celebrate the organisation’s 108th anniversary by buy- ingpurplecrocuses to supportRotary’s continuing campaigntoeliminate polio from theworld. Rotary International started its Po-


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