Restaurant role for bookshop


BOOK retailer Waterstones is to close its Earl Street store andmake way for aWaga- mama restaurant. The book chain will instead be “consoli- dating” the operation from its other branch in Fremlin Walk. A planning application has been submitted to convert the store, which sits on the junction of Rose Yard, into a Wagamama restaurant, specialising in Japanese food. A supporting statement said the Earl


Street branch of Waterstones has “low to medium footfall”. It added: “A unit of this size in this location does not favour multi- nationals, and that has been borne out by Waterstones’ decision to consolidate trad- ing to their Fremlin’s Walk branch within the primary retail core. “The unit is too large for this sub-prime location, making it unsuitable for any ob- vious or known multinational or inde- pendent retailer who would more commonly favour a smaller unit. “It should also be noted that of the recent high-profile retail casualties, most operated


Council ‘does not understand


change to plan’ BEARSTED Parish Council was accused of not understanding a planning application for Roseacre Lane. The council raised an objec-


tion for the erection of a single storey and part two-storey side and rear extension at Roseacre View, 2 Roseacre Lane, because of the overlooking effect it would have on a neighbouring property. But Maidstone Council’s planning committee was obliged to accept the scheme, as it considered it aminor amend- ment of a previously accepted proposal. The only change made by applicant Mark West- brook was to project the single storey element a further 0.9m from the rear flank of the origi- nal property. Planning committee chair-


man Cllr Richard Lusty said: “The parish council does not understand this planning ap- plication. The objector is not aware of what this application is all about.” Mr Bramall, who lives next to


the property, had earlier told the committee that the proposal would lead to a loss of light in his back garden. Cllr Richard Ash, who chairs Bearsted Parish Council while also sitting on the planning committee, defended his posi- tion, saying: “Even the original application had a severe impact on the residential amenity of No 2.


“The amendment is small,


but it is the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Cllr Ash was the only mem-


ber of the committee to vote against the application. There were nine votes in favour and two abstentions.


36 East


Rotarians mark birthday with MP MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Maidstone took a tour around the Houses of Parliament, guided byMPHelen Grant. The MP for Maidstone and the Weald invited her visitors to take re- freshments inWestminster Hall as part of celebrations tomark the club’s 90th birthday. They are pictured above. MrsGrant said: “Itwas a real pleasure to have a coffee and a catch up


with the people who make such a difference to the local community.“ Brian Moss of the Rotary Club of Maidstone said: “Maidstone Rotary members thoroughlyenjoyed their interesting and informativevisit tothe Houses ofParliament andwere pleased to meet HelenGrant. Thiswas a super visitwith everyone very complimentary about the reception.” Rotariansbelong toaworldwide network of peoplewhouse their skills to benefit communities at home and abroad.


Learn to capture wildlife on film


BEGINNERS can learn about wildlife digital photography at KentWildlife Trust. The study day, for those wish-


ing to learn more about the type of wildlife they can capture with basic equipment, is led by Ian Andrews, professional pho-


MIDKENT College has ap- pointed a female principal for the first time in its more than 100-year history. Sue McLeod,


who joined the college as a travel


and


tourism lecturer in 1993 before climbing the ranks to deputy principal, will start her new job on September 1. The Scottish-born Medway resident said she was proud to make history as the first woman to reach the top job. She said: “I hope it demon- strates to all our students that


tographer and photographic journalist and involves class- room studies and practical demonstration. Booking is essential for the


event, from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday, June 1, at KWT’s base in Tyland Barn, Sandling.


gender is no barrier to them achieving their goals in life. I’m a great believer that further ed- ucation drives social mobility and that’s something I’m very keen to promote.” Before joining the college, Ms McLeod worked across the Caribbean, United States and Europe during her time in the travel industry, including a stint aboard cruise liners. She achieved a degree in busi-


ness studies at the Dorset Insti- tute of Higher Education – now Bournemouth University – where she returned to study travel and tourism before em- barking on her teaching career with MidKent College. The 51-year-old mother-of-


medium to large store formats such asWool- worths, Clintons, Blacks/Millets, La Senza, Peacocks and JJB Sports. This has created a surfeit of good-sized units generally within the established retail cores of centres; which again is to the detriment of more secondary locations such as 19 Earl Street.” Wagamama would create 32 full-time equivalent jobs, which “exceeds the cur- rent employment at Waterstones”, accord- ing to the statement. “Wagamama are highly selective in loca-


tions they choose to operate and therefore have a degree of exclusivity, which adds to their attraction. Their restaurants are des- tinations in their own right and therefore serve to attract people into the centre, which is to the benefit of other businesses and general vibrancy. “The proposed restaurant markets itself


at both day time diners (shoppers, workers and visitors) and evening customers. Trade is therefore continuous and footfall high, which sets the use apart from many other A3 [retail] uses and users.


“Assuming an average of 50% occupancy across the trading day, the footfall gener- ated by Wagamama would be 120 move- ments (arriving and departing) per hour. A footfall of this level is considered to sup- port retail vitality and viability and is far in excess of many A1 retail uses, including the existing bookshop use.” Should Maidstone Council grant plan-


ning permission, the restaurant would seat up to 90 diners and trade between 11.30am and 11pm Mondays to Saturdays and 11.30am to 10pm Sundays. Maidstone would become the fourth


town in Kent to have aWagamama, which has branches in Ashford, Canterbury and TunbridgeWells. The Wagamama application states that


the “Waterstones vacation of the unit is a binding commitment, which is not prompted by this planning application and will occur irrespective of its outcome”. A Waterstones spokesman refused to comment on the store closure or howmany jobs stood to be lost.


Petition for


road closure A PETITION has been handed to KCC asking for the closure of a junction on one of Maidstone’s busiest roads. Detling residents handed


Cllr Jenny Whittle a 180-sig- nature petition, asking for the junction between the A249 and Pilgrims Way to be shut to all traffic except buses and emergency vehicles, to pre- vent their village being used as a rat run. The petition also asks for a 20mph speed limit through the village and a traffic man- agement plan for Church Lane. The petition follows a pub-


lic meeting at the end of last year when residents reported the results of a traffic survey they had carried out and asked the parish council, Maidstone Council and KCC to support them in finding a solution to congestion in Detling.


Sue is first female head of college


one says her priorities as prin- cipal will include improving the employment prospects of students, and strengthening the college’s position at the heart of the community. Ms McLeod added: “I also


want to continue the improve- ments made in teaching and learning over the last few years.” Ms McLeod takes over as principal from Stephen Grix, who will continue as chief ex- ecutive on a part-time basis until 2015. Chairman of governors, Sheila Potipher, said: “Sue was by far and away the best candidate and we are confident she will do a fantastic job as principal.”


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