Firms back J8 business park plan
TWO international companies are backing a bid to develop a controversial business park close to J8 of theM20. Automotive Distributors Ltd
(ADL) and Scarab Sweepers Ltd, both based in Pattenden Lane,Marden, have announced they are prepared to invest in Waterside Park, the working title applied to a 38-acre site owned by the Gallagher Group, to the south of the A20. The site is one of three the council has earmarked as po- tentially suited to economic de- velopment – although concern is growing about further indus- trial and warehousing activity in Maidstone’s rural hinterland. The two companies are spread across five sites in Mar- den, and say the companies’ vi- ability and the future of up to 600 jobs could be at stake with- out a move to a more stream- lined location. Gallaghers is expected to sub-
mit a planning application to the council in the near future, despite concerns the site could have an adverse impact on the environment and the River Len. Gallaghers claims the devel- opment area is of low ecological interest and a “cut and fill” process would ensure any de- velopment would be screened, but there is a mass of local op-
position to the idea from both residents and politicians who fear the countryside is being in- creasingly eroded. LibDem group leader Cllr
FranWilson said: “I am furious. This has come about as a result of the total mishandling of the local plan by the current ad- ministration, which chooses to use the national planning policy framework (NPPF) when it suits them and ignore it when it does not.
“Officers made it quite clear
that if any development were to take place, it should not be on this site. They said it should be taken out of the plan because of the environmental impact and
An artist’s impression ofWaterside Park at junction 8 of theM20
the potential effect on the River Len, and (council leader) Chris Garland fudged it.” Residents and other interested parties were able to see the pro- posals for Waterside Park for themselves at a recently held
Move ‘shows commitment to town’
ADL employs 230 people and is expected to turn over £75mthis year by supplying car parts forAsianandAmerican vehicles. Turnover isexpected to double in the next 10 years. The company says it looked at several sites, including in the north of EnglandandtheMidlands, before settlingonWatersidePark, andhadno trouble convincing its parentcompany, theGerman-basedBilsteinGroup, to invest. Scarab Sweepers, which develops, manufactures and supplies road
sweepers and street-cleansing vehicles, employs 220 people, most of them residents of Maidstone and the surrounding area. NickYandle, chief executive ofGallagher Group, said: “Junction 8’s po-
tential as a strategically-important location to support future employ- ment growth forMaidstone has long been identified.We are delighted that these companies, both longstanding Maidstone employers, have eachrecognised the roleWatersidePark canplay in their ongoing growth and they have each pledged their long-term commitment to the town.”
public exhibition at theMercure Hotel, Hollingbourne. Some de- tails are also included on a web- site produced to market Waterside Park (www.water-
sidepark-maidstone.com) which claims it “offers the po- tential to create manufacturing facilities, a warehousing and lo- gistics centre, and associated headquarter offices”. The company admits that a
traffic assessment would need to be carried out, outlining the extent of future travel associ- ated with the proposals, how this could be accommodated by the local highway network and what alterations would be nec- essary.
“Highway upgrades at the A20/M20 link road roundabout are envisaged, and these would bring traffic movement benefits, improving the existing situa- tion,” they say.
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