Village businesses plan exodus Gateway may give Continued from page one
Marden and this is expected to double by 2017 – the date of the proposed move. Gallaghers is expected to sub-
mit a planning application to Maidstone Council in the near future, despite concerns the site could have an adverse impact on the environment and the River Len. Parish council vice-chair Cllr
Maria Brown, herself a town planner, told a meeting of the parish council: “This is a big disappointment to Marden, al- though I can understand the reasoning behind it.” The future of Pattenden Lane is
now a major cause of concern to the parish council and local busi- nesses who rely on the income generated by the workforce at both of these companies. The parish council, together
with the local business forums and the neighbourhood plan group, are now looking at ways of encouraging more businesses to invest in Marden and, in par- ticular, Pattenden Lane. Elaine Collins, chair of the
NRBF business forum, said: “This is a huge blow to the peo- ple of Marden. The shops, the pubs, the post office – all the local businesses – benefit from the trade which is generated by a significant number of staff.”
village new look MEMBERS of West Farleigh Parish Council are looking at ways of making the village safer for pedestrians and motorists. The council is considering
Marden Automotive Distributors' current premises in Pattenden Lane, Marden
The companies claim most of
their staff live between Marden and Maidstone and a move to the site near the motorway would allow most of them to re- tain their jobs. If planning permission were
not to be granted – and there is huge opposition in Bearsted to development at J8 – the compa- nies would look at relocating to Sittingbourne, although this would be too far for some em- ployees to travel. Aworking group has now been
set up to look at the implications of the twocompanies moving out of the village. It will speak with local landowners, including Firmins, which ownsmuch of the Wheelbarrow Estate. At a neighbourhood plan
open day, residents and busi- nesses were asked if they were prepared to be part of thework- ing group to examine what can be done to encourage more
businesses, both large and small, to move toMarden. ADL employs 230 people and
is expected to turn over £75m this year by supplying car parts for Asian and American vehi- cles. Turnover is expected to double in the next 10 years. Scarab Sweepers, which de- velops, manufactures and sup- plies road sweepers and street cleansing vehicles, employs 220 people, most of whom live in theMaidstone area. Nick Yandle, chief executive
of Gallagher Group, said; “Junc- tion 8’s potential as a strategi- cally important location to support future employment growth for Maidstone has long been identified. “We are delighted that these companies, both longstanding Maidstone employers, have each recognised the role that Waterside Park can play in their ongoing growth.”
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sites for the erection of a gate- way – the white picket-fence style gates used to define village boundaries. Wide verges are necessary for
the gates to be erected, on either side of the road, but the cost of such gates had greatly reduced, the council was told. Cllr Chris Stockwell said the
gates had proved to be an effec- tive psychological tool in getting drivers to slow down on the ap- proach to a village and Cllr Paulina Stockell said she would be prepared to fund the gates from her KCC member high- ways grant if the parish council was able to find a suitable site.
Pub could be felled THE Wild Duck pub in Page- hurst Road, Staplehurst could be demolished if a new plan gets the go-ahead. In October 2011, Maidstone Council granted planning per- mission for Alter Image Prop- erty to convert the pub, which has been closed since 2010, into two homes. The latest scheme would see the existing building grounded and re- placed with two detached four- bedroom houses.
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