Appeal wins time for Oaken Wood
OPPONENTS of the Gallagher scheme for Oaken Wood in Barming have gained a stay of execution.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles decided to allow Gal- lagher Aggregates to expand its Hermitage Lane quarry, which will encroach on 33 hectares of ancient woodland. Local people campaigning to
save the haven for birds and other wildlife greeted the deci- sion with fury and lodged an appeal against the decision with the High Court. As a re- sult, no development can now proceed until the case has been re-examined. The developer will not now
be able to cut down any trees in the wood until a judge has had time to consider the Section 288 notice. If the judge sides with local people, a full hear- ing would then be held in the High Court to review the Pick- les decision. The objection lodged in the
High Court makes two claims: Mr Pickles failed to consider vital documentation and acted unreasonably. Andy White, who has led a residents’ campaign against the development, which included
a 600-signature petition, lodged the appeal. He argued that, firstly, Mr Pickles said the advantages of destroying the wood to make a quarry were clear, yet he did not produce any studies to evaluate the loss of ancient woodland. Secondly,MrWhite said sur-
veys carried out into birdlife and other natural habitats in the woodland were not pre- sented to the hearing or made available for public scrutiny. Mr White said: “It was an ab- solute last-minute mad dash. The appeal was delivered to the High Court with two min- utes to spare before the 5pm deadline.” Jasper Gerard, Lib Dem par- liamentary candidate forMaid- stone and The Weald, who is supporting the campaigners, said: “Wewill be providing fur- ther documentary evidence to the High Court to show thatMr Pickles’ decision was unrea- sonable and ignored vital evi- dence.” Mr Pickles argued that the economic considerations “clearly outweigh” the physi- cal damage of the develop- ment.
Mayor Howard Rogers drops in on a fencing class in East Malling and a cookery class in East Peckham
Mayor joins summer holiday fun
YOUNGSTERShave been enjoying a range of activities and competitions during the school holidays at summer playschemes organised by Ton- bridge and Malling Council. Themayor andmayoress, Cllr HowardRogers and his wife Jane, joined
the fun at St James’ Centre, EastMalling, where children were learning fencing,andatEastPeckham,whereacookeryworkshopwasunderway. Cllr Rogers said: “It
was great to see children taking part in suchvaried and exciting activities during their school holi- days. I was particularly impressed with how the East Malling group picked up the fencing – it’s such a unique sport and they had never tried it before. And the food prepared by the children
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