Appeal wins time for Oaken Wood


OPPONENTS of the Gallagher scheme for OakenWood in Barming have gained a stay of execution. Communities secretary Eric Pickles de-


cided to allow Gallagher Aggregates to ex- pand its Hermitage Lane quarry, which will encroach on 33 hectares of ancient wood- land.


Local people campaigning to save the


haven for birds and other wildlife greeted the decision with fury and lodged an appeal against the decisionwith theHigh Court. As a result, 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, afullhearing wouldthenbeheldinthe High Court to review the Pickles decision. The objection lodged in the High Court makes two claims: Mr Pickles failed to con- sider vital documentation and he acted un- reasonably. 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, Mr White said surveys carried


out into birdlife and other natural habitats in the woodland were not presented to the hearing or made available for public scrutiny. Mr White said: “It was an absolute last-


minute mad dash. The appealwas delivered to theHigh Courtwith twominutes to spare before the 5pm deadline.” Jasper Gerard, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and The Weald, who is supporting the campaigners, said: “Wewill be providing further documentary


ERIC Pickles has denied reports of a verbal clash with protestors when he turned up at a Maidstone curry house for a Tory fund-raising lunch. Mr Pickles wasmet by opponents hoping to


get him to change his mind on OakenWood. But instead of accepting an invitation to tour


the site at nearby Hermitage Lane, protestors claimedMr Pickles directed an offensiveword at Maidstone’s Lib Dem spokesman on plan- ning, Cllr Tony Harwood. They said he rounded on the North Ward councillor, whowas accompanied by his young daughter, in front of other residents, who had gathered to protest at the decision. When asked if he would reconsider his deci-


sion to turn 88 acres of ancient woodland into a quarry, he is reported to have said: “This is nothing to do with me. Itwas decided by a jun- ior official.” Cllr Harwood pointed out to Mr Pickles that


as secretary of state he had signed off the de- cision, and thus had to take responsibility. Mr Pickleswas allegedly abusive to Cllr Har-


wood within earshot of demonstrators, before storming past protestors into the restaurant. Mr Pickles was at the restaurant in London Road as a guest ofMPHelen Grant.


Protestors outside the restaurant


Barming resident Kathryn Smith said: “Iwas amazed. His whole attitude was contemptu- ous.” Cllr Harwood said: “An apology to local peo-


ple fromMr Pickles is clearly in order. Such be- haviour places a big question mark over his fitness to sit in Cabinet.” Jasper Gerard said: “The residents were


aghast that he did not seem to know anything aboutOakenWood.Wewere under the impres- sion he had considered the matter long and hard before reaching a decision, but clearly he had not looked into it at all.” Whencontacted by theDownsMail,MrPick-


les said: “This is simply not true and has no basis in fact.”


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evidence to the High Court to show that Mr Pickles’ decision was unreasonable and ig- nored vital evidence.” Mr Pickles argued that the economic con- siderations “clearly outweigh” the physical damage of the development.


Pickles denies curry house clash


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