‘Lorry depot’ plan is turned down Dog barking reported


HUNTON residents breathed a sigh of relief after Maidstone Council refused the expan- sion of a gypsy site that would have formed a “lorry depot”. An application by Olive Lee sought to re-


move conditions attached to an existing per- mission, which would have enabled unrestricted occupancy for five caravans, including up to four static vans, and the parking of four commercial vehicles on land at Little Clock House, George Street. The site currently has permission for one mobile home and parking for one commer- cial vehicle, and the parish council, backed by 22 letters of objection, argued the expan- sion would have created a highway hazard and caused harm to the setting of a nearby listed building, as well as the countryside. However, KCC did not object on highway grounds, conservation officer Mike Parkin- son disagreed that the neighbouring prop- erties would be compromised and council officers felt visual harm was limited and recommended that permission should be granted. But Cllr Dennis Collins, a local ward and planning committee member, thought oth- erwise. “This is, in fact, an application for a


Right to stay


is extended CHARLIE Cooper has been given permission to remain at a mobile home in Collier Street for another three years. In March 2006 he was granted consent as part of a gypsy cou- ple to occupy a caravan at Wil- lows End, Green Lane on condition of residence between October 1 and April 30. Maidstone Council allowed


this restriction to be lifted, but said the site should be restored to its former condition on or be- fore September 30, 2016. Mr Cooper’s application form


said: “Mr Cooper needs to re- side in this area to attend to his business.”


Appeal to remain A GYPSY family has applied to say at a site in Frittenden Road, Staplehurst permanently. In March 2010Walter Perfect


was given three-year planning permission for a mobile home and touring caravan at Perfect Place, Maplehurst Lane. Maidstone Council will now determine whether this arrange- ment can bemade permanent.


PERSISTENT dog barking on the gypsy site is a problem, according to residents. Many gestured in agreement with Cllr Steve McLoughlin’s observation: “I was there the other day and the silence of the countryside waswrecked by a tied up dog making noise.”


lorry depot,” he said in front of a packed Town Hall. “This is in open countryside and totally unsuitable for 7.5tonne vehicles. This site could be used 24/7; there is no re- striction whatsoever.” He proposed refusal on the grounds of cramping on the site (pictured) as well as the visual impact on the open countryside and Special Landscape Area. The majority of councillors agreed, and


the scheme was refused by nine votes to three. Cllr Fran Wilson said: “This is over-in- tensification of the site. If this was not a gypsy site, we would not allow it. I have no


GYPSIES are dominating Stile- bridge Lane in Linton, according to villagers. Cllr Clive Baxter, chairman of


the parish council, called on Maidstone Council’s planning committee to refuse Fay Bumby’s proposal for twocaravans and an amenity building in Greenfields due to the cumulative effect of other nearby sites. There are three caravans in Stilebridge Stableyard to the north, with another two mobile homes and two touring caravans in Stilebridge Paddock. Cllr Baxter said: “There is al-


ready a traveller community that dominates the nearby settled community so we would urge members to refuse the proposal.” His view was backed by Cllr


idea why Kent Highway Services believes there is nothing wrong with having com- mercialvehiclesofthissizeinthisloca- tion.” Thewarning sounded by CllrWilson’s Lib


Dem colleague, Cllr Tony Harwood, was ul- timately overlooked. He said: “While I understand how local residents feel about it, we have had pyrrhic victories in this borough, where applica- tions have been refused butwe have lost on appeal and get none of the mitigating con- ditions that we would have demanded had we given permission in the first place. “I fear this might happen here. This is not


the prettiest site and if we were to accept it we would be able to re-order the site and residents would be able to live with a much better situation.”


Gypsies ‘dominating our area’


John Wilson, who said: “We have a proliferation of pitches in Stilebridge Lane. The degree of harm has reached the stage where it is totally unacceptable.” Planning officers agreed the


site caused harm to the open countryside but this was out- weighed by the unmet need for gypsy pitches in the borough. The committee voted – eight in favour, one against, four absten- tions – to accept a four-year tem- porary permission on condition that only Fay Bumby, her hus- band George Beeney and their dependents reside there. Mrs Bumby said: “I live there


with my husband and two chil- dren. We want stability for our children’s schooling. We are no different to anyone else.”


Family site is made permanent


A GYPSY family has been given planning permission to remain permanently on land east of Maplehurst Paddock, Frittenden Road, Staplehurst. In July, John Lee gained consent to live with his family in a


static caravan and touring caravan on the land for five years. The planning committee has now voted – 10 for, two abstentions – to give him a permanent stay.


Cyclist’s challenge to help cardiac charity


AFTER witnessing the impact of the shock death of one of his daughter’s classmates, Steve Flight, from Coxheath, vowed to make a difference – taking on Britain’s biggest cycling race for a generation. Steve, from Parkway, completed


the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100 route, which finished in The Mall, in5hours57minutes.Hewas oneof20,000 riders to attempt the 100-mile route, from Queen Eliza- beth Olympic Park in east London. Sofar,Steve(40)has raisedmore than £2,000 towards his original


target of £2,500, in memory of seven-year old Benjamin Percival, whose heart stopped after a game of football at Loose JuniorSchool in December 2010. Thames Water employee Steve


believed thebestway to honour his memory and prevent similar tragedies was to raise as much money as possible forCardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). Hesaid: “Itwas fantastic tobein-


volved in the event and being cy- cling-mad it was great to ride in memory of Benji.” Benji’s deathwasatraumaticex-


perience for everyone who wit- nessed it and an inquest later found the youngster had an undi- agnosed heart condition. His parents, Sharron and Andy,


aregood friends ofSteve’s and last year he did the London toParis ride with them as well as the Tour de Kent to raise money for CRY. Steve said: “You realise how vul- nerablewe all are. Iwon’t stop try- ing tomake people aware of it and let them know they can do some- thing about it.” People can make a donation at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/flighty


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Extra caravan GYPSIES want to increase their presence on a temporary cara- van site in Bletchenden Road, Headcorn. James Baker’s occupation at Quarter Paddocks expired on July 31, and he wants to stay on the site permanently while in- creasing the number of cara- vans permitted from five to six. He lives on plot four with


Ellen Harber and her three chil- dren. Ten people occupy the other three plots. Maidstone Council will de- termine whether Mr Baker should be allowed to remain on the site and overturn the exist- ing planning conditions.


Scheme ‘harmful’ A PLANNING application to establish a campsite for two gypsy families in Staplehurst has been refused. James and Kathleen Penfold applied to put two static cara- vans, parking for four vehicles and a sewage treatment plant at Home Farm, Sweetlands Lane. Maidstone Council decided


that the scheme would cause significant harm to the charac- ter of the countryside.


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