Campus ‘will affect local plan’
TONY Harwood, deputy Lib Dem leader and the group’s planning spokesman, vig- orously opposed the Maid- stone Medical Campus application. Cllr Harwood (left) was
one of four members of his group who unsuccessfully voted against KIMS’ pro- posal to create a 98,000 sq mMaidstoneMedical Cam- pus on land near M20 Junc-
tion 7. Although the sitewas designated formed-
ical use in the borough’s emerging local plan, planning officers admitted that it was too early in the process of formulating this document for it to have any material con- sideration. So it meant that the proposal, through
being in the open counytryside, was con- trary to Maidstone Council’s land use poli- cies. Cllr Harwood said: “This will remove the ability of existing plans to determine the type of employment that should be pro- vided and where it should take place. “It will have a significant impact on the
level and location of employment and con- sequently the scale of housing to be pro-
The scheme will see the loss of this green- field land in front of KIMS
vided in the draft local plan.” Planning officers cited government guid-
ance in the National Planning Policy Framework, released last year, as a reason to recommend the go-ahead. The NPPF rec- ommends sustainable development, and of- ficers felt that the MMC fitted into this, given the precedent set by the KIMS devel- opment next door. But Cllr Harwood countered: “I don’t be-
lieve we should bypass the local planning system, especially for something so specu- lative. “This application is 10 years work so we should refuse it and wait a few months for our local plan to be implemented before de- ciding.” There are seven different land uses in-
Road changes ahead
KCC Highways forecasted the scheme would lead to a 30-59% change in traffic, but the applicant – KIMS – has proposed the fol- lowing measures to prevent congestion: traffic management of three arms of J7 and road widening; traffic management of the M20 link road, Bearsted Road round- about and widening of approaches; enlarging New Cut roundabout and widening of approaches; provision of a new signal pedestrian crossing just west of New Cut roundabout and also the A249 north/south route; provision of an extension to the Sittingbourne Road Park and Ride bus service to serve the site; widening of footways on Bearsted Road to form a combined foot/cycle way; implementation of a new bus link to the town centre; car park charging for certain site users; a section 106 contribution for highway capacity enhancements to M2 Junction 5 near Stockbury. Cllr Ian Chittenden predicted the sitewould lead to an additional 3,000 car movements every day.
Conservation cabin opened
THEMayor of Maidstone is pictured opening Valley Conservation Society’s newconservation cabin, whichwillallowits voluntarywork tocontinue inthe Loose Valley. Society spokesman DennisUsmar said: “The societywas extremely fortu-
nate in that the family of our original benefactor decided to sell us the land in Cave Hill. “Volunteers then went in to top gear to cajole, borrow and request items
and funding for this ambitious project.” Materials were given by companies including A Plant, Homeleigh, Bar- renttine Products, B.G. Electrical, Chartway Group, Travis Perkins, Hansons Aggregates, Gallagher’s,Minter Installations,SWYork fencingand thework was done by the Society’s TuesdayWork Party. Tovil parish councillors and society members joined the official opening by Clive English on October 26.
Assault charge A SHEPWAY man has been charged with assault following an incident in South Park Road,Maidstone. Leon McCarthy (22), formerly
of Cornwall Close, will appear before Maidstone magistrates charged with assault on No- vember 22.He is accused of hit- ting a man with a piece of wood during the incident on October 5.
Bid to crown sycamores refused ANTHONY Gundry has been told he cannot undertake works to three protected sycamore trees at 12 Oakwood Court, Maid- stone. He had applied to crown reduce the three mature trees as they
were causing “excessive shading problems to the rear of our house”.
Maidstone Council’s decision notice said the applicant had not
given a strong enough case to warrant a reduction in size of the trees. It added: “The proposed works would degrade that amenity and may have long-term effects on tree vigour and longevity.”
volved in the proposal, meaning there is po- tential for a totally different development to the one proposed. “All these different uses are giving the ap- plicant a blank cheque,” added Cllr Har- wood. “Eclipse Park was initially given planning permission for a campus-style de- velopment but what do we have now? Of- fice blocks. “We would never get permission for this amount of housing (766 units) ordinarily, but these are being tagged on. “This scheme will completely change
some of the most desirable parts of Maid- stone in Bearsted, Weavering and parts of Detling. They are going to turn into some- where more like Snodland.” Cllr Harwood’s aspiration to refuse the scheme was supported by three other mem- bers, who were all Lib Dems. Seven Con- servatives voted in favour and there were two abstentions. Overall there were eight objections by members of the public and no affected parish councils objected. Mike Parkinson, Maidstone Council's conservation officer, objected to the scheme for causing "considerable harm" to the set- ting and significance of the listed Newnham Court Inn.
Scheme still a long way off
THERE is no indication of when work will begin on building the Maidstone Medical Campus because, so far, no service provider has signed up to the scheme. Now outline permission has been granted, KIMS can seek fund-
ing and lobby interested parties prior to the submission of a full planning application. James Dickmann, a director at KIMS, gave the committee a heartfelt plea to accept the proposal. He said: “At KIMS we care for people who are vulnerable and
need help. KIMS will open in April 2014, and we are excited that this project is coming to fruition, “The next quest for all of us at KIMS is to have a medical uni- versity at Maidstone. There is not a single place for patients who need rehabilitation or specialist care. There is a tsunami of pa- tients who suffer neurological conditions and we need to care for them to alleviate their suffering and, God willing, in some cases find a cure. “My colleagues and I are borrowing £300million to make this extension of KIMS possible.”
School lauded OFSTED inspectors whowent to the Maplesden Noakes School in Buckland Road, Maidstone found the students were achiev- ing well and making good progress. Pupils in years 7 to 11 achieved better than expected GCSE grades and students were enthusiastic, well-behaved and ready to learn. The sixth form was said to be a
real strength of the school. It was growing in popularity, and progress had improved. Much of the teaching for these years was said to be outstanding. The headwas said to have de- veloped leadership capacity at all levels, with middle leaders playing a major role in raising achievement. They were sup- ported and challenged by the board of governors. Students had a real voice through the school council, and the school worked hard to get parents involved. Staff morale was high,with many saying how much they enjoyed their work.
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