Objections to warehousing
BEARSTED Parish Council has fired its first shot across the bows of the borough in relation to the planning application for Waterside Park.
The Villager Crime figures
put in context POLICE inspector Maxine Mar- tine says it is important that crime figures “are not taken out of context”, following last month’s report stating that offi- cers had under-estimated the regularity with which certain crimes take place in Bearsted. She said: “The parish of Bearsted continues to have one of the lowest reported crime rates in Maidstone and that any increase in crime is taken seri- ously.”
She also added that officers were keen to work with Maid- stone Council and local schools to solve the problem of parking on pavements on the school run.
Clerk selection THERE had been 22 applica- tions for the post of clerk at Bearsted Parish Council and the selection process was under way.
It was hoped to appoint a suc- cessor to Helen Elstone by the end of the year. The council had also received two applica- tions from members of the pub- lic to be co-opted as parish councillors following the resig- nation of Cllr Allison Hodges. As Downs Mail went to press, members were due to decide on which one of them to adopt, at a full council meeting.
Youth club
THE parish council youth club continues to thrive and meets every Wednesday, from 7pm to 9pm at Madginford Hall, except for the second Wednesday of the month during term time. The club has a new table ten- nis table as well as a football table, pool table, Xbox and nu- merous board games, which are always popular. The club offers a chance for young people to meet up and make new friends in a relaxed and informal but secure setting. For more details phone Geoff Licence on 01622 739324.
Council vice-chairman Denis Spooner, who chairs the parish council’s planning committee, has written a strongly-worded letter to borough planners ob- jecting to the proposed develop- ment near J8 of the M20, which, he claims, would be detrimental to the entire landscape of the area.
The application is for ware- housing, storage and distribu- tion facilities, office and light industrial units to the south of the A20, but the parish council believes this would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, because it is on a greenfield site, is in an isolated rural location and away from all amenities and services. He wrote: “The scale and na- ture of the proposal will seri- ously erode the unspoilt character of the attractive, open and unspoilt countryside to the east of Bearsted.”
The need to protect the un- spoilt character of this area was a major consideration in the Secretary of State’s dismissal three years ago of the KIG plan- ning appeal for the same rea- sons.
Cllr Spooner and the parish council believes the nature, scale and location of the pro- posal would also seriously prej- udice and compromise Maidstone Council’s work preparing its local plan and compromise much greater areas of adjoining open and unspoilt countryside for further commer- cial development in a sensitive
Parishes unite against proposals
FOURTEEN parish councils have joined together to publicly oppose the Waterside Park proposals. The Joint Parish Group – repre- senting some 23,000 voters to the south and east of Maidstone - has written to the borough council’s head of planning, Rob Jarman, to object to all the proposals for the
rural area.
The council also believes that the rural location of the site means that existing and poten- tial public transport links are limited, leading to an increase in the use of cars.
“The application clearly shows this by including over 1,000 parking spaces,” said Cllr Spooner. “The potential for sus- tainable transport such as walk- ing, cycling, rail, and buses is very low or non-existent. This will lead to a significant in- crease in noise and air pollution in the surrounding area and in particular along the A20 and M20.”
Finally, the parish council is concerned that the proposed site will draw both employees and
land next to Junction 8 of the M20. In a lengthy statement, the con-
sortium states: “The proposals by virtue of their size and scale, to- gether with the nature of their op- erations, will introduce an alien form of development to a rural set- ting completely destroying its character and social function.”
investment away from the Maid- stone urban area and from places like Park Wood, where there are already many indus- trial premises vacant or derelict. The parish council wants to see the borough council make urgent progress with its new local plan, as members believe its existing plan is becoming overtaken by events, leading to a flurry of speculative planning applications, such as this one. Cllr Spooner has sent copies of the letter to Hollingbourne, Leeds and Thurnham parish councils, the Joint Parishes Group, county councillors Paul Carter and Jenny Whittle, bor- ough councillors Richard Ash, Val Springett and Mike Cuming and Hugh Robertson MP.
Firework display lights up village
THE annual fireworks display was another suc- cessful parish council event enjoyed by resi- dents.
A professional fireworks company provided a spectacular display in the Elizabeth Harvie field, which had a real “wow” factor. The event’s suc- cess was founded on many people working to- gether for the benefit of the community, and the parish council expressed gratitud e for their help. The Scouts provided superb refreshments, which were enjoyed by visitors, and they also sold glow sticks to help raise about £400, which will go towards essential maintenance. They have indicated that they would like to be involved in future events and the community committee has enthusiastically endorsed the idea and looks forward to working with them. Tickets were sold via Thurnham and Roseacre schools, Tiny Tots nursery school, several local businesses and online. The final sales figures are not yet available but advance ticket sales and sales on the gate will exceed last year’s sales.
This page is sponsored and edited by:
Bearsted Parish Council
www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk
30 East
Volunteers from Jubilee Church acted as stew- ards on the night and they also helped parish councillors pick up litter in the area the follow- ing morning.
Schools and local businesses also received a commission from the ticket sales. Friends of Thurnham School contacted Geoff Licence, chair of the community committee, to say how much they enjoyed the evening.
Friends of Thurnham School and Roseacre
PTA have expressed their willingness to be in- volved in future parish council events. Council- lors expressed an overwhelming desire to work with local organisations in the future. Bearsted Parish Council has received many positive and favourable comments such as, “it was great value for money”, “a wonderful com- munity event” and “what a fantastic display”. One resident emailed the council to say how pleased she was to see the Scouts back and that it had been a good community event rather than a commercial event.
Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail:
01622 630165 Chairman:
clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Richard Ash
MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERYWELCOME
Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735
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