Parishes join to Staycation trend ‘has peaked’
oppose J8 plan FOURTEEN parish councils have joined to oppose the Wa- terside Park proposals close to the M20.
Maidstone’s Joint Parish Group, which represents 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 the proposals for the land off J8 near Hollingbourne. The consortium states: “The proposals, by virtue of their size and scale together with the na- ture of their operations, will in- troduce an alien form of development to a rural setting, destroying its character .” The Gallagher Group has ap-
plied for a 56,000sqm light in- dustrial
estate with
warehousing, a crèche and café on farmland south of the A20 near junction 8 – next to the A20/M20 roundabout between the Great Danes Hotel and Old Mill Road.
Privacy condition FLOYD Courtnell has been given permission to erect four three-bedroom terraced homes on land next to 2a Gladstone Road, Maidstone. Maidstone Council’s decision
notice said this was on condi- tion that the rear bathroom win- dows are obscure glazed and opening is restricted.
A MAIDSTONE Council officer believes the “staycation” effect has peaked in the borough. Laura Dickson, the council’s visitor economy business unit leader, says that small holiday conversions or new-build holi- day lets are unlikely to be prof- itable, as the trend to spurn foreign holidays shows no signs of becoming more widespread. Quoting a 40% occupancy fig-
ure for self-catering holiday units in Kent in 2012, she wrote: “Although the stayca- tion effect has increased de- mand for value holidays, it
probably has now peaked. We have found from the enquiries that there are too many single units or small units but perhaps not enough multiple units or large units to meet demand, as requested by large family groups or groups of friends. “There are also poor facilities
on site to entice all-year-round use.” Ms Dickson was writing to a representative of Alan Swift, who has applied to replace re- dundant outbuildings, which were part of a poultry farm, with a three-bed holiday let at
Games awards presented
MAIDSTONEWorking Men’s Club and Institute has held its 77th annual games presentation evening. Winners of the17winter games, sevenmemorial competitions and12
open competitions collected trophies or drink vouchers. They were also presented with cups and shields that are kept in the club’s trophy cabinets. This year’soverallwinnerwas
last year’s winner Dennis St John, who won the Wilfred Sharp shield, and the runner- up, Rob Underwood, was pre- sented with the Percy Ansell cup. After the presentation of the
prizes by BillWilliams, chief ex- ecutive ofMaidstone United, therewas livemusic and a buffet. Bill Williams is pictured with Dennis St John.
Koban Farm in Gravelly Bot- tom Road, Kingswood. A supporting statement said:
“The design provides three- bedroom accommodation, ca- pable of sleeping 10 people. “The site is located adjacent
to a public right of way which, if followed leads tomanywalk- ing and biking routes across the countryside. The holiday lets will therefore also appeal to hikers, bikers, bird waters etc. A secure bike storage facility has also been proposed.” Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application.
Driver banned A VAN driver who was stopped in Maidstone was foundtohavemorethan three times the legal amount of alcohol in his body. Mid Kent magistrates’ sen- tenced Andrew Peter Spel- man to 120 days in prison, suspended for two years, and disqualified him from driving for 48 months for the offence on November 13. The 47-year-old, from Free-
man Way, must also pay £85 costs and an £80 victim sur- charge.
Spelman admitted drink driving in Wooley Road, Maidstone.
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