Latest plan for Hermitage Lane
A PROPOSAL to build about 250 homes is the latest for land off Hermitage Lane, Barming. The outline application to develop ona greenfield site to the west of Hermitage Lane, opposite Maidstone Hospital, comes with information on a new access and work to improve the Tarragon Road and Ton- bridge Road junctions with Hermitage Lane, but no other detail. However, the agent – Swan Property –
says about 250 houses would be “consis- tent with those anticipated by the borough council in Maidstone Council’s emerging local plan”. It goes on to say that the de- velopment would provide accommodation required in the area, from family homes to shared, affordable and rented properties. A “locally equipped” play area, a small
park and informal open space are also sug- gested, as is a “buffer” to protect the an- cient FullingpitsWood, which backs on to the western edge of the site. Access would be via a new junction on to Hermitage Lane, to prevent overuse of nearby Oakapple Lane. However, residents fear the combined ef-
fect of proposed housing developments in the area will make congestion on Her- mitage Lane “intolerable”. Downs Mail last month reported that Croudace Homes had submitted an outline application to build 600 homes on land east of Hermitage Lane (see box). Resident Janet Anderson was one of
those who commented on the councilweb- site of Tonbridge and Malling, where some of the homes will be built. She wrote: “We
feel the extra traffic caused by this influx of population will make the current conges- tion in Hermitage Lane at peak periods un- manageable. There will also be extra strain on utilities and health services. “We moved to Barming 13 years’ ago be-
cause we liked the semi-rural nature of the area. This proposal would make Barming
AN action group from Barming has wel- comed support from local MP Helen Grant, who is backing the campaign to save the area’s ancient BluebellWood from develop- ment, but have called on her to go further. Mrs Grant, MP for Maidstone and the
Weald, says Croudace Homes’ proposal for up to 600 homes east of Hermitage Lane would push an access road directly through the protected woodland and added: “I look forward toworkingwith Maidstone Borough Council to ensure that every effort is made to protect BluebellWood.” But, whilewelcoming her support, Daniela
Wilkes, from St Andrew’s Road Residents’ Association (SARRA) and St Andrew’s Road Action Group (SARAG), has called on theMP to also oppose the developer’s plans to open the St Andrew’s Road cul-de-sac to the A26. She said: “Whilst I am delighted to hear
that you have pledged your support to the ‘Save the Bluebell Woods’ campaign and you intend to lobby planning minister Nick Boles and meet the developer, I must also appeal to you as our MP and as equalities minister to remember the plight of the peo- ple and seek to protect them, too. After all,
just an outpost of Maidstone and it would lose its village-like identity.” The outline details have become avail-
able following receipt by Tonbridge and Malling Council of an amended application for the development of the former Somer- field distribution centre with about 95 homes in nearby Station Road atAylesford.
Group wants MP to fight gyratory
people vote and trees don’t! If this circula- tory system, included in Croudace’s plans, were approved, it would be catastrophic to your constituents living in the area and also have a huge impact on the sustainability and future viability of The Blackthorn Trust and local facilities and amenities.” Although Maidstone’s Joint Transport
Board has previously dismissed the pro- posed gyratory system – via St Andrews Road, Tonbridge Road (A26) and Fountain Lane (B2246) –MsWilkes has called on the MP to speak with the planning minister, Croudace and the borough and county coun- cil to get the road proposal withdrawn, adding: “This is a great opportunity to demonstrate that Conservatives really do care about localism and their constituents.” Ms Wilkes says the campaign group be-
lieves an alternative proposal by Swan Prop- erties, which has applied to build 250 homes on land west of Hermitage Lane, to improve the Fountain Lane/A26 junction, would be “much less destructive”. A spokesman forMrs Grant made no com-
ment when asked if she would fight the gy- ratory scheme.
NHS pays tribute to its workers Trust: ‘We want
THIS year’s Maidstone and Tun- bridge Wells NHS Trust Staff Star Awards saw 250 members of staff and their guests attend an evening of presentations, recognition and celebrations at theHop FarminPaddockWood. There were prizes for 31 win-
ners and runners-up, and acco- lades fromchiefexecutiveGlenn Douglas, chairman Tony Jones andguest presenterNickHewer, from TV shows The Apprentice and Countdown. Winnerswere as follows:
Patient First - Individual: Re- becca Roll, radiographer, TWH. Team: Radiotherapy reception team,Maidstone. Respect - Individual: Jo Clarke, psychiatric liaison nurse, Maid- ston. Team: Lord Northward, Maid- stone. Innovation - Individual: Syed Hu- sain, respiratory consultant,Maid- stone. Team: Genito-urinary medicine, cross-site. Delivery - Individual: Sirirat (Jane) Edwards, domestic, birth centre.
charity to stay’
MAIDSTONE Hospital has denied that redevelopment plans will push out its leading charity. Maidstone and TunbridgeWells NHS
Nick Hewer with NHS Trust Staff Star award winners
Team: Endoscopy,Maidstone. Excellence - Individual: Josephine Johnson, ICU,Maid- stone. Team: Short-stay surgery, Maidstone. Hospital heroes - Russell Bur- combeand histeam Sandra Graham Award for clini- cal excellence - Endoscopy, TWH. Sylvia Denton Award for care and compassion - Cliff Vidler, porter, TWH. Chairman’s award - JohnWeeks, emergency planningmanager Volunteer of the year - Ian Lewis,
MEMBERS of the public can now use the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust staff bus service, betweenMaidstone Hospital in Hermitage Lane and TunbridgeWells Hos- pital in Pembury. The daily 6XArriva bus service, which runs frequently between 6.20am and 9.20pm, will serve three stops on the route, in Barming, Wateringbury and Nettlestead Green.
32 Town
TWH. Teamof the Year- A&E, cross- site. Employee of the Year - Jean Lennon, ICU,Maidstone. The evening ended with a raffle
to raisemoney forHopeandHomes for Children – a charity nominated and supported by Nick Hewer. Over £600 was raised and raffle
prizes includedovernight stays with theMercure Hotel group, vouchers, theatre tickets and a spectacular big cat/ranger experiencewith the Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
Staff bus now open to members of the public Paul Bentley, a director at the trust, said:
“We hope that patients, visitors and other members of the publicwill benefit from being able to access this service, which runs be- tween our hospitals.” The trust is looking at the possibility of adding more stops to the route. Members of the public using the 6X bus will pay a stan- dard fare for the journey, set by Arriva.
Trust wants to improve retail facilities at the hospital’s main entrance, which may mean moving the Maidstone Hos- pital League of Friends’ shop and coffee shop elsewhere. Jeanette Rooke, a director at the trust,
said: “The League of Friends provides a valuable service and support to the trust and is not being asked to leave Maid- stone Hospital, quite the contrary.” The league’s volunteers gave more
than 900 hours of service to the trust in the last financial year, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for hospital equipment. It is feared that an outside retailer would help swell the hospital’s bank balance, but money would no longer go towards buying this vital equipment. A commercial retailer would also be unlikely to want to run the popular trol- ley service. The trust spokesman said talks were
in the very early stages and the prospect of WH Smith and Costa Coffee, which has a presence at the entrance to the Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, moving in was pure speculation. The spokesman said: “The trust has
metwith the league of friends to look at ways in which they can continue to pro- vide services at Maidstone Hospital, should the main entrance to the hospi- tal be redeveloped, and this includes continuing to provide a trolley service for patients.”
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