News
Retirement village agreed
COUNCILLORSwent against officer advice and gave the go-ahead to the introduction of a large retirement village in Leeds.
Planners recommended that the ap- plication by EnglishVillages and Gal- lagher Properties for Ledian Farm, Upper Street, should be refused as it involved development in the open countryside and would have been more suited to a rural service centre or urban Maidstone. The £9m scheme is an extension of
an extant planning permission dating back to February 2010. It involves: demolition of industrial buildings to form 16 assisted living units; conversion of Ledian Oast to form two assisted living units; a village centre containing 36 care bedrooms, 25 close care units and 16 assisted living units, wellness centre, shop (open to the public), restaurant, café, bar, library, craft room, laundry, kitchen and administration area; additional 38 assisted living units. The planning committee felt the ben- efits – satisfying a need for elderly ac- commodation and the creation of 103
full and part-time jobs – outweighed harm caused to the open countryside. Cllr Tony Harwood, a member of
the committee, said: “For decades this has not been a farm but a construction depot. It will not have a detrimental impact on the countryside.” Cllr Mike Hogg, a member of the
We have an ageing population, which is a
major issue.
committee, said: “I was surprised to read the officer conclusion to refuse it as this is fundamentally good for the community. It provides accommoda- tion and jobs.We have an ageing pop- ulation, which is a major issue. “Itwill attract investment in the vil-
lage and replaces an area of the vil- lage that looks dirty and anti-social.” Councillors voted unanimously to accept the scheme.
Staff and children at Trinity Pre-school the outstanding Ofsted report Pre-school ‘outstanding’
ANURSERY for the under-fives in Vin- ters Park has scored the highest pos- sible mark in an Ofsted inspection. Trinity Pre-school, in Vinters Road,
received an outstanding rating over- all in its inspection report. Ofsted inspector Lara Hicksonwent
on to award outstanding marks in every review area, including the ef- fectiveness of teaching, child welfare and how well the pre-school met the learning needs of its youngsters. Mrs Hickson added: “There is a wonderfully busy and happy feel to the pre-school, as a result of the wel- coming, friendly and caring staff. “Leadership and management are
inspirational and self-evaluation and critical reflection is excellent.” The nursery, on the site of East Bor-
ough Primary School, was also com- mended on its excellent range of books and innovative activities, both in class and its outdoor play areas. The report noted: “Staff work to-
gether to provide an outstanding learning environment for the children. They demonstrate an excellent knowledge of how children learn through play and recognise the uniqueness of each child.” The only suggestion was for the
pre-school to carry on sharing its ex- cellent practice with others. Trinity’s manager Marie Hughes
said: “This is an outstanding, ‘out- standing’ mark, which we are all very excited about and has been achieved by the amazing team work and team effort of every member of our staff.”
downsmail.co.uk
Maidstone East Edition January 2014
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