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Leisure centre parking fees


PARKING controls at Maidstone Leisure Centre have been confirmed. Downs Mail reported that the Maidstone Leisure Trust is introduc- ing an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system to pre- vent commuters parking all day, free of charge. It has been announced that from


the end of February vehicles parked for more than three hours will be fined £75. Sixth formers at Maidstone Gram-


mar School will be given permits to leave their cars at the centre all day. Users of the leisure centre and the bowlsclubwillbeabletoregister their cars and park for free.


Plan for 80 homes is fourth in same area


MORE housing is planned for the Barming area after an outline plan- ning application was submitted for up to 80 homes on land south-west of Oakapple Lane. A proposal by Mr and Mrs Sun-


nuck andMrs Foster-Crouch includes 0.75 hectares of open space on the site, north of Broomshaw Road, which is currently grazed by horses. About 30% of the unitswould be af- fordable, with planting “located at the most sensitive areas of the site”. A supporting statement added: “The proposed density equates to 30.8


dwellings per hectare. This is consid- ered appropriate for the size of the site and will not appear overdevel- oped or cramped.” The proposal provides a mixture of


two, two-and-a-half and three-storey residential units. “The scheme provides for adequate


back gardens as well as front garden areas which will enable a sufficiently landscaped frontage and the en- hancement of ecological interest across the site.” The scheme is the fourth significant proposal for homes in the area that


will be, or have already been, deter- mined by Maidstone Council:  Croudace Homes has submitted an outline application to build 600 homes on land east of Hermitage Lane.  Swan Properties has submitted an outline application to build 250 homeswest of Hermitage Lane, north of Oakapple Lane.  Maidstone and TunbridgeWells NHS Trustwas granted outline plan- ning permission late last year for 53 homes to replace the former nurses homes in Hermitage Lane.


Former solicitor takes up vicar’s post at Barming


ARETIRED lawyer is the new vicar of St Michael and All Angels’ church in Maidstone. Father Peter Rowe (pictured) takes


over from Father Paul Gibbons, who was at the church 40 years. He said: “I’m still coming to terms


with my appointment and my over- whelming feelings at the moment are excitement and trepidation.” The Rev Dr Rowe (67), who will have to retire from the Church in five


years, said: “I will try to serve the parish in as many ways as I can, but mytime is limited, so I’d better get on with it!” Born in Scot-


land, he grew up in Cyprus,went to Durham Univer- sity and was a Benedictine monk,


before teaching in Uganda for two


years. On his return he trained as a solicitor. He married Liz, whom he met at university, and was received into the Church of England 25 years ago. He was ordained a deacon in 1998 and a priest in 1999. Fr Rowe served his curacy at Ash-


ford Parish Church, and has served in several other churches in the area. Fr Rowe said: “My Catholic roots, especially in terms of the sacraments and personal prayer, have remained.


In recent years I have become a full member of the Iona Community, whose radical, inclusive, innovative and ecumenical approaches to things are exciting and appealing to me.” Fr Rowe and his wife have three children: Barnaby, an astrophysicist; Sophie, who works for the Kent Li- brary Service in Ashford; and Gre- gory, who is a biologist. Fr Rowe will live at what was St Andrew’s Vicarage in Barming.


News


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Maidstone Town February 2014


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