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Have your say on our local plan MailMarks
AT long last! Maidstone Council has a
dra local plan for our consideration that will eventually lead to a government decision aer a local inquiry. It took me 10 hours to come to terms
with the main detail in the 400 pages – but it is captivating reading, now available on Maidstone Council’swebsite. We know the Government will insist on Maidstone upping its house building in the period up to 2031 – the only question now is, how many it will sele for in approving our local plan. The council has engaged top specialists
for the required evidence-based figure of our need and they say a massive 19,600 homes –well above last year’s expectations of 14,100. Maidstonewould like to prove this is too high for our land availability and provision of infrastructure and plans to present a case for 17,100. The dra local plan now unveils a selection of more than 50 sites where most of these houses could go. Most are on the fringes of urban Maidstone, largely to the south either side of Suon Road or to the north-west in the Barming/Hermitage Lane area. But seven villages with significant
JEWELLERYwas stolen from a home in Dunster Terrace,Westmorland Road, Shepway. Carpenter's toolswere stolen from a Vauxhall Astra van parked in StWelcume’s Way, Harrietsham. Power toolswere stolen from a yellow Ford Transit van in Oxford Road, Shepway. Jewellerywas stolen from a home inWillow Rise, Downswood. Tobaccowas stolen from a white Sprinter van on the drive of a home in Roseacre Lane, Bearsted. Thieves broke in to a lorry in a layby on Old Chatham Road, Sandling, and stole 240 pairs of shoes. Ahedge trimmer and strimmerwere stolen from a garage in the grounds of a property inWormshill. Awallet containing cash, cheques, bank cards and documentswas stolen from a vehicle inWare Street, Bearsted. Power toolswere stolen from a blue Ford Ranger pick-up on the drive of a home in Coalpit Lane,
Frinsted.Asuspect has been interviewed by police. An aemptwas made to remove a wheel from a red Tigra parked in Foord Road, Lenham. The suspectwas described as a white man aged about 40, about 6 tall and bald. Hewaswearing a high-vis jacket. Therewas an aempt to gain entry to a dental surgery in CavendishWay, Bearsted. Intruders got in to a home in Honywood Road, Lenham, and searched it, but it is not yet know if anythingwas stolen. Asilver Ford Transit van, registration KU06 EKJ,was stolen from the car park of The Bell pub in The Street, Bredhurst. Therewas an aempted the from an outbuilding in Cowstead Lane, Stockbury. Itwas the latest in a series of thes from this property. An oil burner, fire extinguisher,wellington boots and other itemswere stolen from an
40 Maidstone East March 2014
DENNIS FOWLE President
dfowle2011@aol.com
services and facilities are designated as rural service centres. Harrietsham has four sites totalling 315 houses; Lenham three with 145 but many more perhaps towards the end of the period; Marden four with 550; Staplehurst two with 905; Headcorn five with 425; Coxheath three with 410; Yalding two with 265. The key philosophies for placing these houses seem sound – but the detail will bring local objections and infrastructure challenges. I hope the parishes will also weigh up the added security a larger population can bring to some services they cherish. The biggest challenges are urban
highways and transport. The two key areas for more houses are already too busy at peak times and the council must work very closely with highways authority KCC to contain the load on Hermitage Lane, Tonbridge Road, Loose
Road and Suon Road. It is on the highways case the two councils canwork well together and prove to the Government that a ceiling must be placed on the total number of houses. Maidstone Council plans to launch a
new park-and-ride at Linton crossroads and to reduce town centre long-term parking. An emphasis will grow on cycling,walking and public transport, which has to be frequent and cheap to succeed. There are many unanswered questions,
of course, but currently my main concern is keeping traffic moving in Suon Road and Loose Road if a bus lane is introduced. My biggest disappointment in the whole
dra plan is that a business site is deemed unnecessary at this stage south of M20 Junction 8. It is a sensitive area and any development there must bewell controlled in design and extent. But I feel this is the prime location for new businesses to ensure greater prosperity for our residents. Now it is time for your say. Consultation starts on March 21 and closes on May 7.
NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police
outbuilding at Payne Farms Ltd, Swanton Farm, Bicknor. Jewellerywas stolen from a property in Cold Blow Lane, Thurnham. Therewas also an aempted the from a garage in an adjoining property. Garden tools and cashwere stolen from a cupboard outside a home in Greenborough Close, Shepway. Asilver IforWilliams livestock trailer with aluminium wheelswas stolen from the main yard at Friningham Farm, Friningham, Detling. Two wheelbarrows, animal feed and horse collarswere stolen from an outbuilding in Rumstead Lane, Stockbury. Power and hand toolswere stolen from a shed in the rear garden of a home in Hockers Lane, Detling. Damagewas caused during an aempt to break in to the garage of a home in Birch Drive, Lordswood. Therewas a break-in at a home in Scragged Oak Road, Detling, and power tools and a lawn mowerwere stolen. Jewellerywas stolen from a property in Hubbards Hill, Lenham. Building accessorieswere stolen from a building site in Hook Lane, Harrietsham. Therewas a burglary at a garage in Lock Lane, Sandling. Therewas an aempted burglary at a detached property in Court Lodge Road, Harrietsham. Therewas an aempted burglary at a property in Boom Pond Road,Wormshill. Therewas an aempted burglary at a property in Hogbarn Lane, Harrietsham. Cash, clocks andwatcheswere stolen from
a house inWest Marsh Close, Senacre. Intruders got in to a home inAvery Lane, Otham, and stole car keys, which they used to take a redVWEos. Itwas later found crashed. Other items stolen included computer equipment, a bag and a television. Agreen and white 10-12 trailerwas stolen from the drive of a home in Stockbury Valley, Stockbury. Thieves got in to the garage of a home in Northfleet Close, Vinters Park, and stole a computer equipment and a rucksack. The garage of a home in Mote Road, Maidstone,was broken into and a silver and green 24/70 Travellers man’s bicycle was stolen. Two bicycleswere stolen from a garage in a block behind homes in Bargrove Road, Vinters Park. ASt George flag and itswooden flagpole were stolen from a garden in Suffolk Road, Shepway. Aman stole a box of Stella Artois lager from Aldi inWell Road, Maidstone.Hewas described as white, in his early 30s, and about 5 8ins tall. He had black cropped hair,was clean shaven, andwore a long brown or checked coat with white shoes.
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