News
downsmail.co.uk J8 plan ‘will protect woodland’ ADEVELOPER has pledged to protect a section of the M20 corridor from industrial sprawl.
A spokesman for Roxhill Devel- opments, which has submitted a planning application to create an in- dustrial/business park at Woodcut Farm, near junction 8, says it will sign a legal agreement protecting Bearsted from any “domino devel- opment effect” from its application. He said Roxhill had listened to
local fears at two public consulta- tions and would amend its plan to reflect concerns on land north of the A20.
The amended plan will include a proposed legal agreement to ensure the field to the north of Woodcut Farm across Crismill Lane can only be used for agriculture or horticul- ture, he said.
Roxhill also proposes that a five- hectare piece of wood, next to Crismill Lane, is passed into the control of a separate independent trust. The spokesman added: “We ap- preciate the concerns raised by lo-
cals and see these two specific changes to our plans as providing the belt and braces being sought to protect this area.” The amended outline plan – spanning 28 hectares of land that formed part of the 112-hectare KIG
Residents’ views ‘are being disregarded’
DOWNSWOOD’S residents and representatives complain that their views are being “totally disregarded” by Roxhill. Parish council chair Roz Cheesman says neither the clerk nor councillors
received notification of a public exhibition held by Roxhill at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel. She said she only got to hear about it through an email from Hollingbourne Parish Council. “The ward member for Otham and Downswood, Cllr Gordon Newton, has also confirmed he did not receive any information either,” she added.
proposal that was turned down in August 2010 – also includes the ad- dition of a filter lane on the A20 for traffic turning left into Willington Street. The spokesman said: “It is ac- cepted that the more traffic that goes through on a green phase at traffic lights reduces hold-ups for drivers. This is a pinch point and the feeder road will help.” About 75% of the built-up area
would be for industrial, storage and distribution purposes. The rest would be offices and research and development units. The site would be accessed by a dedicated right turn on the A20 between Musket Lane and theWoodcut Farm track.
Reserves li the cup aer close final
LENHAM won the Benevolent Cup final by beating Early Bird at Maidstone's Gallagher Stadium. In their third final in as many
Ethan fencing
for British title ETHAN Anderson will be com- peting in the British Youth Fenc- ing Championships in May. The 10-year-old Roseacre Junior School pupil kept up his fencing lessons in London after moving to Bearsted with his parents John and Christina in September. The Brixton Fencing Club mem-
ber will represent London at the British Fencing Championships in Sheffield from May 3-5, after com- ing third in the London Regional finals under-12s on March 9. Ethan was also due to take part
in his first European champi- onship in Poland at the end of March.
Pancake races
HOLLINGBOURNE WI held its fifth annual pancake race at the Lance Memorial Playing Field on Shrove Tuesday. There were races for all ages, as
well as parents, walkers and “gen- tlemen”. Winners took home rosettes, and photographs, and drinks and hot cross buns were provided at the Cardwell Pavilion.
30 Maidstone East April 2014
years, the reserves scored an early goal through Sammy Manktelow, but were pegged back to leave the score at 1-1 at half time. After the break Lenham changed their formation and regained the ad- vantage through Mark Hatcher's well dispatched penalty that had been won by Daniel Pinder. Early Bird equalised for the second time before Sammy
Victorious Lenham Reserves following their 3-2 defeat of Early Bird at the Gallagher Stadium
Manktelow used by the Early Bird goalkeeper to score his sec- ond and Lenham’s third.
Patients happy with hospital
THE Somerfield Hospital in Maid- stone has been given a clean bill of health, following an independent survey of patients in 2013. The hospital received a satisfac-
tion score of 96.8% in the survey, rating overall quality of care as ex- cellent or very good. The survey, conducted by market research company Quality Health, was carried out last year, based on a sample of at least 808 patients
LENHAMDance Studio is planning to move to Sutton Valence. The studio, which was told by landlord Ramac that it would have to leave its base in Faversham Road as part of the proposal for a Co-op store in Lenham, has applied to move into a former bathroom retail unit in the Warmlake Business Es- tate, Maidstone Road. The premises will operate as
Warmlake Dance Academy, with four directors, two being Anthony and Karen Day, former UK Latin and ballroom dance champions
completing a questionnaire. It assessed a broad range of crite-
ria, including patients’ impression of admission, consultant care, im- aging (X-ray), anaesthetists, theatre staff, accommodation and whether patientswere treated with respect. The overall impression of nurs-
ing care received a rating of 96.75%, while overall impression of con- sultant surgeons or physicians re- ceived a rating of 98.5%.
Dance studio finds new home
who run the Lenham Dance Studio. The other two are Lorraine and
John Mason, who live inWarmlake House, south of the site. Lorraine has made dancewear for three years under the label LMD Designs and she plans to make and sell her dancewear from these premises. The school would open from 9am-10pm weekdays, with exams and medal tests occasionally taking place onweekends. The shopwould open from 9am-5pmweekdays, and 9am-1pm Saturdays. Maidstone Council will decide the proposal.
Acrowd of over 300 people saw Lenham Reserves captain Stuart Wilson lift the trophy.
U3A meetings
MAIDSTONE U3A is welcoming new members once again, after eliminating its long waiting list. The organisation has more than
30 small groups covering spe- cialised interests. They meet at the Maidstone
Community Support Centre on the thirdMonday of each month. Tony Redding will talk about the Chindit campaign under the title War in the Wilderness on April 21, and on May 19, C Bull will speak on “Dirty Dartford”. The group is open to anyone
who is fully or semi-retired. If you would like to attend a meeting, call 01622 734298. For details go to
www.u3asites.org.uk.
Flats scheme
PRIME Folio has applied to convert offices at 3 Albion Place, Maidstone into three one-bed flats and one stu- dio flat. Maidstone Council will de- cide whether the scheme can be allowed under prior notification, meaning no planning application would be required.
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