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‘Not enough demand for two supermarkets’


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which represented Solum, said: “If Springfield is allowed to go ahead it could put into doubt the Maid- stone East proposal. “We are now ready to deliver a supermarket at Maidstone East, but an approval would weaken retail interest.” Jonathan Baldock, a consultant at


DTZHoldings,whichwas commis- sioned by Maidstone Council to do a study on retail demand in the town centre, said: “We forecast enough money to support one new supermarket within the first half of the local plan period and maybe a few smaller stores. “There is only retail demand for


one store, so it is either this one [Springfield] or Maidstone East. It is a simple choice: it is either or.” The committee voted mainly on


party lines, with six Conservative councillors opposing the Spring-


An artist’s impression of the store


planned at Springfield


field development and the LibDem and Independent councillors, a total of six, voting to defer for conditions, but with the principle in favour. However, Cllr RichardAsh broke


rank with the rest of the Tories and supported the latter motion. He said: “Maidstone East has been available for 15 years but nothing has happened. They say they are ready to deliver it but why now? I think it is because Springfield has galvanised them. Otherwise Maid- stone East would have stayed empty for years.”


Powerhub could be lost


A DECISION to allow the Mor- risons scheme in Springfield Park could encourage aGovernment in- spector to give planning consent to the supermarket proposed at the Powerhub business centre in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone. In January, Maidstone Council refused Baltic Wharf’s application to convert the building into a mix of business, retail and leisure, in- cluding a big-name foodstore at ground level, with offices for pro- fessional and financial services above, a restaurant and car park- ing for almost 400 vehicles.


The main ground for refusal


was that it failed the Govern- ment’s “sequentially preferable” test that prioritises town centre sites such as Maidstone East for large retail schemes. Officers felt the Springfield Park development also failed this test. The Powerhub proposal is currently being exam- ined by the planning inspectorate. Cllr Stephen Paine, cabinet member for planning, said: “We are at an appeal with the Power- hub, which was described as out of town, and I worry about the precedent Springfield would set.”


Cllr Stephen Paine, a Conserva-


tive member of the committee and cabinet member for planning, said: “We are jeopardising a once-in-a- lifetime chance to regenerate part of the town centre at Maidstone East.


“Springfield


is a key brown- field housing site in our draft local plan and by voting for this to be retail the Lib Dems are putting extra pressure on greenfield sites for housing. Maidstone East is a constrained site and not suitable for the amount of housingwe could get at Springfield.”


Cllr Stephen Paine


downsmail.co.uk ‘No reason to


prevent plan’ SPRINGFIELD Park has been re- dundant since KCC moved out of its office block there in 2001. In 2007, planning consentwas granted for 192 flats, a retail unit and com- munity hall, but this development has not taken place. Cllr Tony Harwood, who is a


local ward councillor and member of the planning committee, said: “This was previously an employ- ment site and there is no policy ob- stacle stopping this being developed as a supermarket. “Maidstone East is not allocated


in existing policy and is throwing up a huge number of objections, with Lower Boxley Road already at gridlock in terms of traffic. “How many more years must


north Maidstone be denied a su- permarket while it waits for some- thing to happen at the East station? South Maidstone has Tesco, Lidl and Morrisons, east Maidstone has Aldi and Tesco, west Maidstone has Lidl and Waitrose, central Maidstone has Sainsbury’s, but north Maidstone has nothing. “We are only talking about a medium-sized supermarket at Springfield while discussions around the East station have been all about a much bigger store in an ambitious mixed-use develop- ment.”


Tesco’s latemove on sorting office


TESCO made a late submission to quash speculation that the RoyalMail sorting office is unavailable. The supermarket chain pleaded with the planning committee to turn


down the Morrisons proposal at Springfield Park for fear of damaging the viability of its scheme at Maidstone East. It said: “It would lead to a sig- nificant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre.” Mary Davidson, of Solum Regeneration, which is spearheading the Springfield scheme, said: “There is an offer fromMorrisons that would offer 280 jobs and £20m in investment.”


Ex-students invited back to inspire pupils


FORMER students of St Simon Stock School are being invited back to the school to inspire pupils. The secondary school in Oak-


wood Park is one of more than 500 state schools in Britain to have reg- istered with the charity Future First to set up networks of former stu- dents. They can inspire young peo- ple as career and education role


models, mentors or e-mentors, work experience providers, gover- nors, donors or fundraisers. Careers coordinator Terry May


said:“We strive to develop our stu- dents in everyway, which includes their career aspirations. Getting people to talk to our students may not be difficult, but finding some- one they can relate to can be. If the


Police open office on railway platform


BRITISH Transport Police has opened a station on platform one at Maid- stoneWest railway station. By the end of the year, the transport police will have 19 officers based


there – 15 PCs, three sergeants and an inspector – with a front office open to the public from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Its station at Ashford will remain open. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Newton, of BTP, said: “We are currently working to challenge targets set by the British Transport Police Authority to reduce crime by 20%, disruption on the railway by20%and to increase pas- senger confidence by 10%, all by 2019.”


14 Maidstone Town May 2014


pupils here can get first-hand expe- rience and an insight into theworld of work from people who once studied at the same school, it can only make them better prepared for their future.” Former students can contact Mr


May on mayt@ssscs.co.uk or sign up to Future First’s alumni scheme atwww.futurefirst.org.uk.


Station upgrade


SOUTHEASTERN says its plan has been submitted to upgrade Maid- stone East Station and its forecourt. A spokesman said: “This is on a


list of proposed projects submitted for consideration in the national station improvement programme. “This would be carried out in partnership with Network Rail, but is all subject to approval.” It was hoped the project would


be included in the programme of work for the next five years.


Tree ‘a safety risk’


APROTECTED beech tree is a risk to the railway line near Maidstone East, according to a church that has applied to remove it. St Francis Parish Centre says the


Asst Ch ConMark Newton with Charles Horton, Southeastern’s managing director.


roots of the tree in the car park of theWeek Street building are affect- ing the railway tunnel below. Maid- stone Council will decide.


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