News
downsmail.co.uk Supermarket decision reversed
ALEGAL battle is brewing after a plan for a supermarket at Springfield Park was refused. Developer Augur Buchler Part-
The earlier meeting had asked of-
ners wants to build the Morrisons supermarket, plus a number of smaller retail units and a doctor’s surgery on the site, off Royal Engi- neers Road next to Ringlestone – on land earmarked by Maidstone Council officers for housing in the draft local plan. The first time the applicationwas discussed, Cllr Richard Ash broke ranks with the Conservatives and voted with the Lib Dem opposition group in favour of the application. However, at a later meeting,
where detailed conditions and legal agreements were due to be agreed, Cllr Ash could not attend and sub- stitute Cllr Derek Butler voted ac- cording to his party line. This allowed the “in principle”
vote in favour of the mixed use plan- ning application to be overturned. Nowthe developer is to seek a ju-
dicial review of the council’s con- duct – while submitting a revised planning application.
Parking fines
MAIDSTONE Council issued 30,848 parking fines to motorists last year – the ninth highest num- ber for any council outside London. The figures were revealed by Churchill Insurance, which re- quested the figures under the Free- dom of Information Act. It found fines by local authorities
last year totalled about £255m, ex- cluding tickets issued by the police and private companies. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells councils also found their way into the top 10 local authorities outside of London, issuing the most tickets per head of population, with Maid- stone coming sixth, and Tunbridge Wells fifth. A spokesman for Maidstone Council said: “Our parking en- forcement officers work to make sure traffic can flow freely.”
Dig in at fete
THE Dancing Digger Roadshow, a high-energy outdoor comedy show with dance-offs, puppetry, music and madness, will entertain visitors at Hunton village fete on June 21. There will be a dog show with an obstacle course and prizes for the waggiest tail, most appealing eyes and best trick, aswell as traditional games, stalls and activities. Visitors can enter their home-
made Victoria sponge or chocolate cake for a chance to be named Hunton’s best baker. Entries should be brought to the cricket pavilion for 2pm. The fete is at the King George V Playing Field in West Street from 2-5pm.
32 Maidstone South June 2014
ficers to report back with contrac- tual heads of terms and detailed conditions, whichwould then allow it to be approved. Instead, officers presented letters
from Solum Regeneration, which has been marketing the site at Maid- stone East; Asda, which says it would like to open a store at Maid- stone East; the owner of the Peugeot garage at Len House and Capital & Regional, on behalf of the Mall Che- quers – all voicing strong objections to the Springfield proposal. Ringlestone resident Barry Curtis
spoke against the application, claim- ing another supermarket was un- necessary, but Mrs Butler from the Ringlestone Community Associa- tion said she spoke on behalf of many residents who would find a supermarket preferable to the 950 new houses earmarked for the site in the draft local plan, with the re- sulting traffic theywould generate. Ward Cllr Tony Harwood said:
“The principle has been fully dis- cussed and democratically agreed – and there has been no material change since that meeting. If we go against the earlier vote, we are legally on shaky ground. “The housing is a draft allocation
in a draft local plan which has caused a huge amount of contro- versy – there is no guarantee it will happen.” The land at Springfield has lain
empty since KCC moved out of its offices in 2001. In 2007, planning permission was granted for 192 flats, retail units and a community hall, but building never took place. A spokesman for Dentons solici-
tors, representing the developer, warned: “Our view is that the April resolution…was a decision in prin- ciple to grant planning permission, subject to the satisfactory planning obligations and planning conditions being agreed.” She said that she believed a rejec- tion of the April resolution – with-
out good planning reason – would leave the council open to a success- ful costs claim on appeal. The council believes retail use in Springfield would pose a threat to alternative town centre supermarket sites, such as the land at Maidstone East railway station. Planning committee chairman
Cllr Denis Collins said hewas confi- dent the council’s decision would stand up to scrutiny at an inquiry and said: “Our legal team has sought legal advice and I amhappy with the decision. Our priority has to be Maidstone East, which is a huge area of disused land in need of development. This scheme would put paid to that.” Cllr Ashwas unable to attend the meeting because of a prior engage- ment and Cllr Collins said he had refused to accept the council leader Chris Garland as a substitute, opt- ing instead for Cllr Butler who had been present at the first meeting and whowas au fait with the case.
Pupils on parade forWWIanniversary
YOUNGstudents marched fromSut- ton Valence Prep School to the sen- ior school as part of their work on the centenary of WWI. Year two pupils marched fromone
site to the other, to accompany the school’s CCF cadets on parade. They then joined the CCF section
for the afternoon, where the fourth form cadets instructed children in el- ements of drill including marching, standing to attention and standing at ease. They also had the chance to take on a command task where they had to work as a team.
Their final task of the day was to
try cooking with only bare rations. Year two class teacher Alex
Theobald said: “All pupils embraced the experience and the opportunity in bringing the school together.”
Debut novel set in Kent Flower farm
WRITER Sarah Orton is hoping her debut novel will become a summer sizzler. The former magazine editor,
who lives near Staplehurst, has dipped in to her PR and baking background to come up with what she hopes is a recipe for success. Tummy Love, set in a fictitious
Kent village, centres on the disap- pearance of a TV chef’s child and its affect on her glamorous life and family. Sarah, who admits the thriller
was prompted by the disappear- ance of Madeleine McCann, said: “For any mother, there cannot be a worse nightmare. “I felt moved to write a story
about a close family that is devas- tated by a child stolen from within their midst.” Sarah who has worked with chefs such as Kent’s Richard
Phillips and Gary Rhodes in her own PR business, also edited a baking magazine in the 1980s. She is now working on her sec-
ond novel, Room to Let – a psy- chological thriller set in London in the 1970s. Tummy Love is available in pa- perback and to download at
www.sarahorton.co.uk.
helps hospice BLOOMING Green flower farm at Loddington Farm, Linton, will be open on Saturday, July 19, to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hos- pice.
Blooming Green has stunning
views over the lowWeald and has an acre of flowers and foliage which is grown for cutting. Visitors are welcome between
11am and 4pm and will be able to pick their own container of flowers for £10. The suggested donation for entrance is £2 per adult and 50p per child, with all donations going to the hospice. Responsible owners can bring
their dogs on a lead. Refreshments will be available, there is wheel- chair access and ample parking. For more details, call the hospice on 01622 790195.
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