News
New hotel gets final go-ahead
PLANNING per- mission has been granted for a new 150-bedroom hotel at Eclipse Park, off M20 Junction 7. Full planning permission for the hotel was granted to Gallagher Prop- erties, part of the Maidstone-based quarrying, aggre- gates, construction and property devel- oper Gallagher Group, after all the outstanding matters from an earlier outline permission, accepted in 2010,were agreed. The final decision was taken by planning officers, under their dele- gated powers. The Gallagher Group says it is talking to compa- nies keen to establish a hotel on the land, which is next to the Sitting- bourne Road park and ride site. Chief executive Nick Yandle said:
“We can now enter into serious ne- gotiations with a number of opera- tors who have already expressed interest in developing a hotel of this
size in Maidstone.” The company believes the site’s proximity to the recently opened Kent Institute of Medicine and Sur- gery make it an attractive proposi- tion. Mr Yandle added: “The planning officers were particularly im- pressed with the quality of the pro- posed design andwe look forward to delivering a hotel that supports Maidstone’s business and visitor economy.” The plan also includes a restaurant and conference facilities. The hotelwould be clearly visible from the M20.
downsmail.co.uk
Seduced by choir’s Carmen By Dennis Fowle
AFTER enjoying Carmen on stage and film, Maidstone Choral Union’s static concert version at the leisure centre first seemed strange – but music and voices soonwon. Success always hinges around
the performance of Carmen, and Antonia Sotgiu seduced us. She was strongly supported by Katy Batho (Micaela), Nicholas Sales (Don Jose) and Darron Moore (Morales and Escamillo). However, the atmosphere was
not helped by soloists carrying bot- tles of water – surely a discrete glasswould have been better. Much of the music lent itself to
Car park idea
ASIX-SPACE car park could be established at 13 Knightrider Street, Maidstone for the use of staff at Gallery Nightclub. According to a supporting statement, there is currently nowhere for staff at the club, in Bank Street, to park. They will be able towalk about seven min- utes towork if Maidstone Coun- cil grants planning permission for parking on the site, adjacent to Maidstone Day Centre.
the confident and powerful orches- tra – but the danger in the vastness of this auditorium is that the 60- voice choir has difficulty compet- ing. Perhaps it could be projected more strongly. It was a performance worthy of
much stronger support. The centre was sparsely filled – worrying for this long-standing union in the light of heavy and increasing costs. Maidstone Choral Union will stage aWorldWar One Commemoration Concert at All Saints’ Church, Maidstone, start- ing at 7.30pm on Saturday, No- vember 15. Proceeds will go to Help for Heroes.
Gated refusal WEALDEN Homes’ application to build new housing in Valley Drive, Loose has been refused, despite the developer downsizing the scheme. Two previous refusals, for eight
and seven homes respectively, in- volved the demolition of Nos 41 and 56. The latest proposal, for six de-
tached homes and the retention of No 41, was again deemed visually harmful to the area by Maidstone Council, who also objected to the “gated community” that would have been established.
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