News
downsmail.co.uk Mums win playground fight
THERE is good news on the hori- zon for a group of glum mums in Bearsted. Themumshave been haranguing Bearsted parish council over its fail- ure to re-open the play area on The Green.
Although the village has a sec-
ond playground – at the Church Landway – the Green is most pop- ular with the toddlers and pre- school age group. It’s also the most central for most
of the mums who walk their chil- dren to school each day. Now, the parish council has ap- pointed a contractor to re-lay the playground surface, which should be open before the school holidays. Bedford-based Matta has been
hired, withwork due to start in the week beginning July 7. The playground on The Green
was fenced off at the end of last year, on instruction from Maid- stone Council, because of the pos- sible danger it could cause. The surface was originally badly
laid and began to break up two years ago – but the parish council deferred remedialwork. As a result, the work was only commissioned last month, after mounting fury among residents.
Mums and children in the play area
Joanna Blewett, who lives in Nethermount, said: “My little girl is two and she’s only been on it once. We have to pass this way every day on the way to and from school and the children are con- stantly asking why they can’t go in and play.” Becky McIntosh, from
Yeoman Lane, has two children Tilly (5) and Isaac (3). She said: “To have had the playground fenced off and unusable in the summer months is inexcusable.” Michelle Rumble, clerk for Bearsted Parish Council, said: “The existing play surface had been laid
‘Awful’ annex to remain
AN ‘absolutely awful’ annex was given planning permission to re- main in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Harrietsham. Maidstone Council’s planning committee allowed the conversion of an outbuilding at Ringstead, Marley Road, despite reservations from some councillors.
Cllr Ian Chittenden, a member of
the committee, said: “Although there is no intrusion to neighbours, this design is absolutely awful.” A similar application was re-
fused in December last year but was given planning permission through an administrative error. This is now the subject of a judicial review.
Outbuildings allowed in Kent Downs
The revamped scheme was con- sidered more modest than the pre- vious one, which made it acceptable.
some 10 years ago over a grossly in- adequate sub-base and the council, therefore, faced the prospect of having the entire area excavated so that a proper sub-base could be laid to support the play surface. “The council found that the
Matta surface is much less expen- sive and much more durable.” She added itwould be later in the
year, when the council knows if it has obtained a lottery grant, before a decision is made on replacing the equipment. If new equipment is purchased,
the surface will be taken up around the base of the items and re-laid, but at nominal cost. The clerk stressed: “We will not be paying twice for the surface to be re-laid.”
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