News
downsmail.co.uk Green light for Powerhub
THE stage is set for Powerhub, an important Maidstone landmark, to be turned into a supermarket and housing.
A planning inspector has given
the go-ahead for the Powerhub, a Grade II listed building in St Peter Street, to become a retail store – despite vociferous local opposition. West Farleigh based Baltic Wharf (Maidstone) Ltd had been refused permission to convert the former business estate into a mix of busi- ness, retail and leisure, including a big-name foodstore at ground level, with offices for professional and financial services above, a restaurant and parking for almost 400 vehicles. Maidstone Council’s planning committee said the scheme was contrary to its policy on town cen- tre improvements. It was felt other sites, such as Maidstone East,were “sequentially preferable” for a new supermarket. Council leader Annabelle Black-
more said the inspector’s landmark decision could adversely affect in- terest in Maidstone East, although as itwas only a speculative scheme, the timeframe for delivery would need to be assessed. She said: “Maidstone East and
the sorting office is a regeneration scheme but this appeal decision has the potential to affect the delivery of a supermarket at that particular location. If the decision stands then
Rewarded for the ‘best job ever’
HEADCORN com- munity warden Stuart Ellesmere (pictured) has been named a “local authority hero” by Locality, the leading nat- ionwide network for community-led organisations. Stuart (38) has worked in the vil-
lage since May 2012 and is a famil- iar figure with the local youth, as well as the elderly and housebound, who he helps on a daily basis. Stuart, whowas born and brought
up in Maidstone and educated at St Simon Stock School, worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor and with young people in supported housing before taking up his current post, which he described as “by far the best job I have ever had”. He is a familiar figure at the Head-
corn youth club, youth boxing club, village fetes and community events. Locality’s Local Authority Heroes
Awards celebrate councillors and council staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to sup- port community organisations in their local area.
12 Maidstone South July 2014 Traffic concerns
ONE resident who will be affected by the new supermarket is Green party member Stuart Jeffery, who lives in Buckland Road. He said: “I cannot understand
Maidstone’s Powerhub building is to be redeveloped
we would have to revisit our retail policy.”
Planning inspector John Gray re- ported: “There is agreement be- tween the appellants and the borough council that there is no viable use for the listed Powerhub building on its own. “The council also agrees that,
were there a foodstore operator in place, the proposed development would be viable.” He also autho- rised the demolition of neighbour- ing Raglan House and certain parts of the Powerhub itself. One of the borough’s few re- maining examples of art deco architecture, the Powerhub has been likened to Battersea power station – coincidentally also under-
going a rebirth – and was home to the Tilling Stevens motor manufac- turer for many years. Designed by Wallis, Gilbert and
Partners, the foremost factory ar- chitects of the inter-war period, the Powerhub is one of the few build- ings of its kind to have survived unaltered. DuringWorldWar Two, it was a munitions factory. More recently, it has housed a business centre, kitchen company, dance studio – and was the one- time base of fashion designer Karen Millen. The inspector’s decision has caused its supporters to call for an early meeting between the would- be developers, Maidstone Council and Kent Highway Services.
Festival delivered
continued from page one organiser UK Events says the festival succeeded in what it set out to do. A spokesman for the Nottingham company said: “Although the odds were stacked up against us, we delivered exactly what we set out to do. We are very proud to have a successful festival that is here to stay and we are already talking about next year – so watch this space.”
The festival, which started six
years ago with promoter Vince Power at the helm, has pulled in top names such as Prince, Bob Dylan and the Eagles.
But after making huge financial losses and with poor ticket sales for a weakened line-up, last year’s event was cancelled. This year, under the new promoter, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and Al Jardine had the audience rocking to the sounds of the 1960s, while the likes of Ray Davies, Billy Ocean and 10cc brought the crowds through the 1970s and 1980s, as well as modern acts including James Blunt and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Stand-up comedy came from a
raft of top names, including Jo Brand, Rich Hall, Russell Kane and Rob Beckett. A spokesman said: “In the past,
it was one massive crowd-puller and a lot of lesser named acts. We have gone for more big names, right across the board.” However, those who had hoped to see Deacon Blue on the Sunday were disappointed when the band pulled out due to illness, as were those hoping to see up-and- coming acts on the Rising Talent stage.
Local band Coco and the Butterfields were among those fresh from Glastonbury hoping to appear, but were axed when the festival was let down by the company providing the structure. Billed as a family event, the
festival drew parents, children – and grandparents – with camping gear and picnics.
The family theme continued on stage, with Al Jardine’s son Matt featuring alongside his father, The Beat’s Ranking Roger accompanied by son Ranking Junior, the drummer with Chas ’n’ Dave was Chas’s son (and Dave’s godson) and Billy Ocean’s daughter was a backing singer.
how KCC did not object to a plan which will increase traffic by 54% in a known area of congestion, which would see the removal of the only cycle lane across the river and that would see the pavement which is used by thousands of chil- dren to access schools, cut in half.”
It could also have repercussions
on the long-awaited redevelop- ment of land at Maidstone East rail- way station – directly across the river. Cllr Tony Harwood said: “The
key cause for local concern in rela- tion to this scheme arose less from the proposals for the building itself, but rather the traffic-encourag- ing off-site highways works pro- posed – in particular the proposed widening of the junction of Buck- land Hill with London Road and the widening of the carriageway on the ‘new’ downstream bridge, at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists.”
Headcorn homes
A SCHEME has been unveiled to build 270 homes west of Ulcombe Road, Headcorn. The proposal is for 8.6 hectares of
land at Hazelpits Farm and would include public open space by Hoggs Bridge stream. The site, which has been ear- marked for 240 homes in Maid- stone Council’s draft local plan, would be accessed from Ulcombe Road, with an emergency/pedes- trian/cycle access from Kings Road, just to the west of Headcorn Pri- mary School. The council will decide whether
an environmental impact assess- ment is required prior to the sub- mission of a planning application.
Safety hazard
A PROPOSAL to create a parking space in Goudhurst Road, Marden, has been refused for posing a high- way safety hazard. Maidstone Council dismissed the application for land adjacent to 7 Beechbridge Cottages due to the absence of visibility splays and in- sufficient space for vehicles to leave the site in forward gear.
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