News


downsmail.co.uk Protest at plan for 165 homes


ABATTLE to protect open countryside on the boundary of Maidstone and Tonbridge &Malling is on the cards after a planning applicationwas submitted to build 143 homes.


Ward Homes wants to develop Bridge Nursery, north of Black- manstoneWay and east of London Road, where 165 homes are ear- marked in Maidstone Council’s draft local plan. Housing is also al- located for the land in the local plan that was adopted in 2000. Earlier this year Cllr Dan Daley, borough and county councillor for the Allington area, and Lib Dem colleague Rob Bird collected 1,100 signatures opposing housing on the land. In his response to the local plan allocation for Bridge Nursery, Cllr Daley wrote: “This last remaining piece of open land in north-west Maidstone is very rare and ex- tremely precious for a wide variety of reasons. Among these is the presence of a large variety of nest- ing birds, including several in the


Arrests aer burglaries


POLICE have made arrests in con- nection with burglaries in Maid- stone,Headcorn and Staplehurst. A 25-year-old man from Orping-


tonwas arrested after cash and jew- ellery were stolen in a break-in at Tonbridge Road,Maidstone on June 27. He was charged with burglary and bailed to appear at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court. Keith Pimley (45), from Hackney,


was arrested a year after alcoholwas stolen from the George andDragon pub in Headcorn High Street. He will appear at Maidstone Magis- trates’ Court on September 18. A19-year-old Maidstonemanwas arrested after a burglary in Marian Square, Staplehurst. He was bailed until September 16.


Arise, SirHugh MIDKentMPHugh Robertson re- ceived a knighthood just a week after standingdownfrom the Gov- ernment’s cabinet to spend time with his family. The Downs Mail reported last month that he left his role asmin- ister for the Middle East, North Africa and counter terrorism due to family commitments, He will now be made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George to honour his work during the 2012 Olympics.


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red and amber list of conservation concern. The habitats of greatest concern are those of the existing trees and areas of dense scrub (which is used for nesting) and the presence of the rough grassland, berry, seed and nut-producing plants for foraging. “All of this points up the way in


which this land has evolved through time to produce a really first-class wildlife habitat which cannot be reproduced elsewhere in the area and is therefore to be cele- brated, retained in its present con- dition, managed and conserved. “This site could be excluded from


development altogether to enable the retention of exclusive wildlife habitat that otherwise will be lost. “There would also be a gain in


not having to accommodate a dif- ficult exit from the site into an al-


ready overcrowded and often grid- locked road at a point which it would be awkward to engineer without creating the need for fur- ther traffic control and more con- gestion at times.” A supporting statement for the application says the site is “over- grown with scrub vegetation and suffers from vandalism in the form of illegal fires”. It added: “The designs seek to in- troduce green links through the site and between the existing and proposed development. The build- ingswould draw on local vernacu- lar and reflect materials used locally.” In June,Ward Homes held a con- sultation event where the majority of people objected to the scheme, which would provide 30% afford- able housing.


MPstarts charity fun run


MINISTER for Sport Helen Grant was in Maidstone to mark the start of the Big Fun Run in Mote Park. The 5k run was one of 17 untimed runs being staged


in scenic settings around the UK between July and Oc- tober – and open to all ages and abilities. The MP for Maidstone and The Weald signalled the


start of the run and said afterwards: “Itwas fantastic to see hundreds of runners, young and old, raising money for good causes.” The route started and finished at the north end of


Mote Park, east of the lake. Runners enjoyed a route through woodland and around the lake.


Plan to turn offices into homes Park to host


OFFICES in Knightrider Street, Maidstone, are set to be con- verted into 30 one and two bed- room flats. A proposal to turn Link House in Knightrider Court into resi-


dential use has been submitted to Maidstone Council, which will decide whether the scheme can be accepted as permitted devel- opment and therefore bypass the planning application process.


more events Continued from page one Mote Park on September 13, with more shows promised for next summer.


The company, headed by Brighton-based Luke Bendall, is registered at Maidstone TV Studios in New Cut.


Back row fromleft: Samuel, Finley, Poppy-Mae, Toby, Reece, Zak; front row: Aidan, Maya, Cameron, Camron


Young learners graduate


LITTLE Learners Nursery in Loose held a graduation ceremony for pre- schoolers as they left for primary school. The children enjoyed cream teas in the sunshine with their families and members of staff.


Maidstone Town September 2014


The Social will include food and drink, arts and crafts and other market stalls, as well as big names in techno and house music, such as Maidstone DJ Nic Fanciulli, who is renowned across Europe. The licence from Maidstone Council covers the company for events of up to 10,000 people and could allow major drama produc- tions, drive-in movies, live music, recorded music, dancing and the serving of alcohol and late night re- freshments.


Mr Bendall said: “We won’t be doing any more events after The Social this year, but we have a full list of items planned for next. It’s all subject to council approval.”


According to the applicant, rea-


sons included:  traffic impact of the scheme on the surrounding roads (although there was support for an access onto the A20 as opposed to BlackmanstoneWay);  loss of the open space to dog walkers and local children;  principle of including any affordable housing and its loca- tion close to the boundary with neighbours;  lack of a landscape buffer to ex- isting residents;  increased pressure on services such as schools and doctors’ sur- geries. However, with housing already earmarked for the land in policy terms, the objectors face a big chal- lenge convincingMaidstone Coun- cil to turn down the scheme.


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