News
downsmail.co.uk Concern over developers’ fund
COUNCILLORS have called for a study into the allocation of financial contributions from developers after discovering that moneywas earmarked to improve facilities that no longer exist.
Maidstone Council’s planning committee was given a list of proj- ects due to be funded by section 106 legal agreements relating to plan- ning permissions amounting to £1.67m.
Members had a number of queries: Kent Music School, Astley House, Hastings Road, Maidstone (About 14 homes, granted Novem- ber 2010). Cllr FranWilson pointed out that £21,240was intended to improve healthcare facilities at the surgery in King Street, which no longer exists. She also criticised the allocation of £39,554 towards improvements at Mote Park when the S106 agree- ment stated an investment should be made to a closer open space, the Len Valley Nature Reserve.
Footpath posts
‘not in keeping’ LONG-awaited work to repair the pavement in Hollingbourne has been welcomed, but not everyone is happy about the bollards. The metal ones were removed
and replaced by wooden posts, which resident Roger Bancroft says are not in keeping. The Downs Mail contacted KCC,
whose highways department arranged the refurbishment of the pavement in Eyhorne Street. A spokesman said the wooden posts had been chosen after talks with the borough council’s conservation officer. Mr Bancroft said: “The old metal
versions suited the streetscape bet- ter than the new ones. “It would seem curious that as residentswe need to apply for var- ious planning consents to alter our properties so that the nature of the area is preserved.”
From left, Katie Simpson, Steve, Michael and Maria Pereira, Luke Carpenter and Chris Simpson
Karate squad’s success
MEMBERS of the Maidstone-based Kimura Shukokai Karate Kent returned fromSun City, South Africa with four medals after representing England in the 2014 Kimura Shukokai International’sWorld Karate Championships. Instructors Katie and Chris Simpson, fromKingswood,were accompanied by students Steve, Maria and Michael Pereira, fromSutton Valence, and Luke Carpenter, fromCharing. Michael (14) won a silver medal in the showpiece and bronze in
repecharge. Katie took bronze in the kata and kumite events. Steve only just lost to the currentworld champion in the second round of the kumite, while Maria and Luke performedwell, gaining considerable experience. The club run classes in Charing, Lenham, Kingswood, Marden, Downswood and Maidstone,. Anyone interested in sponsoring the students or joining a class should go to
www.kentkarate.co.uk or call 07801639052.
St Faith’s Lane, Bearsted (21 homes, granted October 2004). Cllr Richard Ashwas baffled that a share of £1,307 in healthcare money was being allocated to Marden Medical Centre. “To actually build a block of flats in Bearsted and put money in Marden…it seems a longway away,” he said. Kent Frozen Foods, offWare Street (now Edelin Road), Thurnham (housing estate, granted October 2003). Cllr Ash said the site is in Thurnham, yet the list said it was in Bearsted and earmarked £24,275 for the Grovewood Drive play area in Grove Green and £35,000 for the Ashurst Road play areas in Vinters Park. Former Trebor Basset site,St Peter’s Street, Maidstone (retail es- tate, granted on appeal June 2000).
Almost £250,000was allocated to upgrade the riversidewalkway in central Maidstone but Cllr Tony Harwood claimed this moneywas meant to be spent on improving the high-level bridge linking the Maid- stone East and Maidstone Barracks railway stations. Land at Springfield, Moncktons Lane, Ringlestone (housing and of- fice development, granted October 2002).Asum of £72,833was to be spent on a children’s centre but Cllr Harwood said this neverwent ahead. “My understandingwas that the money should be used for the Springfield site or the commu- nity centre in Moncktons Hall,” he said.“We don’twant money going into someone’s coffers when it doesn’t exist.” Cllr Fran Wilson said: “We do
have quite a serious problem here thatwe need to get to the bottom of. It is vitally important that officers get this up to date. We always say we have not got enoughmoneybut here we might be losing some.” The council’s senior planning so-
licitor Kate Jardine told the commit- tee: “This is a basic overview and doesn’t represent the full details of S106 contributions. “If you have specific queries about specific allocations then talk to offi- cers or compliance officers.” Cllr Martin Cox, who deputised
as planning committee chairman, said: “We need to bring this back to a later meeting so it is looked at in detail. A lot of this stuff is historic and if we didn’t have such continu- ity in the council these would have got lost.”
Councillor hit by illness
PARAMEDICShad to be called to the Chainhurst home of Cllr Dennis Collins after he col- lapsed in pain after returning home from a meeting at Maid- stone Town Hall. Cllr Collins
(56), Conserva- tive councillor for Coxheath and Hunton, was taken to
Maidstone Hospital, suffering from acute septicaemia and a slipped disc. After more than a week in isolation, Cllr Collins is nowslowly recovering athome. Cllr Collinswas elected to the borough council in 2011. He chaired the planning committee prior to the last election in May.
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