News


Village homes will go ahead


AN intervention by Maidstone Council leader Annabelle Black- more was unable to prevent 124 new homes in Marden. Cllr Blackmore, who represents


the village, spoke at the planning committee to object to a scheme to build on Marden Cricket and Hockey Club in Stanley Road (right). But six members of the committee including Cllr Chris Garland, her predecessor as council leader, voted in favour of the scheme. Cllr Blackmore said: “There are


flaws in the officers’ report, which shows the target housing figure [be- tween 2011 and 2031] as 19,600 when it has been reduced to 18,600. Also, traffic modelling for each vil- lage has not been undertaken. “Neither the ward members nor


the parish councils were invited to any of the pre-application meetings. I find this very disappointing.” She also pointed out that South-


ernWater had admitted the sewage system could not cope with the extra homes.However, the council’s head of planning Rob Jarman said the company had offered a solution.


Cllr Blackmore raised further con-


cern about the inclusion of three- storey flats on the east of the site. “These are not in the character of the village.” she said. Other objec- tors included the parish council, Marden History Group, Marden So- ciety and more than 100 letters. The main access for the develop-


ment would be from Albion Road. An open space on the site would function as a village green and 40% of the homes would be affordable. The scheme was given planning permission on condition that im- provements to the sewage network are in place before building starts. The decision will enable the


cricket and hockey club tomove to a new ground in Maidstone Road.


downsmail.co.uk Store review is rejected


A BID to overturn Maidstone Council’s decision to refuse a Morrisons supermarket at Springfield Park has been lost at the High Court. In May, the council refused de-


veloperAugur Buchler’s proposal for the supermarket, plus a num- ber of smaller retail units and doctor’s surgery on the site, off Royal Engineers Road, next to Ringlestone. Landowner Blossom Way had sought a judicial review because the planning committee had al- most approved the scheme previ- ously, deferring only for conditions to be drawn up.At the


next committee meeting the com- mittee changed its mind, nar- rowly voting against the scheme. A High Court ruling has now refused permission for the re- view, stating therewas no resolu- tion to grant planning permission. Blossom Way must pay the council £3,968 in costs. The land at Springfield has


lain empty sinceKCCmoved out of its offices in 2001. In 2007, planning permissionwas granted for 192 flats, retail units and com- munity hall, but the development has never taken place. The land is part of an allocation for 950 homes in the draft local plan.


Christmas market with lights and snow


CHRISTMAS is coming…but on amuch less grand scale than in previous years.


Maidstone Council will not be hosting a lights switch-on in Jubilee Square


this year, although there will be a tree. Instead, all the festivities will kick off in FremlinWalk, on Thursday, November 20. However, there will be a Christmas market, with log cabins, fairy lights


and artificial snow in Jubilee Square fromDecember 11–22, along the lines of the popular continental Christmas markets.


For more local news, community events and information, go online www.downsmail.co.uk


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16 Maidstone South November 2014


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