downsmail.co.uk Praise for flood-hit residents


ENVIRONMENT secretary Liz Truss has paid tribute to the rural communities around Maidstone whichwere so badly hit by last winter’s floods.


She has also acknowledged that


the partnership worknowbeing un- dertaken is the best way forward, recommending it be adopted else- where in the country. The minister’s comments came at


the second flood management forum at the Gateway, Maidstone. Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone


and theWeald, read out a statement from Ms Truss in which she said: “I want to pay tribute to everyone in- volved in rebuilding these commu- nities: the residents, volunteers, businesses, councils and key agen- cies; they have all played their part. “I’m determined to ensure that


our communities are better pro- tected from the risk of flooding. That’s why we are spending £3.2bn on flood protection – £0.5bn more than the last parliament.” Helen Grant convened the second


forum to ensure progresswas being made on her integrated action plan, and to press key stakeholders on the tangible measures being taken. The meetingwas attended by rep- resentatives from the Environment Agency, parish, borough and county councils, emergency services, resi- dents and businesses. The MP is to convene a third forum in the new year.


News


MP Helen Grant chairs the second flood forum at the Gateway Homes refused Village update on floods progress


ROB Schroeder’s plan for 50 retirement bungalows on land east of Green Lane, Langley has been refused. The site adjoins the south


western edge of the village and is currently used for growing Christmas trees. Maidstone Council’s deci-


sion notice said the proposal was unsustainable; would af- fect the setting of listed build- ings The Old Farmhouse and Ye Olde Cottage; would pose a threat to highway safety and failed tomeet affordable hous- ing targets.


THEEnvironmentAgency is return- ing to Yalding to address residents’ queries and concerns. At a meeting in February, Neil


Gunn and his colleagues from the EA pledged to return and update homeowners affected by last win- ter’s floods. The meeting will take place in the


village church on Monday Novem- ber 24, at 7.30pm, when officers are expected to outline details of the new flood warning areas and plans for future flood defences. It follows a visit to the Leigh Bar-


rier by more than 40 residents and parish councillors in October, when


they were told how proposals should benefit the low-lying areas in and around Yalding in the future. The EA has re-drawn the bound-


aries for flood areawarnings and is- sued an appeal for volunteer flood wardens to help in an emergency. Yalding resident and Lib Dem County Cllr Rob Bird said: “On Christmas Eve last year Maidstone Council relied on the Met Office forecast to determine that the worst of the flooding was over, just as the Leigh Flood Barrier was fully opened, unleashing a surge ofwater down onto the Middle Medway. “During the 24th, the Environ-


MPtakes up village sewage issues


MAIDSTONEand TheWealdMP Helen Grant has taken up the campaign of Marden villagers to get improved sewage services. Asurvey of 1,500 people carried


out by theMPinAugust revealed the new homes – and the impact on the drainage system –was one of the biggest causes of concern. Of the responses, 65% raised problems with sewage and waste management. Mrs Grant said: “For some time


the sewage systems have been be- yond capacity and SouthernWater


have been forced to pump away the excess.” The MP has met the parish council and Maidstone Council leader in September toAnnabelle Blackmore to form a plan. Mrs Grant said: “Southern


Water state they have identified a severe groundwater infiltration problem but they are only pre- pared to offer a relining solution and have refused to consider a longer-term solution. “With even more homes about to be linked into the drainage sys-


tems I believe Southern Water must put new proposals on the table for how they will deal with the increased volumes in the years to come. “Lorry pumping and re-lining is


not an acceptableway ahead.” Mrs Grant and the leader of Maidstone council, CllrAnnabelle Blackmore, are due to meet with SouthernWater on November 12. Another outcome of the survey


was the desire for traffic calming in Marden. About 69% felt meas- ures should be implemented.


Riders do the double for air ambulance


ALMOST 300 riders got on their bikes for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Double 100 Cycle Challenge. The 100-mile and 100km circular


rides started and finished at the charity’s helicopter bases at Marden and Redhill, passing through TunbridgeWells, PaddockWood, Crowborough, Horley and Lingfield.


The first rider to complete the 100-mile route atMardenwas Scott Sargent ofmain sponsors Fidelity Worldwide Investmentwhile the first 100km finisherwas Jonathan Miller of Whitehead Monckton Solicitors. Organiser Julie Clare, of Air Ambulance Corporate Relations, said: “Wewould like to thank all 280 riders who took part.”


D100 riders at the Marden start


ment Agency told its partners to ex- pect an event comparable to 2000. Sadly, not everyone got thiswarning or did not act on it sufficiently.” LibDemparliamentary candidate


Jasper Gerard said hewas concerned at the increased reliance on volun- teers and believed the report from the Government still failed to ad- dress whether flooding will be exac- erbated by more housebuilding. He said the report also failed to address surface water flooding, which had seen raw sewage in vil- lages such as Headcorn, Marden and Staplehurst.Hesaid the height of the Leigh Barrier needed to be raised.


Flats to replace


GPs’ surgery THE latest proposal to replace a doctors’ surgery in Headcorn has been given planning consent. In December 2013, planning per- missionwas granted to convert the former surgery on the junction of Clerks Field and Forge Lane into five one-bedroom flats. Now developer Clarendon Homes has been given the go- ahead to demolish the building, which has become redundant after the surgery moved to Grigg Lane, and replace it with four semi- detached houses. Headcorn Parish Council had concerns over sewage arrange- ments but Maidstone Council’s planning department granted per- mission because the principle of the development had been established in the previous proposal.


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


Maidstone South November 2014 27


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