News


downsmail.co.uk Kings Hill phase three approved A CONTROVERSIAL plan for the next phase of Kings Hill has been given the go ahead.


The application for outline permission was unanimously approved by Tonbridge and Malling’s planning committee at a lengthy ses- sion attended by about 60 people. The meeting was held at the Hadlow Manor


Hotel, rather than the council chamber at Kings Hill, to ensure there was enough space to ac- commodate all those wishing to speak. Developer Liberty Property Trust originally proposed 975 new homes, partly on land previ- ously allocated for commercial use, but the re- vised application reduced the figure to 635. The plan also includes a two-form entry primary school with playing fields and land safeguarded for an extension to create a three-form entry pri- mary school; an extension to the community hall; skate park, allotments, a place of worship, trim trails, woodland paths, green spaces and changes to the road network at Alexander Grove, Gibson Drive and Queen Street. Condi- tions of the scheme are yet to be finalised. Issues raised by public speakers included transport and infrastructure, not only for Kings Hill but neighbouring communities. Councillors expressed concern about the road network in and around Kings Hill and whether it was able to deal with increased traffic. There were particular worries about the Kent Street junction, the A228 southbound towards Mere- worth and Tonbridge and the B2016. The developerwas asked to incorporate some


Property Trust, said employment land re- mained for more commercial development and the creation of a further 3,000 jobs. Throughout the planning process, Liberty had worked closely with the community in deciding the content of the application. “We have com- mitted to a package of community benefits which go beyond what is required by the plan- ning system and we are doing this because we are a long term investor.We are very proud of what we have done at Kings Hill,” said Mr Blevins. Karen Jones, chairman of Kings Hill Resi-


of the suggestions raised at the meeting, in- cluding a pre-school and burial ground. Kings Hill Parish Council did not object in principle to the application, but raised concern about the lack of infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population. Felipe Alviar-Baquero, a contestant on “The Apprentice” who lives on the estate and is chair- man of the Malling and District Rail Travellers’ Association, said it was expected that at least 500 new commuters would start travelling to London. It was essential that the applicant had liaised with train, bus and car park operators. Andrew Blevins,managing director of Liberty


School ‘bomb’was harmless


APUPIL sparked a bomb scare at Kings Hill Primary School by finding a suspected war-time shell that turned out to be a harm- less training device. Police and Ministry of Defence experts from Folkestone raced to the school in Crispin Way and childrenwere sent home after the youngster found the object in woodland on the site. Parents were contacted by


Primary to


be academy THOMAS More Primary School at Lucks Hill,West Malling has gained academy status as part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership (KCSP). The 209-pupil school was judged “good” with a grade 2 rating in all categories at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2013. It was one of three Catholic schools in the county that joined KCSP in October, bringing the total within the partnership to 14. KCSP said this continued the


trend of schools judged “good” or better joining the partnership “adding to our ability to enable high quality mutual support under- pinned by shared Catholic values”.


email and text and asked to col- lect their children. The 30cm device was kept in a


room until the bomb team arrived and itwas identified as a training relic. A KCC spokesman said the


school had taken appropriate ac- tion following the discovery. Kings Hill was developed on


the site of the former RAF West Malling Second WorldWar base.


Meat thief is


sentenced BILLYWilliams (25), of Chartway Street, Sutton Valence, stole meat and household goods from a shop in Pound Road, East Peckham. He appeared at Mid Kent Mag- istrates’ Court, when he admitted shoplifting, as well as leaving without payment and failing to surrender to police/court bail. The court heard that he also left


a service station on the A20 Ash- ford Road at Bearsted without paying for fuel worth £35.79. He was sentenced to 60 days in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £150 compen- sation and an £80 victim sur- charge.


Formore local news - www.downsmail.co.uk 26 Malling November 2014


dents’ Group said: “It is no surprise that outline planning permission has been granted. How- ever, it was widely recognised by all the coun- cillors that the residents’ group made an excellent contribution and many of the council- lors concurred with our views such as retire- ment housing, housing density, place of worship, burial ground, traffic – in particular the A228 at Kent Street/Mereworth. “We will be monitoring every element with regard to phase three and have already made contact with the parish council so that they can update us as soon as they receive anything.We have gained tremendous knowledge through- out this process and we will continue to look after whatwe believe are the best interests of the Kings Hill community.”


Apprentice role for Felipe


A KINGS Hill businessman is hoping to become Lord Alan Sugar’s latest business partner. Felipe Alviar-Baquero (34), from


Discovery Drive, designed and founded Tiny Town children’s soft play park in Larkfield. A solicitor with an international


law firm, he has been bringing his business acumen to the boardroom as one of the contenders in the lat- est series of The Apprentice. Colombian-born Felipe put him-


self forward as the project leader for the first task – which his team lost. However, despite Lord Sugar claim- ing the managerial issues lay with the Kent contestant, he fired com- pany director Chiles Cartwright. Felipe’s proud mum Patricia, who


also lives in Kings Hill, has been glued to the series, along with his wife and children. She has put a good luck sign in the window of Tiny Town in New Hythe Lane, en-


couraging customers to show their support. Felipe (pictured) describes the


founding of Tiny Town as his “biggest business achievement” but he hopes the best is yet to come if he succeeds in winning round the supercilious Lord Sugar.


College looks to the future


APLAN for a new primary school at Kings Hill has been given the formal seal of approval. Kent County Council granted permission for the demolition of its for-


mer supplies depot in Gibson Drive, replacing it with a two-storey build- ing with an access road and a 100-space car park. Work had already begun on clearing the site in anticipation of the de-


cision. The long-awaited school, which will be run by Valley Invicta Acade-


mies Trust, will initially accommodate 90 children, increasing to 210 over the next seven years.


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