downsmail.co.uk
Protestors lobby council leader over new housing
MORE than 300 people turned out in Headcorn to barrack Maidstone council leader Annabelle Black- more, as she tried to defend the bor- ough’s need for new homes. Residents in the village are gear-
ing up for a battle against landown- ers and developers who, they claim, are preparing to flood the village with up to 1,000 new properties. Villagers staged a demonstration outside the village hall as Cllr Black- more and her deputy Cllr David Burton attended the farmers’market to discussways the council could cut costs and improve services. A delegation from campaign
group "Save Headcorn Village" handed the pair a statement, outlin- ing their main concerns. They claim the village cannot accommodate fur- ther development: it is on a flood plain, the sewage system is over- loaded, the primary school is full and the roads cannot cope. A spokesman said: “Despite Headcorn’s neighbourhood plan nearing completion and a robust body of evidence to demonstrate the
Annabelle Blackmore addresses protestors using a
megaphone outside Headcorn village hall
alarming implications of these de- velopment plans, Maidstone Coun- cil has done nothing to intercept each application as it emerges. “Onthe contrary it has earmarked
the village for development. “Sustained campaigning by vil-
lagers has yielded nothing beyond vague claims that Maidstone Coun- cil ‘is listening’. SHV campaigner Ros Young said:
“Although councillors are accusing us of sensationalising this, they can- not and will not guarantee they will not be built, because greenfield sites are not protected and there is no local plan in place, giving develop- ers the upper hand.”
Maidstone Cllr and Headcorn res-
ident ChristineEdwards-Daem said: “MBC appears to be granting con- sent to proceed without plans in place to protect the community. As such it represents neglect.” An initial 425 homes were ear- marked for development in the draft local plan, but on the council’s sec- ond appeal for sites, another 549 came forward. A further 71 proper- ties already have planning consent. Cllr Blackmore addressed protes-
tors with a megaphone, reminding them theywere privileged to live in such a lovely village, but Ms Young said they were disappointed by the council’s response.
News Pub for sale as
landlord quits ONE of Yalding’s oldest pubs is up for sale after the retirement of publi- can Joe Morris. Joe (80) has been landlord at the
15th century George, in Benover Road, for 46 years. The former crane driver decided
to have a “quiet life running a quiet country pub” after being made re- dundant with the closure of Tooley Street docks in Bermondsey in 1968. He stumbled across the George
and said: “I’ve never stopped work- ing since. Somuchfor the quiet life!” Joe and wife Rita brought up their
two sons and two daughters at the pub. After the floods of Christmas 2013, itwas closed for three months, which had a devastating effect on trade. At about the same time, Joe suffered a stroke and decided itwas time to call it a day. The pub was packed for a farewell party recently. The freehold pub is on the market
with a guide price of £795,000. Built in 1546 as awatering hole for
locals, travellers and their animals, the pub was enlarged in Georgian times. It has nine bedrooms and if it fails to sell, Joe is hoping to obtain planning permission to convert it into flats. The pub’s former stable and grain store were recently con- verted into a three-bedroom house.
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