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News Green space part of homes plan
MAIDSTONECouncil will ask its counterpart in Tonbridge and Malling for a nature reserve to form part of a 140-home develop- ment at Bridge Nursery, Allington. Maidstone’s planning committee granted planning permission for Ward Homes’ application on land north of Blackmanstone Way and east of London Road, but recom- mended that land left as open countryside in the north-west of the site be made a local nature reserve. Because the land is in Tonbridge
and Malling, Maidstone’s council- lors will have to rely on their neigh- bours to ensure the land is protected. All the land is allocated for hous-
ing in the current plan and ear- marked for 165 homes in the draft local plan. However, Cllr Dan Daley, borough and KCC council-
Charity car park
MAIDSTONE Lions Club will be manning the 150-space car park at Countygate offices in Stacey Street (by the White Rabbit pub) for charity every Saturday in December. The car park will be open from10am to 5.30pm, and donations are invited.
lor for the Allington area, and his Lib Dem colleague Rob Bird col- lected 1,100 signatures opposing the loss of the greenfield site. Cllr Daley said: small is
“This acreage
Cllr Cynthia Robertson
supremely valu- able for a wide va- riety of natural resources, includ- ing the wildlife and the quality of the soils, which are irreplaceable.
“Allington has successively lost
most of its open aspect and green space during the past 70 years of planning spread. This small piece is now all that is left in a virtually vir- gin state.” Cllr Cynthia Robertson, who also represents Allington, said the land
MAIDSTONE Choral Union is inviting residents to an evening of carols and the spoken word for a joyous end to the festive season. The concert takes place at the United Reformed Church in Week Street in Maidstone at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 6.
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had been used for many years by dog walkers. “This is a very sad day for residents of Allington,” she said.
Cllr Bird said the road network
would not be able to cope with the increase in vehicles. MP Helen Grant also raised con-
cerns about the loss of a recreation area and an increase in traffic. Although Peter Rosevear, trans-
port planner at KCC, conceded that the scheme would lead to more traffic and an extra delay, he did not object to the plan. Cllr Mike Hogg, amember of the committee, said: “This is a valuable place for wildlife, but it is private land and if it is refused, the plan- ning inspectorwill grant it because it is in our local plan.” The scheme, which includes a mixture of two, three, four and five
The audience will be invited to Cats risk to wildlife
MAIDSTONE councillor Tony Har- wood believes housing develop- ments built too close together could harm local wildlife through the introduction of cats. Speaking during a planning committee meeting in reference to the development of 140 homes at Bridge Nursery in Allington, the Lib Dem planning spokesman said: “As soon as you have 140 houses cheek by jowl it will be full of cats, which will destroy reptiles in months.”
bedroom properties, 30% of which would be affordable, was given planning permission thanks to five votes for, two against and four ab- stentions.
Concert to end festive season Pub’s donation A COFFEE morning at a Maid- stone pub has raised thousands of pounds for charity. Laura Humphrey, daughter of licensees Cara and Adrian, organ- ised the event at the First and Last pub in Bower Place, raising £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
sing, along with the choir, some of the most popular Christmas carols. After the concert, mulled wine
and mince pies will be served. No tickets are required for the evening but there will be a retiring collec- tion.
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