News| Bearsted shops
‘If shops go, they will never return to village’
TED Taylor would be turning in his grave at the proposals for re- placing his much-treasured shop. Three generations of Taylors
grew up in Bearsted, where Ted founded and ran the newsagent’s business for many years, being well-known, well-respected and revered. He was a long-serving chorister
at Holy Cross Church and set up the newsagent’s business for the community. Anna Preece, who has lived in Bearsted for more than 30 years, said: “He was very community minded and his ethos was very much one of working for the com- munity. He would be turning in his grave at these proposals.” The newsagent’s shop still bears
his name as a mark of respect – even though it is many years since he died. Anna said: “We have lost our
post office,we have lost our school and lost several shops further down the road. This is our last stand. If these businesses go, every- thing will end up on Ashford Road.” All three shop leases are due to
expire in the next 12 months, which gives the owners the perfect oppor- tunity to redevelop the site. Mary Richards, secretary of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, said: “This is the end of the road for the businesses if planning permis- sion is granted, while for the vil- lage, it means the loss of three much-valued businesses that pro- vide a unique service and draw their customers from miles around. “If we lose those businesses dur-
ing the redevelopment phase, they will never return.” The Green boasts 24 listed build-
ings and features which add to the character of the area include the red telephone kiosk and the original mosaic flooring to Taylor’s and the computer shop. Miss Richards said: “The land-
lord lives in Hove and the archi- tects are in Maidstone. They know little or nothing about our neigh- bourhood and community. “These are not simply shops, but
a focal point of the community. “We don’t want to become an-
other Ashford Road, with mini- markets and the like. This parade is part of our heritage.”
Although not listed, the shops
are designated as “positive” in the conservation area grading – which means they “contribute positively to the character and interest of the conservation area and whose reten- tion should be encouraged wher- ever possible”. The shops were rebuilt in 1902 following a fire that gutted the original premises in 1882 – al- though some features from the original structure survived. Miss Richards said: “The applica-
tion indicates that a new develop- ment will seek to incorporate the existing canopy, but there is no firm undertaking to do so and, of course, all the other distinctive fea- tures will be destroyed to make way for a building of little architec- tural merit and of a bulk greater than any other in this part of the village. The proposed new mini market
would be open from 8am to 9pm – and, with just seven allocated park- ing spaces for both the shops and the flats – parking problems will also be exacerbated, say residents.
downsmail.co.uk Stores ‘tired
and outdated’ GBM architects of Maidstone, who have drawn up the plans, say the ex- isting parade shops are “tired and lack modern facilities” This claim would almost certainly
be refuted by Rob Crouch (pictured), owner of the butcher’s and deli- catessen, who has spent more than £200,000 renovating his store since taking on the lease almost 14 years ago. Mr Crouch em- ploys 20 people at the
Bearsted shop – known locally as Rickwood’s – which also bakes pies and pastries for his other outlets in Staplehurst andWadhurst. He said: “The Bearsted shop pro-
duces more than half our annual turnover and if I were to lose the buying power from this, it would put the other two shops in jeopardy. “The three smaller units proposed
in the development are not big enough for us and parking would be a problem for customers. “I quite understand that the own-
ers are trying to get the maximum return from their investment prop- erty, but it simply will not work for us. Even ifwewere fortunate to find alternate premises in somewhere like Penenden Heath or Sutton Va- lence,we would have the expense of moving and improving – so would- n’t be likely to move back.”
Villagers face losing ‘focus of community’
Continued from page one Bearsted Green Conservation area, but unlikemany of the neighbouring properties, it is unlisted. Landlord Evenden Estates Ltd
. The Parade in Bearsted, which could be demolished if the plan goes ahead Parade damaged by fire
THE Parade has stood in its pres- ent form for more than a century – the upper floors being destroyed by fire in 1905. But a structural engineer has
told the applicant that the existing structure is incapable of support- ing further construction. GDM’S design statement says:
“The existing retail parade build- ing, although worthy of some ar- chitectural merit, has suffered from excessive fire damage and is not the building it was originally intended to be.
16 Maidstone East January 2015 “The aim of the design has been
to propose a new building which relates to its setting and context, using materials and detailing that are established in the locality. “Use of the ground floor as re-
tail remains the same. The flats above would provide high quality living accommodation in a very desirable location, close to bus and train transport nodes.” The plans involve creating a
whiteweatherboard frontage, pos- sibly retaining the existing steel and lead canopy.
has lodged a full planning application with Maidstone Council to demolish the shops and redevelop the site, with three shops and seven two-bedroomed flats above. The three existing tenants –WJ
Crouch Ltd, Taylors of Bearsted Ltd and Resource Development (UK) Ltd, were told of the proposals on November 17, but it was almost a month later that residents were informed, giving them just 21 days to lodge their objections – and over the Christmas holiday period. The residents say the shops are
a focal point of the community and contribute to the village street scene and claim the heart is being knocked out of Bearsted and the conservation area. Butcher and delicatessen
proprietor Rob Crouch said: “We are fully committed to this shop –
it’s unique and quirky. Why do we need a Co-op or a Spar?We have Tesco Express and Grove Green down the road if that’s what people want. “Our customers like what we
have to offer and we are happy to be here. But if we have to move out for redevelopment, it’s unlikely we would return – it wouldn’t be economical.” More than 60 placard-waving
protestors turned out to voice their opposition to the application and have bombarded the council’s planning department with letters of objection. Bearsted Parish Council planning committee has resolved to get the building listed and oppose the application in the strongest possible terms. Planning chairman Denis Spooner said:”This would be the loss of an iconic building which is unique to Bearsted. The proposed replacement is a very poor, utilitarian design Objections to the planning
application were due in to Maidstone Council by January 7
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