News
KCCmember threatens to object to homes plan
KCChas reissued its threat to object to Maidstone Council’s local plan if the target of 18,600 homes between 2011 and 2031 is not reduced A year ago, shortly after the first
draft of the borough council’s local plan, county council leader Paul Carter said he would be prepared to object at a public enquiry unless the then target of 19,600was cut. Despite last May’s election yield-
ing a change in Maidstone Council’s leadership from Chris Garland to Annabelle Blackmore, and then later a 1,000-home reduction from the original target, KCC remains of the view that the target is too high. Cllr David Brazier (pictured),
KCC’s cabinet member for environ- ment and transport, told the Downs Mail: “We continue to work with Maidstone Council to find a solution that promotes an appropriate level of growth with a fundable transport strategy that allows the town centre still to function. “If they insist on the higher hous-
ing figure we would seriously con- sider attending the examination in
Scheme for 35
homes on farm NEW homes have been earmarked for land at Bell Farm, on thewestern edge of Barming. Developer Taylor Wimpey al-
ready owns the land, which fronts North Street and sits either side of six existing homes. The company wants to build up
to 35 properties on the 1.06 hectare site, which would be a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom houses, and has announced it in- tends to apply for detailed plan- ning permission shortly. Residents who attended a public exhibition at Fant Community Hall were able to learn more about the development, which includes three access roads and an element of af- fordable homes. A spokesman for the company
said: “We understand that devel- opment is about more than just building homes. TaylorWimpey is committed to creating thriving and vibrant communities which sup- port and enhance their surround- ing areas. We also seek to protect and improve existing natural, built and historic environments.” One of the company’s most re-
cent developments is Hayle Park, off Postley Road in Maidstone.
Formore local news 28
Donna-Marie Jarrett, the director of health informatics at the hospital, holds a certificate with Maidstone Hospital League of Friends volunteers
Free hospital wifi begins
MAIDSTONE patients will be able to hook up to free internet wifi during their stay in hospital thanks to the league of friends. The leagues at Maidstone and
Tunbridge Wells hospitals joined forces to provide the service to pa-
THE erection of a garden shed in Tovil was considered inappropriate by Maidstone Council.
www.downsmail.co.uk Maidstone Town February 2015
The planning application for an outbuilding measuring 12.5m deep by 3.4m wide and 3m high at 84 Courtenay Road was criticised by local borough councillor Derek Mortimer, who wrote: “The build- ing would overwhelm the setting of the back garden and impact upon neighbouring gardens and
tients and visitors at a cost of nearly £40,000. Supporters raise money in ways such as providing services in the hospitals. Wifi has been available in Tun- bridge Wells since Christmas and in Maidstone since early January.
Shed ‘too big for garden’ the local amenity.”
Six residents signed a petition ob- jecting to the proposal, with one of the concerns being that the scheme would decrease the value of their properties.
The council’s planning depart- ment refused the scheme, citing “its excessive floor area, height and poor quality design” as well as the “loss of valuable private open amenity space”.
public of the draft local plan to object. If the county council puts forward an argument suggesting that the plan- ning authority’s local plan is unsus- tainable then the inspector will listen.” KCC believes its case is helped by
legal advice from QC Christopher Lockhart-Mummery stating that if infrastructure cannot support the housing target itwouldbe acceptable for the borough council tomakea re- duction. Cllr Brazier added: “Much of the housing in the draft local plan is concentrated to the south-east of
the town, which you would have to reach by Sutton Road, already at ca- pacity formuchof the time.Wewant to avoid Maidstone’s roads becom- ing utterly congested. Other consid- erations, such as sewerage andwater do not have the necessary capacity for the proposed numbers.” Cllr Blackmore believes Cllr Bra-
zier’s comments do not reflect the progress that has been made since she took over as leader. She said: “Al- though there have been times when both councils were not aligned, through sensitive negotiationwe are working in the common ground to- gether. “Cllr CarterandCllr Brazierdonot
agree with the housing numbers but we are looking to see whatwe cando to mitigate the issues. “For example, traffic modelling is starting to come out to help us pre- vent longer journey times.” Cllr Blackmore also called on Cllr Brazier to disclose the new legal ad- vice he claims to have received: “Whydoesn’t he share it with us and we can work together?”
downsmail.co.uk Planning chaos
soon resolved CHAOSwhich has reigned in Maid- stone Council’s planning depart- ment should be resolved by the next financial year. Council leader Annabelle Black-
more assured the public – includ- ing property tycoon FergusWilson – that the problems which had beset the department since it merged with Swale and Tunbridge Wells,were nowwell on theway to being resolved. All three boroughs had experi-
enced delays in answering letters, carrying out searches and validat- ing applications since the merger – which also coincided with the in- troduction of a new IT system. Many frustrated homeowners
had gone ahead with schemes without waiting for the required permissions; others had taken them to the planning inspectorate for a decision in the absence of anything from the council. In response to Mr Wilson’s re-
quest whether the planning system was fit for purpose, Cllr Blackmore assured: “A robust plan has been implemented to put it back on track and we are heading towards a tar- get of processing applications within five days.” By April, Cllr Blackmore said she
hoped it would be down to two days.
Applicants have the right to ap-
peal to the planning inspectorate on the grounds of non-determina- tion if a decision is not reached within the requisite time, which takes the matter out of local au- thority hands.
Charity homes LOCAL charity MCCH has been
given planning permission for nine supported living units at 1 St An- drew’s Road, Maidstone. The scheme includes the redevel- opment of the redundant listed building, which was previously a residential care home for patients of the former Oakwood Hospital, and extensions to the side and rear. A training unit will also be created. MCCH offers help to people with mental health issues.
Shop agreed
PLANNING permission has been granted for a retail unit beneath three flats at 34 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone. Maidstone Council has allowed the development between the Shamrat restaurant and Rileys sports bar.
Flats approved
PLANNING consent was granted to convert offices at 11 Queen Anne Road, Maidstone into 16 flats. The property will be divided into four one-bedroom and 12 two-bed- room flats, with 28 parking spaces.
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