News


Protests considered as housing sites rejected


COUNCILLORS have bowed to public pressure and wiped several sug- gested housing sites off the future plan for south Maidstone.


But development could still go


ahead on other contested sites as part of Maidstone Council’s pledge to provide 18,600 new homes be- tween now and 2031. The council’s cabinet rejected three


sites put forward by officers for housing in Staplehurst, aswell as the contentious piece of land in Lenham Road in Headcorn and land south of the Parsonage, Goudhurst Road, Marden. When a “call for sites” last year


failed to produce sufficient land for new housing, the council cast its net for a second time. But of the 162 sites which came


forward, which included 42 re-sub- missions, officers put forward only 24 for consideration by the council. The 24 sites could have provided


some 1,143 additional homes – still leaving a shortfall of 420 homes on the total need of 18,600. However, after listening to resi-


dents’ objections, the cabinet con- curred that local knowledge was a key factor when considering the ap- propriateness of sites. Cllr Steve McLoughlin argued a number of the new proposed sites – such as land south of the Parsonage in Goudhurst Road and north of Henhurst Farm in Staplehurst – were “an appendage to an ap- pendage” – and peripheral to the vil- lages.


Consequently, in Staplehurst:


Lib Dems choose David


COUNCILLOR David Naghi is to be the Lib Dems’ parliamentary candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent for the third successive Gen- eral Election. Cllr Naghi (57), who has repre-


sented East ward on Maidstone Council since 2002, was beaten by the outgoing Conservative MP Hugh Robertson in 2005 and 2010. His share of the vote five years


ago increased to 19.6% from 16.5%, beating Labour into third place for the first time since the Tory-domi- nated constituency was formed in 1997. In May he will be up against Labour’s Michael Desmond, UKIP’s Peter Edwards-Daem and Tim Valentine from the Greens. As the Downs Mailwent to press,


MP Robertson’s successor for the Conservatives was still to be an- nounced.


28 Maidstone South February 2015


 OUT goes land at Lodge Road, designated for 60 new properties;  OUT goes the site south of Mar- den Road, for 100 homes and  OUT goes land to the north of Henhurst Farm, for 60 homes. Members argued that the land in


Lodge Road was a rural employ- ment site and should not be givenup for housing, although planning chief Rob Jarman argued that there had been no approaches for employment use in the past five years. Problems with flooding and pres-


sure on the outdated sewage sys- temswere cited as reasons to restrict development in both Marden and Headcorn. Although there are already outline planning applications lodged with the council for parts of land off Lenham Road in Headcorn, a site which would accommodate 50 more homes was thrown out by the cabi- net, against officers’ advice. Cllr Martin Round (pictured) said Headcorn’s infrastructure could not take any more build- ing until the sewage system was upgraded and, while he ac-


cepted The Hardwicks had to be built to provide a new doctor’s sur- gery, the cumulative effect had been


crippling for the rest of the village. The council’s planning and devel- opment scrutiny committee spent 19 hours considering the various sites before submitting its recommenda- tion to the council. The biggest victory came for resi-


dents in Barming with their Save Fant Farm campaign, with the cabi- net throwing out officers’ recom- mendations that the site could accommodate 225 new homes. The remaining sites, will now go


forward to a further public consulta- tion, along with all those already in- cluded in the draft local plan. In Boughton Monchelsea, 40new


homes on land in Church Street/Heath Road would contribute towards a much-needed new GP fa- cility, members were told, and Lye- wood Farm in Green Lane (25 homes)was also accepted as suitable for development, along with land at Boughton Mount in Boughton Lane (25) and Brandy's Bay, South Lane, Sutton Valence (40). Although members agreed that


traffic problems in Loosewere crip- pling, they approved a site in Boughton Lane (75) because there is already a public inquiry pending against the council’s refusal of a pro- posed 220 homes in Boughton Lane. As KCC had not objected to this


larger scheme on traffic grounds,Mr Jarman said it would be inconsistent to refuse the smaller scheme.


downsmail.co.uk Traffic fumes


‘unbearable’ TRAFFIC fumes in Sutton Road, Maidstone are now so bad that res- idents cannot open their windows. Cllr Marion Ring told the cabinet


that the traffic flows along the road were unbearable and the number of vehicles using the Shepway estate as a rat runwas phenomenal. She said any new housing south


of the borough would only add to the problems and an alternative – whether it be a Leeds-Langley by- pass or some other means – was now an essential part of planning for the future.


Surgeries full


ALL GP surgeries in Maidstone are at capacity and some would benefit from an upgrade in their facilities, members heard. In Coxheath there is a proposal to relocate the surgery to the Clock- house Farm site and there is an al- ready-planned extension to the surgery in Marden. Staplehurst, Headcorn and Lenham are re- ported to have sufficient capacity for the planned growth.


Town extension


HEAD of planning Rob Jar- man believes land to the south east of Maidstone is the most appropriate for future devel- opment. He told the cabinet: “In the


north, is an Area of Outstand- ing Natural Beauty, to thewest is Tonbridge and Malling. The south suffers from poor east- west transport links, so the south east is the natural exten- sion to Maidstone.”


Warden helps pensioner beat scammers


ONE of Kent’s community wardens has received an award after helping an elderly woman beat scammers who had taken thousands of pounds from her. Mira Martin was supporting KCC


Trading Standards’ “Stop the Scammers” initiative when she discovered that the victim, from Staplehurst, had already parted with a large amount ofmoney through postal con tricks, and had prepared several cheques ready for sending to other scammers. Mira’s efforts were recognised at


ameeting of Maidstone’s community wardens team, with the presentation of a “Because of You” certificate. Sandra Cook, a project officer


with the team which nominated Mira for the award, said: “This devastating crime has affected this


Mira Martin receives her certificate fromKCC community safety manager Jim Parris, watched by the Maidstone community wardens team


resident’s wealth - but more importantly her health, confidence and wellbeing. “However, due to Mira’s timely


and caring intervention she is getting her life back on track and can now continue to live in her home. I dread to think what would have happened to this elderly resident if she hadn’t received


support from Mira, who has gone above and beyond her duty to help and assist her.” The victim, who did not wish to


be named, offered this advice to others who suspect they are being scammed: “Talk to your family, friends or the community warden. They can advise you or put you in touch with someone who can help.”


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