News
‘Sinister’ survey ‘aims to backwarehousing’
BEARSTED Parish Council has criticised Maidstone Council for what it claims is a “sinister” means of gaining public support forwarehousing.
As part of its economic develop-
ment strategy, Maidstone Council devised a phone questionnaire which staff from Facts International have been using to quiz residents throughout the borough. The parish council claims the questionnaire is unfair, impartial, simplistic and highly misleading and has asked that the results of the survey now be disregarded. Later in the spring, Maidstone Council will defend its decision at an appeal hearing on the refusal of Gal- lagher Properties’ planning applica- tion to build warehousing south of the A20, close to M20 J8. Vice-chairman Denis Spooner
said: “The survey is clearly intended to lead ‘unknowing’ members of the public into supporting employment development at junction 8, which is strongly opposed by all the nearby parish councils, all the local county councillors, all but two local bor- ough councillors, as well as by MP Hugh Robertson, Leeds Castle and many local people.” A letter to Maidstone chief execu- tive Alison Broom, from the parish
council claims the survey is “under- hand”. A parish council spokesman said:
“We understand Maidstone Council has appointed a top flight QC and consultants to present its case at the planning inquiry at a cost of poten- tially tens of thousands of pounds, yet at the same time is paying amar- ket research company to carry out a public survey that is clearly intended to drum up support for develop- ment at junction 8 whichwill under- mine its own case at public inquiry! “It appears to Bearsted Parish Council that the right hand of Maid- stone Council does not know what the left hand is doing.” Mary Richards, secretary of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society,
said question three of the survey “makes a completely biased and un- justified assumption”. She added: “The questionnaire works on the premise thatwe accept the increased housing the council is insisting on and that junction 8 is the only possi- ble location for thiswarehousing.” Cllr Spooner said: “There is also
no reference to the fact that within the past 18 months, Maidstone Council has twice rejected planning applications for industrial develop- ment at junction 8, that it has re- cently rejected proposals to allocate the area for industrial development in its local plan and that in May of this year, it will objecting to indus- trial development in the area at a major planning public inquiry.”
Question that sparked controversy
OVER the next 16 years, Maidstone’s population will grow by around 20%, meaning an extra 17,300 jobs will be needed for our residents. To deliver as many of these jobs as possible in the borough, the council will need to consider allocating land for a new business park at junction 8 of the M20. To what extent would you support this idea?” Depending on their answer, respondents are then askedwhy they would sup- port – or object – to a new site at junction 8.
Leah’s design hits the roads
Continued from page one Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for the environment and housing,
Cllr Marion Ring, visited the school to present Leah with her prizes – a £50 Go Ape voucher and a goody bag including recycled pens and pen- cils – and unveiled Leah’s design on one of the borough’s rubbish trucks. Cllr Ring said: “Itwas a really tough task choosing the winner from so
many excellent entries, but Leah’s did a great job of telling the story about why recycling is so important. Itwas lovely to see that our younger res- idents have really taken on board the recycling message.” The truck featuring Leah’s design can now be seen making its way around the borough as part of the daily refuse collections.
Red is colour
of charity day A RUBY Red day at Pennies Day Nursery at Newnham Court, Maidstone, has raised £160 for Ruby Young, a toddler suffering from neuroblastoma. Staff and pupils wore red, iced red biscuits, played with red bricks and made red can- dle holders, bracelets and book marks which they later sold to parents.
44 Maidstone East March 2015
Patients meet THEMedical CentreGPsurgeries at Grove Green, Downswood, and Shepway and their patient participa- tion group (PPG) invite all patients and staff to the PPG annual meeting at St Martin’s Church Hall, NorthumberlandAvenue, Shepway at 3pm on March 28. Light refreshments will be avail-
able – for more details go to
www.themedicalcentregroup.co.uk.
Tennis club plan
BEARSTED and Thurnham Lawn Tennis Club has applied to create a covered platform at the end of its pavilion in Church Landway, Bearsted. The application includes balustrade and access ramp. Maid- stone Council will decide.
Legion seeks
new members THE Royal British Legion is seeking new members, prima- rily from the Bearsted and Thurnham area.
Membership is £15 per year and anyone is welcome – you don’t have to be ex-service. There will be a branch meet- ing in the committee room of Bearsted Memorial Hall at 7.45pm on Tuesday, April 7. The meeting will last about an hour and will be followed by refreshments. Anyone who wishes to attend is asked to call Derek Davison on 880650.
downsmail.co.uk Questionnaire
is defended IN October last year, Maidstone Council agreed to seek views on development close to M20 Junc- tion 8 as part of consultation for its economic development strategy. A spokesman said: “Develop-
ment at or near junction 8 is a sen- sitive issue, but its consideration is important in terms of delivering the draft economic development strategy. “The survey has been well re-
ceived, with just three complaints. “It comprised 19 questions on
issues such as business, the town centre, rail services and broad- band.
“Finding appropriate locations
for business growth is a key con- sideration for economic develop- ment, which is why the market research survey asked people for their views on the possibility of development close to the motor- way. “It would be wrong to give any consideration to a site near junc- tion 8 of the M20 without getting an unbiased and representative view from across the borough. “The responses will help us con-
sider what actionswe need to take to deliver our economic develop- ment strategy and they will only be used for this purpose.”
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk
Drumming up charity funds
A MAIDSTONE drummer’s charity performance has won an interna- tional song-writing competition. Jonathan Howells (38), of Bearsted, plays drums on the song Apart, by Neil Fitzpatrick, which has raised £11,500 for Cancer Research UK.
The achievement was recognised in the UK Songwriting Contest for 2014 as the best adult contemporary song. Jonathan said: “This is a big deal as it was selected by songwrit- ers and producers who’ve sold mil- lions of albums.”
Jonathan has been a professional drummer and percussionist for 16 years. He has appeared on the Brit Awards and recorded with artists in- cluding Sir Cliff Richard, Katie Melua, Avril Lavigne and Lemar. Rachel Speight-McGregor, from Cancer Research UK, said: “This is such a huge achievement for Jon, Neil and all the fantastic people in- volved in this project.”
Apart is on sale for £5 at
www.apartsong.co.uk. All proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.
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