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best part of threeweeks listening to evidence both for and against the Gallagher Group development at Hollingbourne, south of the M20 near J8, as well as walking the site and observing the area of out- standing natural beauty (AONB) which would be affected if the de- velopment goes ahead. On the final day of the inquiry,
Warehouse plan ‘Trojan horse’ Historic castle
‘is no pastiche’ BILL Lash, currently chief executive of the LeedsCastle Foundation, was not pleased to have read in the ap- pellants’ rebuttal that the Castle was deemed a “pastiche” design. He briefly described the castle’s
she also visited Marden to see where two of the original appli- cants – Scarab andADL–were cur- rently located. ADL, which would have occu-
pied 75% of the site, has since with- drawn its interest, having found an alternative site in the Midlands. Closing statementswere given by Richard Knox-Johnson for CPRE/JPG, Neil Cameron QC for KCC and Stephen Whale QC for Maidstone Council, and Craig Howell Williams QC and Isabella Tafur, for the appellants. Mrs Peerless told the inquiry she
would be determining the appeal herself – it would not be sent to the Secretary of State. Earlier in the inquiry, chartered
surveyor Robert Sinclair had ar- gued that the plan for Waterside Park might just be a ruse to extract sand, rather than contribute to the
Protestors gather outside County Hall where the public inquiry took place
local economy. Speaking as a witness for CPRE
Kent, Mr Sinclair suggested that perhaps this proposal was a “Tro- jan horse” to enable the applicant to remove the sand and that if the ap- plicant had instead applied for mineral extraction in isolation it would have been refused. His evidence was backed by
Gary Thomas, the former chairman of both Boxley Parish Council and CPRE Kent. Mr Thomas, chairman of CPRE
Kent’s transport specialist group and the Maidstone branch, argued that the transport section of the ap- plicant’s case failed to deal with the removal of sand and topsoil. Major adverse effects on the local road systemwere likely, he said.
Hollingbourne parish Cllr John Cobbett, who said the development would be a blot on the landscape, said the communitywas concerned about the scale of sand extraction and therewas no guarantee that the buildings would be built. More than 70 people from Bearsted, Thurnham, Holling- bourne and Leeds joined KCC leader Paul Carter and borough councillors in protest at County Hall at the start of the inquiry. The applicant’s case claimed that Maidstone Council’s Local Plan 2000 was out of date, the emerging local plan should carry littleweight and that junction 8 had been previ- ously identified by Maidstone Council as a strategic site for devel- opment.
history through the centuries, em- phasising amultitude of royal con- nections, adding that, like any other building, changes had taken place, from being a fortified castle, to a home for many royal kings and queens, to a countryhomefor Lady Baillie, and latterly as a venue for the Northern Ireland Peace talks. It was quite clearly a real castle and not a pastiche. He added that the castle made a
substantial contribution to the local economy, and emphasised the im- portance of its approaches, critical to the enjoyment of the visitor ex- perience. The inquiry heard that views to-
wards the site from Leeds Castle would be “disastrous” – theWater- side Park buildings would be the height of a six-storey block of flats and four metres taller than the new Next building off M20 Junction 7.
Fran wins on casting vote Campus site on the market Continued from page one
alternative, to try and get all par- ties to work together.” Cllr McKay’s nomination – by Independent Cllr Fay Gooch – re- ceived only three votes of support in the three-cornered race for the chair.
When a second ballot was held,
fellow Labour member Paul Harper voted for Cllr FranWilson, while Cllr Gooch voted for Cllr Blackmore. As a named vote is carried out in alphabetical order, that left Cllr McKay holding the trump card – which he cast for Lib Dem group leader Cllr FranWilson. Cllr Wilson said she was de- lighted but shellshocked at the de- cision to elect her as leader and said: “I knew it would be very close but I didn’t really think we would do it.” However, she is no stranger to
the role, having been leader seven years ago and a member of the council for High Streetward for al- most 20 years. Unlike recent council leaders,
who have headed a cabinet-run system, 73-year old Cllr Wilson takes over as the new committee
12 Maidstone East June 2015
structure comes into play. Itwas the Lib
Dems who last year fought for the switch back and Cllr Wil- son said: “This way is very dif- ferent and much more democratic. As Denise Joy said last year when we voted to bring this in: ‘the residents of the borough do not choose first and second class councillors’. “Each of the 55 councillors should be part of the decision- making process and when five people make all the decisions, as with the cabinet, people begin to feel disenfranchised. “I realise I now have a huge re- sponsibility. It is now down to my leadership to see if we can form a consensus. “We cannot be at each other’s throats. There are enough of us – Conservatives and Lib Dems – who have worked together amica- bly in the past and there is no rea- son whywe cannot do that again.”
Cllr Fran Wilson
MARKETING has begun for land designated for a medical campus next to the new Kims hospital nearWeavering. International property agent JJL is marketing the 2.6-hectares as a “strategic development site for healthcare, education, life sciences and associated uses” for sale or to let. The Maidstone Medical Campus was granted planning permission
four years ago to complement the first phase of the development near M20 Junction 7 – the Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery (Kims). Although a proposed university now looks set to be developed next to
TunbridgeWells Hospital, the site is still designated for healthcare use. The proposal will not impact on a proposed neuro-village, which Kims
developer Franz Dickmannwants to take forward. He hopes to conclude negotiations shortly with Maidstone Council and landowner Pantony to progress the village, which could be the first of its kind in the country. Cllr Malcolm Greer, council cabinet member for economic develop-
ment, said: “Advertising the site will put it in front of some of the world’s biggest healthcare investors.”
Playscheme taking bookings
BOOKINGS are being taken for Bearsted’s summer playscheme. The scheme has been success-
fully run by Amanda Franklin and her mum June Wilkins for the past six years. About 90 children from Bearsted and Thurnham pile into Madginford hall each day for two weeks of fun and games, which this year start on July 27. Activities include table tennis,
billiards, darts, board games and computer games, with music and singing and outdoor sports. The duo try to make each year
better than the one before and this year are looking to organise a talent show and sports day. The cost of the playscheme is
£6.50 per day or £30 per week. Application forms are available
online and from the Parish Office in Madginford Hall.
A DECISION on a plan for warehousing atWaterside Park, near junction 8 of the M20, should be announced within the next two months. Inspector Katie Peerless spent the
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