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downsmail.co.uk J8 site back on planning agenda
MAIDSTONE Council has been asked to approve the principle of development at Junction 8 of the M20,weeks after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds fighting a planning appeal for the site. As the Downs Mailwent to press,
the council’s policy and resources committeewas being recommended to approve an economic develop- ment strategy supporting develop- ment at Junction 8. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Kent, 16 parish councils, KCC, Natural England, Leeds Castle and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit all spoke out at a recent public inquiry to oppose a plan for industrial development at Water- side Park (near junction 8). However, an officers’ report to the
Protection for
open spaces AREAS of outstanding natural beauty and special scientific interest could be protected under policies being drafted by Maidstone Council. At its first meeting since the old cabinet system of governance was scrapped, the strategic planning committee called for a re-think on protections for areas such as the North Downs, Low Weald and Greensand Ridge. Although the council is pressing
ahead to find sites to meet the 18,500-plus target of new homes be- tween 2011 and 2031, decisions af- fecting the draft local plan are once more under scrutiny by members. Cllr Tony Harwood, vice-chair of
the committee, said: “Successive MBC cabinet members had frus- trated calls to develop a successor to the special landscape area policy. “The first full meeting under the committee system has achieved vital progress to protect our open spaces – this may prove to be the vote that saved Maidstone’s countryside.” The decision follows a planning inquiry into an application for 500 homes across two fields near Barm- ing Station in Hermitage Lane. Although Maidstone Council has allocated one of the fields in its draft local plan, it refused Croudace per- mission to build 420 homes on the northern field and 80 on the south- ern field, claiming it would have an adverse effect on the setting of the ancient woodland – Bluebell Wood – which runs between them. Croudace argued therewasno dif- ference in the landscape effect of the two sites and that the proposed road linking the developments would en- croach on just 2.5% of ancient wood- land. The NewAllington Action Group (NAAG) claims development will affect the natural woodland, bird- song and wildlife. Mr Clark toured both sites as part of his inquiry and a decision is expected this summer.
20 Maidstone Town July 2015
Fromleft: Author Miriam McGuirk, Paul Andrews and Louise Henley, chairman of Kent Deaf Children Society Picture by Jen Edwards
Book launch helps charity
MORE than £250 was raised for the Kent Deaf Children Society at a book launch organised by Maidstone au- thor Miriam McGuirk. The bubbly flowed at The Town-
house Hotel when 50 guests enjoyed Turkish meze while meeting the au- thor, who now divides her time be- tween the county town and south west Turkey. Her book, “Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight – a search for sanctuary” tells Miriam’s personal story of how she countered the ef- fects of the debilitating illness ME and how, with the help of her hus- band Chris Pollard, she set out for a new life amid the mountains and
pine forests of a foreign land, where the air and climate is ideal for people who livewith ME and fybromyalgia. The evening was hosted by Maid- stone-based business entrepreneur Paul Andrews, with raffle prizes do- nated by local companies. Miriam said: “A big thank you to
those who attended the launch and for their generous donations in buy- ing tickets for the raffle and to those who boughtmy book on the night.” KDCS is a registered charity that supports deaf children and their fam- ilies. Chairman Louise Henley said: “With the money raised, we will be able to host at least two playtime sessions for our younger children.”
Katie goes in goal for England
A YEAR 11 student from Maid- stone Grammar School for Girls has been selected to play football for England in the Women’s U16 Nordic Tournament in Denmark. Katie Startup, who lives near the Buckland Road school, plays in goal and was the only player from the Gillingham Girls Centre of Ex- cellence to be selected for the tour- nament, which started on June 26 and goes on until July 5. Katie plays locally for an U17
team and has previously repre- sented England in the U17s Inter- national friendly against Germany
at St George’s Park National Football Cen- tre, in Burton on Trent, in November and also for the U16s against Swe- den in April. A school spokesman said: “The school is hugely proud of Katie and wish her and the team every suc- cess in the tournament.”
Katie Startup
committee says: “The strategic case for a new employment site at junc- tion 8 has been established and its development is critical to ensuring that the principle aim of the strategy is achieved, ie the creation of 14,400 jobs by 2031 in a range of sectors and occupations.” Richard Knox-Johnston, vice- president of CPRE Kent, said: “It is extraordinary that after a three- week public inquiry at which Maid- stone Council spent hundreds of thousands of pounds fighting de- velopment at junction 8, councillors are now being asked to pre-empt
the planning inspector’s decision and ignore all its own arguments against development, as well as everyone else’s concerns, and pro- mote development there. “With the council’s planners re-
fusing planning permission atWa- terside Park, it is baffling tonowsee that the economic development manager is recommending that de- velopment at junction 8 should go ahead. His report doesn’t evenmen- tion the three-week planning in- quiry thatwas held in May. “Why is this report being consid- ered now? Surely they need towait
for the inquiry decision before mak- ing any further recommendations on potential development at junc- tion 8. The council also needs to work with neighbouring authorities to consider strategic sites for em- ployment, such as the newly-vacant Aylesford Newsprint site just over the border in Tonbridge and Malling, but very much part of the Maidstone employment catchment area. His report makes no mention of this opportunity.” The inspector’s decision on the
Waterside Park site is expected by the end of July.
Rock at park
MAIDSTONE’S Mote Park is get- ting ready to rock’n’roll. An estimated 30,000 people are expected in town from all over Britain and Europe for the town’s first ever Ramblin’ Man fair on the weekend of July 25 and 26. Some of the biggest names from
the golden age of rock headline the two-day festival, including Maril- lion, Blue Oyster Cult, Camel, the Scorpions and Gregg Allman. Organised by The Rock Collec-
tive and TeamRock, the festival aims to bring the best of classic rock, progressive rock and a smat- tering of country and blues to Mote Park, where Seasick Steve will headline the country and blues stage.
There will also be gourmet food,
a beer festival, a spoken word stage, outdoor music cinema, camping and glamping.
Homes target
PLANNING officers have been told by Maidstone councillors to look again at the number of houses proposed for development in the area in its draft local plan. Borough councillor NickDeWig- gondene said the requests follow the latest challenge to the local plan by the Maidstone area committee of the Kent Association of Local Councils (Kalc). Parish councillor JohnHorne said
Kalc’s report suggests a target as low as 10,000 homes between 2011 and 2031 would be a more reason- able number than the council’s pro- posed 18,560 figure. Kalc also believes the steep rise in
development in the area, from the late 1990s until 2007, had not fully been taken into account.
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