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‘Wewon’t fight planning appeal’
MAIDSTONE Council has con- firmed it will not the fight devel- oper challenging its decision to refuse permission for 220 homes on the New Line Learning play- ing fields off Boughton Lane, Maidstone. The planning inquiry at The Freemason Centre off Courtenay Road in Tovil lasted four days. Despite the planning committee rejecting the proposal in July last year, Maidstone Council agreed – in closed session – to not defend the ruling, leaving North Loose Residents’ Association to fight the appeal alone. Ahead of the inquiry, the associ-
ation was left calling on the public to attend the hearing in an effort to show the appeal inspector the level of opposition to the scheme. The association fears the new
homes – proposed byKCCand Fu- ture Schools Trust – will increase traffic on the congested Loose Road and create a rat-run through the valley. It also supported the borough council’s stand in refus- ing the application that carving an access road through Five Acre
Wood outweighed the benefits of the scheme. The decision not to defend its planning decision at appeal was made by the council’s rarely-con- vened planning referrals commit- tee. No details were available to explain the decision and a borough council spokesman would only add: “The planning referrals com- mittee sought legal advice about how to proceed with the appeal, and counsel’s opinion was that Maidstone Councilwas unlikely to be successful in defending the planning decision. “Having considered this, and the significant financial costs to the council if unsuccessful, the com- mittee, therefore, took the decision not to defend the decision.” KCC and the Future Schools
Trust say the development is vital to raise funds to expand the nearby special school, Five Acre Wood, for another 60 pupils and to create a new 8.65-hectare playing field for New Line Learning Academy stu- dents as well as the local commu- nity.
Flats plan forwarehouse
A WAREHOUSE in Granville Road, Maidstone could be demolished and replaced with 18 flats. Granville Road is one of Maid- stone's few remaining industrial areas close to the town centre, but this has been changing in recent years, with a significant residential development built at the north- western end of the road. Properties backing onto the road
are also mainly residential. A sup- porting statement said: “It is good planning policy to allow the exist- ing industrial uses to be replaced by residential as their requirements change. The prospects of renewed commercial activity in this location are low.” The flats would replace Sign
Trees ‘dead’
A PROTECTED horse chest- nut, elm, Wych elm and beech tree could be removed at Hayle Place, Tovil. A supporting statement says
all the trees are dead apart from the beech, which is “highly susceptible to failure”. Work is also proposed on an ash, English oak and Wych elm tree.
Maidstone Council will de- cide the planning application.
Trade Supplies in Britannia House and be contained in two blocks, four storeys tall. In terms of design and layout, they would be “mildly reminiscent of their 18th century industrial predecessors,” according to the statement. Maidstone Council will decide.
School scheme
PLANNING permission was granted for a single storey exten- sion at Park Way Primary School, South Park Road, Maidstone. The development would be built
on the playground to improve the library and ICT area.
Conifers at risk
APROPOSAL has been submitted to fell protected conifer trees at 8 Albert Reed Gardens, Tovil. Maid- stone Council will decide Brown Construction's application, which claims the conifers are dead.
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