South August 2015

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two applications, from Gallagher Properties and two Marden-based companies, to buildWaterside Park on land south of the A20. Now, planning inspector Katie

Waterside Park appeal rejected ‘Now protect

Maidstone Council turned down

have an adverse impact on traffic congestion levels. MsPeerless concluded: “I find that

Peerless has supported Maidstone planning officers and dismissed Gal- lagher’s appeal. The inspector said she was con- cerned that the proposed develop- ment would “prove disruptive and seriously harmful to the character of the wider landscape”. She wrote: “The impact of the schemes would be further exacer- bated by the extent of the earth- works that would be needed to create the development platforms and the surrounding bunding. These would be engineered, obvi- ously man-made features that would contrast unfavourably with the gently rolling hills leading to- wards the scarp of the NorthDowns andwould permanently change the topography of the landform.” Ms Peerless said the development

would be detrimental to walkers and she believed that the proposals did not tie in with the development plan policy regarding protection of the countryside. One of her greatest concerns was the impact of the development on

Leeds Castle and its parkland. She said it would intrude on the “iconic view” of the castle from the golf course and “diminish the signifi- cance of the heritage assets”. The inspector accepted there was

a need for additional industrial and employment development in Maid- stone, but said there was available space elsewhere in neighbouring boroughs and, as neither ADL nor Scarab – the twoMarden companies – had a formal agreement to take up space, the development was effec- tively speculative. She conceded that the site was “a

highly sustainable location in terms of accessibility to major road trans- port links” but said she believed de- velopment on such a scale could

the environmental harm would be greater than the identified economic advantages and the adverse impacts would significantly and demonstra- bly outweigh the benefits.” Roger Vidler, treasurer of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, said: “The decision vindicates the stand that the society, the Joint Parishes Group, the CPRE and oth- ers took on this development. “It also adds furtherweight to the argumentswe and others advanced for this area alongwith the land be- tween the M20 and A20. “However, as always with MBC,

the position is not as straightforward as one might hope.We understand that there is still pressure to desig- nate junction 8 as a site for industrial and commercial development and, of course, the threat from the Roxhill development covering part of the former KIG site remains.” NickYandle (pictured), chief exec-

utive of Gallagher Properties, said: “The inspector’s decision is of course disappointing.We have a number of options open to us, and we are giv- ing these due consideration, taking the inspector’s decision and reason- ing into account.”

PLANS to build an industrial estate near M20 Junction 8 at Hollingbourne have been thrown out by a Government inspector.

this land’ RESIDENTS are pleading with Maidstone Council to protect land near M20 Junction 8 from development. The Bearsted and Thurnham Society has written to Cllr Fran Wilson, the leader of the coun- cil, asking that J8 be removed as a location for employment in the draft local plan. Society secretary Mary Richards referred also to the de- cision to reject an application for the Kent International Gate- way road/rail freight inter- change inAugust 2010. The society believes the coun-

cil should designate the area as “a valued local landscape and/or Green Belt to check the unrestricted sprawl of Maid- stone to the east and to safe- guard this valued area of open countryside from development, also to protect the setting and character of Leeds Castle and other nearby heritage assets and to assist with the regeneration of employment land within the Maidstone urban area.”

Homes site on local plan Road safety

APROPOSALfor 55homesin Cox- heath has moved a step closer after the principle of the development was included in Maidstone Coun- cil's draft local plan. A planning application to de-

Rotary honour

forWilliam THE first duty of incoming presi- dent of the Rotary Club of Maid- stone, David Hackett,was to award outgoing president William Perry the club’s highest honour, a Paul Harris Fellowship. This marked his “tremendous amount of time and effort during the year” and also his career as a “headmaster of standing,” which started when he became Kent’s youngest head at the age of 28. A resident of Hollingbourne, he

served as chairman of Holling- bourne and Leeds Parochial Church Council; was a churchwar- den; amember of the Prison Parole Board (young offenders); and sup- ported Mencap Cobtree pre-school.

26 Maidstone South August 2015

velop land north of Heath Road known as Older's Field was de- ferred by the council's planning committee in December last year. Council officers previously con- sidered the site inappropriate for housing due to the potential coa- lescence between Coxheath and the settlement in Dean Street and also due to the environmental and eco- logical impact. But the Coxheath Neighbour-

hood Plan earmarked the site – bounded to the east by residential rear gardens in Wakehurst Close and Whitebeam Drive, to the north by scrubland, to thewest by a pub- lic footpath linking Heath Road with Pleasant Valley Lane to the north – for housing. The borough council's strategic planning com- mittee has now agreed to do like- wise in the emerging local plan. Land to the north of the site al-

ready has permission for use as open space in separate planning application. The council's planning commit-

tee will determine the deferred planning application.

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plan at school KCC is hoping to secure funding for traffic calming improvements outside Marden Primary School in Goudhurst Road. In February a driver lost control

of their vehicle, which hit the kerb and then crashed through awall of the school. “This was at 7.36am on a week-

day morning,” said Cllr Annabelle Blackmore, leader of the Conserva- tive group and localward member. “Had it occurred an hour later

[when parents, teachers and pupils were at the school], heaven knows what would have happened.” No other vehicles were involved

and the driver, whowas uninjured, was not prosecuted for any offence. KCC has designed a scheme con- taining an advisory 20mph school speed limit with associated signs, gateways and kerb build-outs. The county council hopes to gain fund- ing for construction worls. KCC has also undertaken im-

provements to the zebra crossing in Goudhurst Road.

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