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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 harm 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 and would 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
Jail sentence
A MAIDSTONE man who stole meat from a supermarket has been jailed for three months. Matthew Savage (22), of Wallis
Avenue, admitted shoplifting the meat, valued at £65, from a store in Station Approach, Borough Green, on July 4 andwas sentenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. Savage was also ordered to pay criminal court charges of £150 and an £80 victim surcharge.
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 and, as neitherADL nor Scarab – the two Marden com- panies – had a formal agreement to take up space, the developmentwas effectively 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 society, the Joint Parishes Group, theCPREand others took on this development. “It also adds furtherweight to the argumentswe and others advanced for this area, along with 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.”
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Crossing could safeguard school children
A NEW zebra crossing could be introduced in Leafy Lane, Maid- stone to help keep school children safe.
The cul-de-sac is the only access
to Brunswick House Primary School and it is also used by pupils of Maplesden Noakes and Maid- stone Girls’ Grammar schools. At drop-off and pick-up times,
many parents park at the London Road Retail Park, which is fenced, meaning youngsters have to cross a narrow section of Leafy Lane to get to school. Parents parked on the double yel-
low lines or Keep Clear section risk colliding with these pupils when they turn to leave.
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A new zebra crossing in Leafy Lane could help protect pupils
“They often don’t look in their rear-view mirrors,” said Cllr Dan Daley,KCCmember for Maidstone
Maidstone Town September 2015
Central. “We are reinforcing the double yellow lines but we need a zebra crossing to make it safer.” Tim Read, KCC’s head of trans- portation, reported on a petition delivered to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board in April. He wrote: “The existing waiting restrictions and school Keep Clear marking could be enforced more actively; however, civil enforce- ment operatives cannot be there all of the time. “Azebra crossing might be likely
to be respected more than the exist- ing yellow lines.” He recommended a bid for fund-
ing from the local transport plan budget.
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 unre- stricted sprawl of Maidstone to the east and to safeguard this valued area of open countryside from development, also to pro- tect the setting and character of Leeds Castle and other nearby heritage assets and to assist with the regeneration of em- ployment land within the Maid- stone urban area”.
Driving ban
A DRIVER from Maidstone has been banned from the road after giving a positive breath test. Andrew David Looseley (40),
from Quarry Road, was driving a Vauxhall Vectra in the town’s Upper Stone Street on June 16 and gave a breath test of 68mg of alco- hol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35. He pleaded guilty to drink driving andwas given an 18- month driving ban by Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. He was fined £110, with £85 costs and a £20 vic- tim surcharge.
Demolition
plan denied MAIDSTONE Council has refused an application to demolish the for- mer American Golf store at 5 Ton- bridge Road, Maidstone. The applicant said they wanted
to redevelop the site but the pro- posal was only to to demolish the now derelict store aswell as a two- storey building and other outbuild- ings in Corben’s Place. The council’s planning depart-
ment said that with the future of the site uncertain, there was con- cern about its visual impact.
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