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£25k annual fee for Roundwell homes
RESIDENTS wanting to buy a house in the planned Roundwell Park scheme in Bearsted will have to pay an annual service charge of as much as £1,342. The 50-home scheme on land
west of Cross Keys, which was given planning permission in April, will be managed by Premier Estates, who will pocket almost £25,000 every year from residents. The charges will apply to the owners of all 43 purchased homes on the development – ranging from £250 for affordable homes to £1,342 for the most expensive five- bedroom home, paid annually in advance – to cover day-to-day maintenance. However, there is a question mark about whether Pre- mier Estates will be responsible for maintaining the access bridge that will go over the Lilk Stream. RogerVidler, of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, told Maidstone Council’s planning committee: “Premier Estates have a critical in- terest in how this is maintained. Theremust be some joint responsi- bility.
“What safeguards will be put in
place to ensure that essential main- tenance of critical systems, such as
New CEO at
Leeds Castle SIR David Steel is the new chief ex- ecutive of Leeds Castle. He takes on
the day-to-day running of the castle following the departure of VictoriaWal- lace and seven months with estate director Bill Lash as in- terim CEO. Niall Dickson, chairman of the
Sir David Steel
Leeds Castle Foundation, said: “Admiral Steel has had a stellar ca- reer and brings a wealth of experi- ence, including responsibility for the major heritage site at Portsmouth, which contains HMS Victory.” Admiral Steel has moved to Kent from Portsmouth.
the private rain gardens, is not sim- ply ignored by the residents or built over? What happens if people refuse to pay the service charge?” Matthew Stevens, managing di-
rector of applicant Country House Developments, said that Golding Homeswas happy with the fees for the 20 affordable units. Headded: “It is wholly appropri-
ate that the management fees should be apportioned based on the size and value of each property. Premier Estates looks after 24,000 homes and they say they suffer very few non-payment issues.” Cllr Clive English, chairman of
the committee, said: “If manage- ment committees are not doing their job then residents can find an- other management company.” The committee signed off the Section 106 developer agreement, which included a £25,000 contribu- tion to open space and woodland. Itwas voted through by six votes
in favour and six abstentions. Angry members of the public branded the decision to confirm the go-ahead of the scheme a “dis- grace”. One shouted: “You have to vote – you can't hide behind your abstention.”
Upgrade for HE centre
STUDENTS at MidKent College will have state-of-the-art facilities when the college’s Higher Educa- tion Centre opens in Oakwood Park, Maidstone this autumn. The centre will be home to higher-level courses in construc- tion, engineering, teacher training and education, business and IT. Access courses will prepare re- turners for degree-level studies and the college will also offer pro- fessional qualifications in account- ancy, personnel development and leadership and management. The £19m investment in the cen-
tre is the second phase of the wider redevelopment of MidKent College’s Maidstone campus, which has cost nearly £40m in all. The building being redeveloped
was formerly the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).
Christmas lights switch-on
THE Christmas lights will be switched on in Maidstone’s Fremlin Walk on November 19. Maidstone Town Centre Management is hoping to attract a celebrity to perform the switch-on as well as entertainment from school choirs and the Salvation Army band. Efforts are also being made to co-ordinate late-night shopping opportunities, possibly for twoweeks in the run-up to Christmas. Approaches will be made to Maidstone Council about parking concessions.
Maidstone East September 2015 5
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