News
Protests fail to stop homes
A DECISION to allow 220 new houses in Headcorn was under- lined by Maidstone Council's planning committee. In April, the committee backed
the outline proposal for Hazelpits Farm, between Ulcombe Road, Kings Road and Mill Bank. The scheme was already the subject of an appeal for non-determination. Nowa re-submitted planning ap- plication, by Crabtree and Crab- tree, has been given the same backing – despite 250 public objec- tions on grounds such as drainage, highways and sustainability aswell as policy queries, given the pro- posal had neither featured in Maid- stone Council's local plan nor Headcorn's neighbourhood plan. Cllr Martin Round, a local ward member, said: “It is a dispropor- tionate plan for the village.Whyfor a development that increased the size of the village by almost 20% are there no requirements for lay- out, scale, parking and landscap- ing? “Also the traffic details concern me. It will also affect the Ulcombe
and East Sutton parishes aswell as Headcorn.” Cllr Paulina Stockell, a member
of the committee, said: “This is a massive application at the entrance to the historic village of Headcorn. We are subjecting this village and others to town cramming. “Residents don't want it, the
parish council doesn't want it, members don'twant it, it's contrary to the local plan…we could go on.” However, a motion to refuse by
Cllr Stockell and Cllr Richard Thick foundered by six votes to five, with one abstention. A motion to grant planning permission was voted through by the same margin. Cllr Tony Harwood, who sup-
ported the scheme, said: “This local authority can't provide a five-year land supply as is demanded by the Government. “This committee has already agreed an identical application to this very recently because of an ap- peal for non determination. “If this is approved by an inspec-
tor they are very unlikely to attach the conditionswewant.”
downsmail.co.uk Picnic goes on as lights fail
TALENTED local youth proved the answer to prayers when the lightswent out at the Vicar’s Picnic music festival. Rain plagued the second day of the two-day festival at Yalding
Lees, causing the generators to cut out during the performance of headline act Cast. As many festival-goers
began to head home, local band Burn Marilyn took to the bullet stage and kept the remaining crowds dancing to covers from Robbie Williams, the Eagles and Daft Punk. Band members Charlie Robinson, James Martin and Jack Flann are all past pupils of Yalding Primary School, as is Liam Hannigan, an- other singer-songwriter whose bullet stage performance drew rap- turous applause from fans. This year’s Vicar’s Picnic was the third – and largest – to take
The Wildflowers at the Vicar’s Picnic
place in Yalding, organised by local people for local people. Other local bands taking part included the popular Parkas and CoCo and the Butterfields.
Warning after chimney fire FIREFIGHTERS were called to a chimney fire in Dean Street, East Farleigh. Crews extinguished the small fire and checked the loft space and chim-
ney breast for hot spots. People are reminded that the chimney and the flue that lines it carry dangerous gases from the fireplace, wood stove or other appliance safely out of your home, and that chimneys should be swept and regularly in- spected by a certified chimney sweep.
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6 Maidstone South September 2015
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