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for road work MOTORISTSin East Malling are fac- ing further traffic disruption as gas repairs in the High Street are fol- lowed bywater repairs nearby. The gas distribution network company SGN, which closed the main through-road for six weeks agreed to stand aside after its work ran over and South EastWater an- nounced it had arranged with the county council to dig up a section of the diversion route. SGNabandoned its pipework up-


grade operation at theweekend, re- instating the High Street surface and re-opening the road on Sunday, Sep- tember 6. It will now need to return later in the year to finish the work. The work by South East Water,


which involves surveying the condi- tion of the pipes usingCCTVand fit- ting additional valves, should be finished by September 21. Another diversion while the work


is carried out at the The Rocks Road, Easterfields and Sweets Lane junc- tion will be signposted while The Rocks Road between the junction to just before Four Acres is closed. SGN has reminded businesses af-


fected by the road closure of its com- pensation scheme on its website, sgn.co.uk (via the Publications sec- tion).


downsmail.co.uk


Villagers protest over plan for care units


A PLAN to demolish a care home in Wateringbury and replace it with a larger apartments complex has sparked a barrage of criticism from villagers. The Abbeyfield Kent Society has


asked Tonbridge and Malling Council to approve its scheme for 55 older person’s extra care units with communal facilities and park- ing on the site of Greensted resi- dential home at The Orpines. The society says the original home, which was designed for 39 resi- dents, does not meet current stan- dards as its rooms are too small and lack ensuite facilities. The new proposals would in-


crease the floorspace by 100% and provide high quality units for up to 70 residents, enabling them to achieve latest standards for inde- pendent living. However, the project has failed to


find favour with a large number of parishioners who have posted ob- jections on the borough council’s website. Resident Paul Saunders commented: “The design is cheap,


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An artist’s impression of care units at The Orpines in Wateringbury, which would replace the Greensted residential home


the size is out of proportion and keeping to the surrounding build- ings and landscape. The village simply does not need building of this scale.” Aresident of Phoenix Drive said:


“This huge block of flats should not be allowed to be built in the green belt area, spoiling our village for- ever.”


Writing in support of the appli-


cation, Ellie Boon said: “There is a lack of this type of quality housing and I’m therefore pleased that this scheme is coming to Watering-


bury.” She added that her only con- cernwas that the current care home residents should receive advocacy, support and care to ensure they move into their new homes with as little disruption and distress as pos- sible.


Abbeyfield said itwas impossible


to find an alternative site for the scheme. It was working with resi- dents and their families to support them to find suitable rehousing and to allow them the time to do so. It was anticipated the home would be closed by March/April 2016.


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