News
downsmail.co.uk Farm earmarked for business use
MAIDSTONE Council still be- lieves land at Woodcut Farm, near Bearsted is suitable for office and commercial use – despite resi- dents doing everything within their powers to prevent it. The council’s strategic planning committee has designated the land, north of the A20 Ashford Road, for mixed employment in its upcom- ing local plan – this still has to go out for public consultation. The land is part of the site of the
Kent International Gateway freight proposal, refused on appeal in 2010. A report to the committee states: “There is a unique opportunity in the borough to provide a presti-
gious business park at Junction 8 of the M20 that is connected to the motorway network and that can provide for a range of job needs up to 2031.” Bearsted Cllr Val Springett said
the decision would make the coun- cil a laughing stock, having fought off Kig and, more recently, two ap- plications to develop land south of the A20 atWaterside Park. She said: “You cannot mitigate
development on this site in any way whatsoever. You cannot hide any development from the North Downs – it will be visible for miles.” Planning chief Rob Jarman said
No to neighbourhood plan
TOVIL Parish Council will not progress the idea of creating a neighbourhood plan. Councillors felt that the cost and
time involved when the area’s brown field sites had already been developed would be “money down the drain”. Some expressed a fear that a neighbourhood plan might not be given full consideration by Maidstone planning authority and that a change of government could even prompt a fresh requirement.
The matter was raised by vice chairman Cllr Paul Wilby because parishes with a plan are eligible to claim 25% of developer contribu- tions for improvements in their local area, whereas those without one can only access 15%. Councillors felt one of the biggest
needs for the area was a doctors’ surgery and a dentist, but felt the NHS agenda remained unaffected by “neighbourhood plan wish lists”.
he believed it was possible to min- imise the disturbance to the topog- raphy and exercise strict control over any permitted development, insisting on enhancements to both the landscape and the biodiversity of the A20 corridor. He said that although planning inspectors had refused to allow Kig and Waterside Park, they had not vetoed all types of development. Council leader Fran Wilson felt Woodcut Farm was the “lesser of two evils” as it did not involve cut- ting deep into the landscape, as did the proposals forWaterside Park. She said: “This is another of the awful decisionswe have to make.”
Woodcut Farm now joins a site at
Mote Road in Maidstone, Barradale Farm in Headcorn and two in Pat- tenden Lane,Marden, as sites “suit- able and available” for future economic development. The committee heard that Eclipse
Park was already “accounted for” and there had been no proposals put forward for Detling Airfield. Cllr Springett stressed that devel-
opers must be prevented from buy- ing up private land in the area to give them ease of access to the site and itwas crucial developmentwas not allowed to “creep” to the west, towards Bearsted and the land whichwas now on the market.
Ipad gifts for children’sward
REPRESENTATIVES from ProHealth Therapy Rooms in Maidstone have handed over equipment worth £4,000 to the Riverbank chil- dren’s unit at Maidstone Hospital. The money was raised through a charity evening at The Town-
house Hotel in King Street, which celebrated the company’s third birthday. The event, attended by about 150 clients, featured a charity wax-off, a raffle and auction, a barbecue, fire breathers and more. ProHealth owner Nicola Elliott said:"Wewere able to buy 12 Ipads,
cases, security stations and iTunes vouchers and we hope that the children on theward will get lots of enjoyment from them.” Health play specialistVicki Belton said: “The Ipads will be used as
a distraction tool to keep the children calm and happy whilst on the unit and I know they will really enjoy them.”
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8 Maidstone Town October 2015
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