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downsmail.co.uk Call for views on borough plan
THE latest consultation on the Maidstone Borough Local Plan – which will set out how Maidstone will develop up to 2031 – is now under way.
Residents are being asked for their views on a variety of issues, from po- tential housing sites and proposed employment site locations, to candi- date sites for gypsies and travellers and the removal of the proposed park and ride site at Linton Cross- roads. A proposal for a new plan- ning policy for care homes is also included.
Cllr David Burton (pictured), chairman of the strategic plan- ning, sustainabil- ity and transport committee, said: “The local plan will show how we will meet the needs of the peo- ple of Maidstone
up until 2031, and how we will pro- tect our countryside and open spaces. I urge everyone to take part in the consultation.” The objectively-assessed housing need for the borough – the number of homes needed for the population from 2011-2031 – is 18,560 additional homes. Of these, 2,341 have already been built, and a further 5,508 are in the pipeline.
For the local plan to be approved by the planning inspector, it must show how the borough will meet as much of the housing need as possi- ble, within the borough’s con- straints. Additional housing sites are being proposed in the built-up area of Maidstone and at some of the bor-
ough’s larger rural villages to help meet this need.
The proposed open space policies will help make sure that valuable open space is delivered as part of new housing developments. Cllr Burton said: “The protection of open space and precious land- scapes is an essential part of the local plan. Everyone will have a chance in this consultation to have their say on a proposed policy for public open spaces, the allocation of specific sites for use as public open space, and the council’s approach to protecting our highly valued local landscapes.” The consultation document and supporting background material can be found at the website
www.maid-
stone.gov.uk/consultation. Com- ments can be made on the website, or sent to
ldf@maidstone.gov.uk, or Spatial Policy Team, Maidstone Bor- ough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone ME15 6JQ. The deadline for comments is 5pm on Friday, October 30.
Copies of the document will be
available to view at all libraries in the borough, and at the Gateway on King Street from 9am until 5.30pm on Mondays, and until 4.30pm from Tuesday to Friday.
The council will consider all of the issues raised during the consultation with the aim of publishing a full, re- vised version of the local plan for further public consultation early
next year. The plan will then be sub- mitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Govern- ment. An independent planning in- spector will be appointed by the Secretary of State to conduct an “ex- amination in public” towards the end of 2016, before the plan is finally adopted the following year. Cllr Burton said: “Once the plan is in place we will be able to defend against inappropriate applications for further development. It’s impor- tant that we achieve the 2016 dead- line, otherwise we run the risk of needing to extend the plan period, and the possibility of losing control of the process to central govern- ment.”
‘Nobody wanted park and ride’
Continued from page one which lies within the proposed Greensand Ridge Area of Local Landscape Value as to outweigh the transport benefits." Ron Leagas, who spearheaded the KLG campaign, said: “It was apparent from the start that nobody in the area wanted this facility and that it was unlikely to re- solve current transport issues.” As well as making several protests outside the Town Hall, members of Keep Linton Green wrote to all parlia- mentary candidates before the general election in May, seeking their support. Unless the public consultation comes down in favour of the park and ride at Linton, it will now almost cer- tainly not proceed.
Ron Leagas and the KLG protestors with Cllr Steve McLoughlin
Deputy steps in as head of school Drink-driver admits assault
HEADCORN school’s deputy head has taken over at the school until the top job can be filled.
Sarah Symonds became acting head teacher in September after nearly four years at the school, when former head Julie Barker took early retirement after a be- reavement in the family.
Miss Symonds thanked Ms Barker for her professionalism, wis- dom and kindness during her four years as head, and for “making
time for staff, parents and pupils”. She added: “She had a wonderful open-door policy and believed in everyone’s potential.”
One of the first projects under Miss Symonds’ leadership has been to redecorate the school hall with the help of parents. It is now hoped to create a sensory garden in Ms Barker’s name.
Miss Symonds said: “We are blessed in that this is a lovely school, with lovely grounds and
lovely children. What we hope is to build our relationship with the vil- lage through exciting projects such as these, as we know the children will benefit from the skills, talents and wealth of wisdom that our community can offer.”
Anyone keen to get involved with the projects is invited to call at the school in Kings Road. The school is expected to advertise the position for a permanent head in the next few months.
Childminder rated good by Ofsted
A WOMAN from Boughton Monchelsea has had her childmin- der setting rated as good by an Of- sted inspector.
Jane Doherty received good grades across the board during the inspection at her home in Brooker Close. The inspector noted that the childminder provided youngsters with good opportunities to make choices in their play, which en- sured they had fun and engaged
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with activities that interested them. The report read: “The childmin- der provides a welcoming environ- ment for children and families. “Children are happy and settle
well. They share warm and caring relationships with the childminder. This effectively promotes their emotional well-being.”
The inspector found children’s speech and listening skills were promoted well, with the childmin-
Maidstone South October 2015
der engaging children in conversa- tion that reinforced new words and extended their vocabulary and communication skills. The report added: “As a result, children build their confidence as they use and understand language in their play.” The Ofsted report recommended that to improve the service further, the childminder could make more use of outside space to promote lit- eracy and numeracy.
A LADDINGFORD man has been given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to common as- sault and drink-driving when he appeared at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. John Anthony Foy (53), of Clay- gate Road, was found driving his Mercedes E350 in Gravelly Ways, Laddingford, on May 30 this year, where he gave a blood test of 166mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. He also ad- mitted assaulting a man in Gravelly Ways.
Magistrates sentenced Foy to 120 days in prison, suspended for 24 months, ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and banned him from driving for 20 months. He must also pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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