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Residents object to carwash plan
A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to install a car wash in the car park of an Indian restaurant at Ditton did not curry favour with neigh- bours and parish councillors. Applicant Bedri Dedushi planned to locate the service be- hind the Tandoori Palace, which occupies the former Walnut Tree pub in Bradbourne Lane. But his application for a five-year change of use for the majority of the car park caused heated opposi- tion from nearby residents, espe- cially when work began to prepare the site before councillors decided on the proposal. More than 20 people attended a meeting of Ditton Parish Council to voice concerns including poten- tial traffic increase, noise, pollution and parking issues. A large num- ber of objections, including a peti- tion with 198 signatures,were sent to Tonbridge and Malling Council. The applicant currently operates
a car wash in Station Road, Ayles- ford, but the site is to be redevel- oped, resulting in the need to find an alternative location.
The new car wash would result
in the loss of 10 of the 26 parking spaces in the restaurant car park. Ditton Parish Council said there
were already 12 carwashes nearby and was concerned that reduced parking for the restaurant would result in cars parking in Brad- bourne Lane, which is narrow, without pavements, and could lead to a backlog of cars on London Roadwaiting to access the site. East Malling and Larkfield
Parish Council said the business would cause noise and disturbance to neighbours andwas out of keep- ing with the area. An investigation by Tonbridge
and Malling Council found that work which had already been com- pleted at the site did not require planning permission. But planning officers recommended that the car wash application should be re- fused because itwas likely to result in unacceptable noise and distur- bance to nearby homes. Borough councillorswere due to
debate the issue after Downs Mail went to press.
Head’s role ‘a privilege’
NEWheadteacher Alice Early has begun her first term at Kings Hill School. Mrs Early, who has been in school leadership for nine years and teach-
ing since 2002, was previously head of a Sevenoaks school and deputy head of a school at Bexley. She and her husband Christian have two
sons, Robert and Edward. The new head said she felt very privileged
to be appointed to “such a unique and vibrant school”, where the children are “well behaved and enthusiastic” and the staff are “passion- ate about providing a first class education”. She added: “The governing body are skilled
and knowledgeable professionals and we are fortunate to have the most amazing grounds with our own woodland and polytunnel. I am committed to raising the aspirations, enjoy- ment of learning and achievement of all and believe each child should be educated in an environment where there are no limits to their potential.”
Head teacher Alice Early Smart plan for motorway
A SECTION of the M20 between junctions 5 for Aylesford and 3 for Borough Green is to be converted into a smart motorway with the hard shoulder converted into an extra lane. Highways England has an- nounced the scheme which will create an additional 11 miles of mo- torway, improving traffic flow in both directions. The £100million project will in-
clude mandatory variable speed signs to manage congestion, the permanent removal of the hard
shoulder and the provision of emergency refuge areas. A stretch of the M25 between junctions 5 and 7 has already been converted into a smart motorway. The work, which could start in
2017 or early 2018 and is expected to be complete by 2019-20, is one of 14 major schemes planned for the South East. Highways England acknowl-
edged that the construction would bring some disruption in the short term, but this would be kept to a minimum to keep traffic flowing.
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