News
Homes plan could put KCC pledge to the test
A PLAN to build another 250 homes along the Sutton Road cor- ridor is expected to be submitted to Maidstone Council shortly. It will be the fifth large housing
development proposed for the area after approval for 600 homes at Langley Park; 186 homes north of Sutton Road and 100 homeswest of Bicknor Road. All three schemes are now under construction. In August, Countryside Proper-
ties also hosted an exhibition out- lining its plan to build 850 homes at Langley Park Farm, south of Sutton Road, which has been allocated for housing in Maidstone Council’s draft local plan. The latest plan for Bicknor Green
– off Gore Court Road, Otham – comes from Bellway Homes, which has completed its online public consultation and looks set to sub- mit an outline application for 250 homes, even though the draft local plan allocates just 190 for the land. The 14-hectare proposal could
test KCC’s pledge to object to any more sizeable developments along the Sutton Road corridor that could
impact the A229/A274 Wheatsheaf junction south of Maidstone. As reported in Downs Mail last month, strategic planner Brendan Wright said: “Our position as high- ways authority is that no further development beyond that commit- ted within the planning system can be accommodated on these routes.” Langley Parish Council chairman
Cheryl Taylor-Maggio said that with the population of her parish set to double, “enough is enough”. She said: “We are not Nimbys, we recognise new homes are
needed, but Maidstone Council seems intent on ignoring residents to pursue a housing need that sat- isfies its bank balance, rather than actual demand.” Cllr Taylor-Maggio (left) ex- pressed concern not just for Lang- ley, but surrounding parishes such as Boughton Monchelsea, Otham and SuttonValence, which she said would be “impacted massively” by the extra housing that would shortly come on the market. She added: “It is only as the de-
velopments take shape that one can really appreciate the scale of these estates and the speed at which they are being delivered and the impact they will have on our already over- subscribed hospital, surgeries and roads. The brutal truth is that our services are unable to cope with even our current population.” Bellway Homes says its housing scheme – to the north of Bicknor Wood and south of White Horse Lane, Otham – will provide market and affordable homes, with one and two-bedroom apartments and up to five-bedroom family homes, built around a village green.
It’s time forme to go, says charity chairman
THE popular chairman of Maid- stone Homeless Care is to retire. Mike FitzGerald, a former coun-
cillor and Mayor of Maidstone, has been the charity’s frontman for more than 13 years, being instru- mental in its move to Knightrider Street, its merger with Goodsell House and its rebranding from Maidstone Christian Care. Hewas in at the start of the com- munity food share scheme Food for Thought, which delivers food to the needy and has seen the Christmas food appeal reach a record level. At the age of 74, Mr FitzGerald –
whose other claims to fame include starting the World Custard Pie Throwing Championship in 1967, founding MAPS which brings to- gether the community in Park Wood and helping set up the Chart Sutton village shop – has decided it’s time to take his foot off the gas. He said: “Life is full of tough de- cisions and they come no tougher than when one is committed and passionate about the work of a charity that you have supported for many years, and have been striving to make a difference.
24 Mike FitzGerald “I have much to sort out in my
life while I amstill fit enough and I have come to the decision that the time is right.” In the three years since stepping
down as a councillor for Maidstone Council, Mr FitzGerald has helped to strengthen the several charities he is involved in. He said: “I believe Homeless
Care is in a really strong position. It has had a fulfilling and inspiring year.”
Maidstone Town November 2015 “I have made a huge commit-
ment of my time supporting the workwe do and attracting support for the workwe do.” Changes in service delivery mean
the charity now needs a new drive and commitment over a period of up to five years, he said. A spokesman for Homeless Care
said:“Wewant to say a huge thank you to Mike for everything he has done. Also to his wife Maureen who has worked quietly and tire- lessly in the background to make it all happen.” A soup run in 1986 organised by teachers and pupils from Maid- stone Girls Grammar School was the beginning of what has now be- come Homeless Care, the town’s leading charity for homeless and vulnerable men and women. Maidstone Christian Care, as it
was, merged with Goodsell House Trust in 2013 to become Homeless Care, the umbrella organisation for the Maidstone Day Centre, Food for Thought, the 10-bed hostel at Goodsell House and Maidstone Christian Care, and its link with the churches who continue to help the cause.
downsmail.co.uk Drugs offences
A 32-YEAR old man found in pos- session of drugs in Maidstone was sentenced to almost a year in jail when he appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court. Christopher Blaber admitted pos- session of cannabis, possession of amphetamine and four counts of shoplifting. Between July and Sep- tember, Blaber stole DVDs and Blu- rays worth £2,434.76 from a shop in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, in three separate cases of shoplifting. He stole more DVDs and Blu-rays worth £66.98 from a shop in Green- hithe.
Blaber, of Canterbury Street, Gillingham, had cannabis in his possession in Maidstone in May this year and, in September, was found with amphetamine in his possession. He was sentenced to 364 days in prison.
Beddy-byes
HUNDREDS of people across the area have a couple in Allington to thank for a good night’s sleep. But after 34 years in business, Liz
and Chris Gammon are looking forward to taking it easy. The couple, who run the Chris Gammon Bed Centre, will retire as the lease on their shop at Mid Kent Shopping Centre in Castle Road comes to an end in October.
Opera night
HMS Pinafore, Gilbert and Sulli- van’s much-loved comic opera, will be performed to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice at Mote Hall, Maidstone Leisure Centre, at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 31. The Hospice Festival Choir and Orchestra, led by Maidstone Choral Union, will semi-stage the opera as part of the 11th international Voices for Hospices event. Tickets are available from the box office on 01622 790195. Maidstone Choral Union’s latest concert was 400 miles away in the medieval cathedral city of Bourges in France, where a small group of members performed religious pieces including Faure’s Requiem.
Centre awards THE Vine Medical Centre in Ton- bridge Road, Maidstone is cele- brating after receiving two accolades. The centre has been recognised
by Imperial College as an out- standing medical practice and Dr Sugina Hesketh secured the year six Global TeacherAward. The practice is planning a quiz
night at Fant Community Hall from 7pm on November 13 to raise money for an ECG machine. Tick- ets are £5 per person for teams of up to eight. Participants should bring theirowndrinks and snacks. For details call 01622 755644.
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