News


downsmail.co.uk Traffic fears as park and ride axed


FEARS of a traffic influx on to Maidstone’s already-overstretched roads have been expressed follow- ing news the town is to lose one of its park and ride facilities.


Maidstone’s planning and trans- portation committee agreed it had no choice but to close the Sitting- bourne Road park and ride car park in February next year, as a re- sult of rising costs and poor uptake. But the closure could force more


than 300 vehicles a day on to nearby roads, as drivers seek alter- native places to park. Landowner Gallagher Properties


Ltd wants to increase the lease fee of the site at Eclipse Park, off M20 Junction 7, to reflect the location of the site and its proximity to the mo- torway.


Abuse charge


A MAN who upset pupils at a school in Maidstone with his threatening and abusive behaviour has appeared in court. Philip Michael Jack Hunt (25),


from Egerton Road, Maidstone, ad- mitted using threatening, insulting or abusive words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and dis- tress at the school in Great Buck- land, Maidstone, on September 8. He also had a kitchen knife in his possession in Lesley Place, Maid- stone. Huntwas sentenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court to 90 days in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £180 criminal


courts charge, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.


But the council already sub- sidises the park and rideby more than £554,000 a year and the price hike would add to this burden, members heard. Cllr Ian Chittenden said he was


sad at the decision, but agreed it was the only option. He said: “Over the yearswe have


had the opportunity to look at and negotiate something in the area and we have missed that opportu- nity. There is no alternative but to support the closure – but I don’t like it. Where are all the vehicles going to go? Through town?


Through New Cut? Up London Road? I have serious concerns about this.” Committee chairman Cllr David Burton said current usage meant council tax payers were heavily subsidising each park and ride user. He said: “This has come about


not through want of trying. We have put on more modern buses but usage continues to decline.” Cllr Clive English said: “Park and


Ride in Maidstone is broken. Un- less we have significantly larger sites and an increased revenue


stream, the model is unviable.” The committee agreed to seek a three-month extension to the lease with Gallagher, from November to February 2016, which would give the council time to tell customers about the changes and providemo- torists with alternative travel and parking information. The council has already agreed to


look at providing additional bus services on the radial routes into town, particularly in the north (Newnham Court area) and from the south (Sutton Road and Loose Road).


Castle blooms during festival


LEEDS Castle was the setting for thousands of blooms at this year’s Festival of Flowers. An incredible 12,000 people at-


tended the six-day extravaganza, with displays from internationally acclaimed arrangers such as Heidi Lawley, from West Malling Flowers, Caroline Miller, fromHadlow College and Headcorn’s Hazel Brickles fea- turing alongside the work of the cas- tle’s own floristry team and Chelsea Flower Show award winners. The preview was opened by TV


gardener Diarmuid Gavin, who named Holland’s Dennis Kneepkens’ gold tipped lilies as the rose bowl winner. Next year’s event is on Sep- tember 17-25.


Rose bowl winner Dennis Kneepkens with TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin


Guiders, helpers and Rainbows mark the unit’s 10th anniversary with a photocall


Rainbows celebrate birthday


YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a party to celebrate the 10th birthday of Vinters Rainbow unit. On arrival, the Rainbows made their own party hats and played


party games. They then tried to identify Guiders from the black and white photographs of them as children. The party ended with food and a birthday cake. Each Rainbow took home a celebration badge. 1st Vinters Rainbows has 23 Rainbows aged between five and


seven. The three Guiders are helped by two Guides and a senior section member, all of whom were Rainbows at the unit, and four other helpers. Three of the original Guiders are still there – unit leader Jacquie Beadle and assistant Guiders Donella McGill and Stella Simmons. Another founding leader of the unit, Margaret Brook, returned for the party.


30 Maidstone Town November 2015


Country park dropped in revised homes plan


APLAN to create a country park as part of a larger development in Fant Farm, Fant has been dropped. Following public consultation, de-


veloper Gleeson has reduced the number of planned homes on the controversial site from 270 to 225. It has also removed a plan to turn ad- jacent farmland into a country park. Despite Maidstone Council taking


the area out of its draft local plan for housing, Gleeson Developments pressed ahead with a proposal for an estate on historic open farmland. Despite the reduction in housing numbers, local councillors say they will continue to oppose any devel- opment, along with the Save Fant Farm Community Group. Cllr Matt Boughton said: “This is


still not acceptable andwe will con- tinue to fight it. There are major in- frastructure problems in this part of town and the access from Gatland Lane is totally unsuitable.”


The council concluded the sitewas unsuitable for development because of the potential impact on the Med- way Valley. But it was also con- cerned at the amount of traffic which could be generated by the inclusion of a country park. Gleeson says its scheme, which


has revised boundaries to reflect the historic field patterns, will “har- monise” with the historic orchard pattern and leave a large area of open space at the centre of the de- velopment, while retaining views of the open countryside. The development wouldmeanthe


loss of grade two land, classified as “best and most versatile agricultural land”, but Gleeson says that “the proposed development site is not lo- cated in a sensitive area and it is not considered it will result in significant environmental effects”. Anamended planning application is expected to be submitted.


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