News Homes agreed
OBJECTIONS from six neighbours and Detling Parish Council failed to stop a plan for two semi-detached homes at The Street. One of the main fearswas that the three-storey homes at East Court Stables would be out of keeping with the local area. Cllr John Evern- den, of the parish council, told the planning committee: “The size, style and position of the houses combined with the demolition of an interesting old wall neither conserve nor en- hance the conservation area.” Cllr Nick deWiggondene, award member on the borough council, said: “These three-storey homes will loom over buildings behind them.” However, the committee granted planning permission, claiming there were no policy grounds to refuse.
Driver banned AMOTORIST who admitted drink driving was banned for 20 months when he appeared before Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. Clifford Wood (50), of Maidstone
Road, Lenham, admitted driving a Citroen Xsara in Maidstone Road on September 6, giving a breath test of 84mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Wood was banned from driving
for 20 months and must pay a £110 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim sur- charge.
downsmail.co.uk
New owner ready to take over at Kent Life
THE award-winning Kent Life visitor attraction in Lock Lane, Sandling is poised to go under new management. “Restrictive” conditions imposed
by Maidstone Council during its tendering process mean Contin- uum, which has managed the park since 2008, has pulled out of its con- tract as of November 30. A new company – Hampshire-
based Planning Solutions Ltd – which operates similar attractions in the UK and Europe, was due to be signed up to manage the park as the Downs Mail went to press. Maidstone Council says no jobs are at risk, with staff being transferred to the new operator. However, animals and livestock brought in by Continuum to en- hance the experience are in the process of being rehomed, along with some of the leisure attraction’s equipment. A planned November fireworks extravaganza has been cancelled. Planning Solutions Ltd has in-
vested in, developed and managed a number of tourism and leisure businesses for 20 years including Conkers, a £16 million visitor at-
Town store praised by secret shopper
AMYSTERY shopper from a trade magazine has been out and about in Maidstone, awarding points to electrical appliance retailers. Earning top marks and the title as
top independentwas Simon Burton of Home Media in Union Street. The mystery shopper survey was carried in the October issue of ERT, the electrical news and product in- formation magazine. The reviewer’s report described
Simon as extremely knowledgeable about his products, adding: “Iwent in with a fixed idea and Simon managed to convince me to buy a more premium product. The store looked great.” The mystery shopper awarded Simon’s sales skills, and store pres- entation top marks, 10 out of 10. Currys PC World on the Ayles-
ford Retail Park also earned 10/10 and the title of winning multiple. The summary said: “Pam was rushed off her feet as the only member of staff on the mezzanine level, but she did a great job. The store looked clean and very tidy.” Other stores visited for the Shopfloor feature included Sevenoaks Sound and Vision in Week Street and Stormfront in
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community and tourist and mar- kets and address other needs such as education, lifelong learning and healthy living.” A spokesman for Maidstone Council said: “We have had an ex- cellent relationship with Contin- uum, which has operated the site very successfully over the past few years. We have been through a competitive tendering process for the contract to ensure best value for money.” The council said Planning Solu-
traction in the New Forest and The National Brewery Centre, formerly the Bass Museum in Burton upon Trent. It also manages the Harry Rams-
den’s franchise in Brighton and a bakery on the Isle ofWight. A spokesman said: “We under-
stand the challenges faced by the visitor attraction, heritage and leisure sectors and how to create and cost-effectively promote visitor experiences which are commer- cially viable, meet the needs of the
tions would honour all wedding bookings and annual passes, and the attraction would continue to operate as normal, with new in- vestment and activities. Continuum’s contract ends on
November 30 and the site will be in a transitional period in preparation for the hand-over from November 15.
Kent Life members will be con-
tacted regarding membership va- lidity from November 30 onwards. Continuum Attractions operates
seven visitor experiences across the UK, including The Coronation Street Tour and The Canterbury Tales.
Waterside Park plan
Continued from page one Cllr Tony Harwood said: “I am
Simon Burton at his store
Fremlin Walk, both of which re- ceived scores of 9/10 and were jointly commended independents; Samsung Boutique in the Royal Star Arcade earned 3/5 for sales skills but 8/10 overall; Richer Sounds in Earl Street was marked down on sales skills, earning 8/10 overall, with WrightsWarehouse in Waterloo Street coming last with just 2/5 for sales skills, 3/5 for store presentation and a total score of 5/10. The summary read: “A greet- ing and a little produce advicewas as good as it got at this store.”
Maidstone East November 2015
very flattered that my evidence to the Waterside Park inquiry has been singled-out in thisway, but a number of other witnesses includ- ing CPRE, Leeds Castle, KCC and the local MP also provided com- pelling arguments against permit- ting such a massive and unsustainable greenfield develop- ment proposal.” In parallel to the High Court challenge, Mr Yandle said the company had “dissected the in- spector’s decision” to come up with a replacement scheme that “mitigates or totally addresses” the issues raised. He said: “The inspector didn’t
say the schemewas without merit and in her view, the harm out- weighed the benefits. By dealing with issues such as the height of the roofline and the change of to- pography we feel we can reach a situation where the benefits out- weigh the perceived harm.” Mr Yandle confirmed the com-
pany had already held talks with Maidstone Council about a smaller developed footprint, cov- ering 12 instead of 30 acres, which would allow the company to de- liver 60% of the original project, but with an 80% reduction in the
amount of sand that would need to be removed, by leaving the highest part of the site untouched. Hesaid:“We are challenging the inspector’s decision on principle while pursuing a more construc- tive approach with Maidstone Council, which says in its emerg- ing local plan that there needs to be development at junction 8.” The council has designated nearby land, at Woodcut Farm, north of the A20, for warehouses use in its draft local plan. Roxhill wants to erect 47,752sqm of in- dustrial buildings on this land, which is on part of the site of the Kent International Gateway freight interchange proposal re- fused on appeal in 2010. Mr Yandle said: “Even with Kig
land allocated for development in the local plan, without theWater- side Park development or a slightly smaller development here, an extra 4,000 people will be with- out work or will need to travel out of the area to find it if the council builds the 18,600 houses it hopes to without addressing the employ- ment issue. “If something smaller and more palatable is acceptable then we would drop any further expensive wrangling.” The company has a 25-year option on the land.
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