News
Homes plan could put KCC pledge to the test
A PLAN to build another 250 homes along the Sutton Road corridor 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 Lan- gleyPark; 186 homes north of Sutton Road and 100 homeswest of Bicknor Road. All three schemes are now under construction. InAugust, Countryside Properties
also hosted an exhibition outlining its plan to build 850 homes at Lang- leyPark Farm, south of SuttonRoad, which has been allocated for hous- ing 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 con- sultation and looks set to submit an outline application for 250 homes, even though the draft local plan al- locates 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 im- pact the A229/A274 Wheatsheaf junction south of Maidstone.
Webwarning
ATleast onemember of Maidstone Council has been caught ordering online shopping during a meeting, it has been claimed. Cllr Clive English issued awarn-
ing after a complaint was made by a member of public who watched online a meeting of the planning committee he chairs. He said: “A committee member-
was observed surfing, shopping and doing things inappropriate for this meeting.We would notwant to be challenged on a decision through not taking due care.”
As reported in Downs Mail last month, strategic planner Brendan Wright said: “Our position as high- ways authority is that no further de- velopment beyond that committed within the planning system can be accommodated on these routes.” Langley Parish Council chairman
CherylTaylor-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 satisfies its bank balance, rather than actual demand.” Cllr Taylor-Maggio (left) ex- pressed concern not just for Langley, but surrounding parishes such as Boughton Monchelsea, Otham and Sutton Valence, 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 devel- opments take shape that one can ap- preciate 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. Our services are unable to cope with our current population.” Bellway Homes says its 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 flats and up to five-bedroom homes around a village green.
Town centre road changes
WORK is to start on improving traffic flows in the centre of Maid- stone.
Preliminary work for the Bridges Gyratory Improvement Scheme (BGIS) will get underway in the new year, with construction work starting in May 2016. The £5.74m scheme will see the construction of two northbound lanes on the east side of the river, which will allow traffic heading north towards the M20 to avoid having to cross both bridges. The scheme is expected to in-
crease the capacity of the junction by 10-20% at peak times. The granite paving of the lower
High Street is to be extended at its junction with Bishop’sWay to cre- ate a pedestrian-friendly street scene with improved crossing points. The Maidstone Joint Transport-
ation Board asked project manager Russell Boorman to consider the creation of a dedicated cycle lane on St Peters Bridge and to ensure that flood prevention measures were put in place.
Credit union’s £2m loan milestone
LENDING by Kent Savers Credit Union, which has its base in Maid- stone, passed the £2million mark in September. Loans of nearly £74,000 were is-
sued in the month, from a loan for vehicle repairs to several for debt consolidation. Other popular rea- sons included home improvement, furnishings, holidays and cars. Nearly 1,500 loans have been is-
sued by the organisation that was launched in 2010 to provide a cheaper, safer option for those with poor credit histories facing loan sharks and pay-day lenders. Kent Savers Credit Union – a part- nership with the Church of England
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– has seen a number of church and community-based branches created. Martin Kingman (pictured), chair- man of Kent Savers Credit Union, said: "In the past year there has been a kick
back
against the very high interest rates charged by pay-day lenders and
some banks and credit card compa- nies. Also, banks are being more se- lective when agreeing loans and many people such as those on bene-
Maidstone South November 2015
fits with small incomes requiring small sums for a short period find it hard to access borrowing. Kent Savers have a range of loans and works with its members to help them save and break the cycle of debt." As well as helping those strug-
gling to pay debts, the credit union relies on savers and those with good credit histories to offset the higher risk it takes in helping those less well off. Mr Kingman said: “Our main
aims are to promote saving and pro- vide our members with loans at rea- sonable rates, so that they feel in control of their own money.”
downsmail.co.uk
Concert called off
THE plug has been pulled on a popular annual fund-raising event for St Mary’s Church, Hunton. The annual Autumn Supper
Dance had been due to take place on November 14. However, following the illness of borough Cllr Brian Mortimer, or- ganisers have decided not to hold the event this year. Cllr Mortimer and his band –
2BC – performed last year free of charge, which made a significant boost to the total funds raised. Al- though on the road to recovery, his treatment for cancer means he is unable to strut his stuff in public at present, so the band is one man – and a guitar – down. A spokesman for the Friends
said: “We did consider alternative bands but have decided to stick with the winning and generous for- mula and have pencilled in No- vember 2016 with 2BC.
War works
AN evening of poetry and song about the Great War will raise funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice at Nettlestead Place on Saturday, November 7. “Lights Out” will feature work by Thomas Hardy,Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon with songs by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and But- terworth and Gurney, performed by trio Summon The Muse. Tickets for the event are £15,
which includes a drink, from
www.hokh.org/events/detail/lights -out-a-commemoration-of-maid- stone-1914-1918.
Store call
AFRESH appeal for volunteers has been made in an effort to keep Chart Sutton’s community shop open all hours. The community store is run by volunteers, some of whom are put- ting in up to eight hours aweek be- cause of a lack of volunteers to share the duties. Volunteers are asked to spare an
hour or two each week. Training will be given. For details, call in to the shop on The Green.
Low heritage
MAIDSTONE is on a mission to make more of its heritage. Research carried out by the Royal Society of Arts placed the county town 20th out of 326 destinations for the quality of its heritage – but only in 275th place for activities re- lating to it. Officers from the RSA are due to
visit the town and Maidstone Council leader CllrWilson said she hoped this would give the council some ideas as to how it could better exploit its heritage.
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