News
Homes plan for church centre
A PACKED hall heard that a plan to turn the West Malling Church Centre into three homes, with an- other two in the grounds, has been submitted to the borough council. About 100 residents went to the meeting at West Malling Primary School four days after the applica- tion from St Mary’s Parochial Church Council (PCC), which owns the building, was submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Council. The development would be
served by an inclined entrance from Churchfields, with part of the playground turned over to gar- dens. Air raid shelters would be re- moved, and there would be parking for 12 cars. Historic England had rejected an application to list the building, but the PCC said it was acutely aware of the historic value of the building, especially to residents of West Malling who attended the centre. Cllr Richard Selkirk, chairman of
the planning committee on West Malling Parish Council, said the ap- plication was “one of the most im- portant for the area in years”.
Concerns expressed included
over-development of the site, which is in the West Malling Con- servation Area; traffic generation; the design for on-site parking and how any developer would be able to get materials on to the site. The PCC has for some time been looking for alternative uses for the building, which even the vicar, Rev David Green, now says is “beyond economic repair”. Cllr Selkirk said a special meet-
ing of the parish council’s planning committee will be held at West Malling Primary School in Norman Road on December 1 at 7.30pm. The parish council’s written com- ments will then be sent to the bor- ough council. He said: “We are keen for the public to write to the borough council expressing their views and would also encourage anyone wishing to attend our meet- ing to discuss this and our response further to come along.” Discussions also continue as to
how a meeting room, toilet and kitchenette could be provided for the church.
downsmail.co.uk Support for brickwall
RESIDENTS in a conservation area in East Malling have backed a neigh- bour’s bid to keep a brick wall built without planning permission. Frank and Jean Pataky said they built the 1.45m wall around their gar-
den at Darcy Court to give them some privacy and to stop vehicle head- lights shining into their living room and bedrooms. But Tonbridge and Malling Council issued an order to demolish the wall
at the converted oasthouse at InvictaWorks in Mill Street after it emerged that a boundary of shrubs had been agreed when a de- veloper was originally granted planning permis- sion. The council said the wall’s size, scale and stark appearance detracted from the character of Mill Street conservation area. Residents of all 16 homes
in Darcy Court signed a pe- tition in support of the Patakys’ bid to retain the wall. The couple, whomoved in nearly two years ago, said the roadswere nar-
rowand the kerb was 12ft fromtheir bedroom window. They built the wall to alleviate the “constant inconvenience” of cars and lorries, often with headlights full on, entering the complex, and to provide privacy for their bedroom which had patio doors opening on to this area. Mr Pataky said there was also a safety issue from vehicles parking be-
fore the wall was built. He told the council: “We believe that had a bit of common sense been used during the design stage this element could have been foreseen and avoided.” He hoped the council “would appreciate our needs aswell as the benefit
to others of not being exposed tomywalking from the bed to the en suite in the mornings”. East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council said the application was “rea- sonable in the circumstances” while East Malling Conservation Group backed the scheme, saying the wall was “well constructed with suitable bricks”.
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