News Greenway idea turned down
RESIDENTS have halted a plan to begin a long-awaited traffic alleviation scheme in Loose. KCCwanted tomakea start on the
Loose Greenway Scheme to improv- ing paths for cyclists andwalkers be- tween the Loose Valley and town centre, in the New Year. The idea is supported by the
North Loose Residents Association, KCCCllr Brian Clark and Maidstone Cllrs Sue Grigg and Derek Mor- timer. However, the Loose Ameni- ties Association, which owns a strip of the land, has now said it will not permit the work to go ahead – and certainly not agree to the widening of the path. Cllr Grigg, who is vice-chairman
of Maidstone Council’s strategic planning and transportation com- mittee, said: “I am both surprised and disappointed that LAA has de- cided to take this course of action. “While a slight increase in footfall
on the path may affect a small num- ber, the whole parish will be affected when, in a couple of years, it is tak- ing them one and a half hours to get from Loose to Maidstone every day. “It is essentialwe deal with the ef-
fects of increased development in this area and make any necessary road and path alterations straight away to alleviate future traffic
MAIDSTONECouncil is hoping to support the work of the Fant Wildlife Group by leasing it a par- cel of land at Unicumes Lane. The FantWildlife Groupwas set
upon LAA land for this work to be done and…under no cicrcumstances would the association agree to the original proposal requiring substan- tial widening of the footpath.” The route between Loose and the
town centre follows an existing pub- lic right ofway and KCCwas in the process of obtaining agreements to upgrade the footpath to bridleway status, which would allow cycling. But The LAA believes the path, in
Derek Mortimer and Brian Clark at a path planned for the Loose Greenway
chaos.” Talks have been taking place with
Loose Primary School and also resi- dents in Shepway and Westwood Road, whose homes abut the path whichwas due for improvement. Consultationwas also due to take
place with the management compa- nies for the Riverside flats off Clif- fordWay and Hart Street. Cllr Grigg said: “This proposed scheme is not just to enable school children to get to school. It is about walkers, cyclists getting to work and schoolchildren.” The first phase of improvement
was due to take place on the section of path between Cripple Street and
has to be advertised. Providing there are no objec-
Lancet Lane, eventually taking in the section to the town centre. Longer term, the council hoped to extend the path further south, towards Cox- heath andNewLine LearningAcad- emy. But Terry Davis, chairman of the
Loose Amenities Association, said his memberswere unanimous in op- posing the latest proposals. He said: “Although theLAAexec-
utive committee had previously agreed to open up a section of foot- path to expose the original stone sur- face and to establish the width, this has not yet been done. “The association does not give consent forKCCcontractors to enter
up almost 20 years ago to manage an area of abandoned allotment gardens between Upper Fant Road and the River Medway. In the past 10 years, volunteers
have worked hard to improve the site, with the aim of maintaining the wildlife in the area, encourag- ing educational use and local in- volvement. The group now wants to take
over the management of the site. Leasing the land formally from
the council would provide long term security for the group and also enable them to access addi- tional funding and further develop the site. The land is currently designated as open space and the proposal
tions, the council’s policy and re- sources committee will be asked to declare it surplus to operational re- quirements and leased to the Wildlife Group. The lease would stipulate that
the current use of the land cannot be altered and that it must remain open to the public. Cllr Clive English told the town’s leisure committee: “The Fant Wildlife Group has a long pedigree in Maidstone and this is the kind of community activity this council needs to see more of. This is a great opportunity for Maidstone Council to do some- thing for the people of that area.” The leisure committee was unanimous in its support for the proposal. The policy and resources committee will be asked to make a final decision later this month.
Get back into netball
LADIES of all ages and abilities are invited to join a new netball team in Park Wood. Training takes place from 7.30pm every Tuesday, term time only
at Heather House, and costs £1 a session. There are already enough players to form two teams, and many of
them have not played for 30 years. All sessions have been funded by Kent Sport, Maidstone Coun-
cil and the Fusion Healthy Living Centre in Maidstone. They are run by level 2 qualified netball coach Stephanie Edwards, who is supported by England Netball’s Back2Netball scheme. For more information, contact Aimee on 07872 933097.
12 Maidstone Town December 2015
BACKSTREET pub The Swan is back in business after a three- month upgrade. Work at the Maidstone town
centre pub, owned by Shepherd Neame, has seen the outside of the building, in County Road, and its bar area benefit from a new lick of paint. Inside, the bar has a new wood-effect floor and a log burner now graces the flagstoned snug. The pub was closed from January to April for the work, which in- cluded refurbishing the toilets and garden and fitting new lighting. Its new licensee is mum-of-four Anna-Marie Snell (32), pictured,
from Larkfield, who is running it with her partner Aaron Chamber, her sister-in-law, brother and mum. She said: “It is my first time as a licensee, but I have lots of pub experience, and am confident we can ensure The Swan goes from strength to strength.”
Rehab unit conversion plan
A PLAN to build 44 homes on a former NHS site has been submitted to Maidstone Council. Kent andMedwayNHSand Social Care Partnership Trust has applied
for outline planning consent to build on its site in Union Street. The Kingswood building and car park housed the Community Mental Health Team and a rehabilitation unit, which have now moved further down the road to Albion Place. The trust is applying to build 37 two-bedroom maisonettes, in three blocks, and seven three-bedroom terrace houses, with 37 parking spaces on the site. Ten of the flats will be social housing. The terraced houses will front onto Union Street, with the flats to the
rear. KCC has asked for a developer contribution to the cost of extra pri- mary school places and to the library service for additional books. One neighbour in Queen Anne Road has raised an objection, based on
the loss of trees and bushes for squirrels and birds, claiming that the area’s wildlife will be impacted by “more concrete jungle”. Another, in Union Street, believes residents should be compensated for the noise and upheaval during the construction phase.
its current size and state, is appro- priate for the location and members do notwant to see it reinstated to the original condition of the 1850s, as had been proposed. Loose Parish Council had also ex- pressed concern about the Kirkdale path but agreed it should be widened. It was also concerned about the
path from Maidstone to Old Drive, which is narrow and gets muddy in winter, but the proposed improve- ments include new surfacing and drainage, with chicanes and barriers if necessary, to prevent excessive speeding by cyclists. Cllr Grigg said: “Troublesome
quad bikes can be stopped by the placing of suitable barriers.”
Wildlife group takes on land Swan is back in business
downsmail.co.uk
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