News
Waterside Park appeal rejected
THE High Court has thrown out proposals to build and industrial estate on land south of the M20 near Junction 8. After last year’s lengthy public inquiry, in which planning inspec- tor Katie Peerless upheld the bor- ough council’s decisions to reject Gallagher Properties’ two Water- side Park applications, the com- pany appealed the decision. However, this fell on deaf ears
and High Court Judge Justice Collins also upheld the council’s decisions. Borough Cllr Val Springett and
two members of the Bearsted and Thurnham Society, Denis Spooner and Mary Richards, travelled to London to hear the appeal, at which the barrister for the Secre- tary of State and Stephen Whale, appearing for Maidstone Council, defended their stance. Craig Howell-Williams, appear-
ing for Gallagher Properties Ltd, re- inforced his arguments that the site near the motorway was a suitable location for a warehouse hub, de- spite the fact that one of the origi-
nal contenders for space, ADL, had already found alternative premises for its relocation from Marden. Mrs Richards said: “It is particu-
larly heartening to see that when MBC councillors have the courage to reject planning applications that their officers wish them to grant, and when that decision is ap- pealed, the planning inspectorate supports it. “When that decision is subject to judicial review and the High Court upholds it, it shows that coura- geous decisions can win the day.” In his summing up, the judge mentioned the large amount of op- position to the applications. Mrs Richards said: “The inspec-
tor hearing the Kent International Gateway appeal several years ago also commented on the volume of public opposition, so it is clearly worthwhile for the community to make its views known in large numbers in situations of this kind.” The judge ordered Gallaghers to
pay £9,290 costs. The company had 21 days to decide if it wished to issue a further appeal.
downsmail.co.uk
Community centre keys handed over to YMCA
MAIDSTONE YMCA has been handed the keys to the long-awaited com- munity centre in Tovil. The centre, in Barfre-
ston Close, will provide a pre-school, training op- portunities, space for sports activities and so- cial groups. It replaces the dilapidated chil- dren’s hut which had stood on the site since the early 1970s. The centre is the result
of a partnership between social housing provider Golding Homes and Maidstone YMCA. Gold- ing Homes committed more than £1m to the project, while the YMCA has committed nearly £400k to fit and manage the property. Bryan Price, chairman of Maidstone YMCA, said: “This project has taken
Caroline McBride from Golding Homes gives the keys to Bryan Price of Maidstone YMCA
a long time but in a fewweekswe can finally offer the local community the services we’ve dreamed of. “We are very grateful to Golding Homes for the provision of this hand-
some building, and would also like to thank others for their assistance to- wards the build, including Tovil Parish Council, The Clothworkers Foundation, GarfieldWeston, General Electric, and Tesco.” Parents are invited to register their children for the Ofsted-registered
pre-school, which offers both funded and non-funded places. The hall space and meetings rooms are also available for hire by community groups and for events such as children’s parties.
TRUGYM MAIDSTONE HAS GONE THROUGH A FULL REFURBISHMENT
•New open plan gym •New changing facilities •Extended free weights area •New functional training rig
Nothing to pay until 1st March 2016
Special offer until 7th Feb - Limited spaces available visit our website
www.trugym.co.uk and enter promo code febfree to claim your free month. NO JOINING FEE
Membership from £14.99 a month
Unit 1 and 2 Broadway Shopping Centre, Maidstone ME16 8PS
01622 678889 I
www.trugym.co.uk 4 Maidstone Town February 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56