News Book ‘debut’
A FORMER lecturer and rugby player from Yalding has written his first “proper” book at the age of 75. Martin Johnson, of Vicarage Road
has produced many literary works, but mostwere educational texts. He has lived in Yalding for 16 years. He spent five years as a lecturer atWest Kent College and played rugby for Tonbridge RFC. His book, Robert Macfarlane’s Or-
phans, was inspired by the writer and poet Robert Macfarlane, direc- tor of studies at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Mr Johnson is a founder member
of Yalding Table Tennis Club, works as volunteer at the Kenward Trust and is a trustee for the Yalding Church Preservation Society. The book is available from book- sellers and Amazon.
Concert date
A CONCERT of popular classical music will raise money for Heart of Kent Hospice at Invicta Grammar School on February 27. The Heart of Kent Orchestra’s pro- gramme starts at 7.30pm and in- cludes the James Bond piano concerto, the Frank Sinatra piano concerto and the Serpent concerto. Tickets are £12 (£8 for children).
Go to
www.hokh.org, call 01622 790195 or email fundrais-
ing@hokh.co.uk.
downsmail.co.uk
Sheltered flats plan to replace offices
A PLAN to demolish offices on a prominent site in the centre of Maidstone to make way for a “contemporary” apartment block for the elderly has been received by Maidstone Council. The proposal for 28 one- and two-bedroom self-contained flats at Chaucer House – on the corner of Priory Road and Knightrider Street – suggests a three- or, possibly, four- storey L-shape development. Lewis and Hickey, the architect
for applicant McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles, says pro- tected lime trees on the site would need to be grubbed, but the listed 8ft ragstonewall would remain. While recognising the site sits on
a busy junction, close to listed buildings such as All Saints’ C of E School, The College Gateway and parish church, it suggests access via Priory Road would ease congestion and a contemporary style as the most appropriate design for the building. In a report to council planners,
Lewis and Hickey says: “The aim is that the building sits comfortably
An artist’s impression of the proposed flats at Chaucer House
within the confines of the listed wall and relates to the adjacent con- servation area,” adding: “It is our intention that the scheme reflects the key local characteristics in a modern approach that is of its time, avoiding the mistakes of some of the more modern developments that rely rather on a pastiche ap- proach.” More ragstone has been intro-
duced into the scheme following comments from the council’s case officer, who noted: “The site is in a prominent location and adjacent to
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12 Maidstone South February 2016
the All Saints’ Conservation Area and the quality of the design should be commensurate with this location.” Other materials proposed in-
clude buff bricks, colour insets, a contemporary flat roof and project- ing gable ends. The apartment block would have
21 parking spaces, landscaped grounds, lifts to all floors, a guest room and communal facilities for those aged over 60. The applicant also proposes closing off the cur- rent entrance on Knightrider Street.
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