News
Local plan ‘is a step closer’
MAIDSTONE’S local plan has moved a step closer to reality. Councillors have decided that the
latest draft should go out for the final public consultation, known as Section 19. Following this phase of consulta-
tion, the plan would go back to Maidstone Council in April and then on to theGovernment’s planning in- spectorate for approval. If approved, it would come into
force in early 2017, giving the coun- cil greater powers to defend itself against planning applications for sites deemed unsuitable. Head of planning Rob Jarman
said:“We have undertaken site visits for every single site for housing, em- ployment and retail development. The plan will enable us to direct growth to those areas where it is most appropriate.” Despite challenges to the “objec-
tively assessed housing need”, Maidstone has set a target of 18,560 new homes between 2011 and 2031. Mr Jarman told the policy and re- sources committee: “We believe the borough can consume this.”
He accepted there were “some residual issues” with the local plan, chiefly concerning the rural settle- ment hierarchy – including whether or not Coxheath should remain a larger village or become a rural serv- ice centre, which could increase the number of homes it takes. Former council leader Cllr Chris Garland (pictured) said he believed the latest draft to be “sound in its current format” and ready to go through to S19 consultation. He said: “It is completely wrong to talk about ‘con-
creting over Maidstone’. Only 0.6% of land in the borough will be devel- oped in the next 20 years. “Any attempts to use anecdotes, hyperbole and emotion will not be accepted by an inspector.” Cllr John Perry maintained the
plan was “seriously flawed” but council leader Cllr FranWilson said: “An imperfect local plan is far, far better than no local plan.”
downsmail.co.uk Last call for housing views
A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the future of housing in Maidstone is being held at the Maidstone Studios on Thursday February 11. The meeting, which starts at 7pm, coincides with the Regulation
19 public consultation, which is the last opportunity to comment, suggest, amend and make changes to the proposed local plan. The meeting is being organised by Cllr Paulina Stockell on behalf
of the Maidstone and Mid Kent MPs, Helen Grant and Helen Whately, and will run on a ‘Question Time’ format with a panel and roving microphones. Cllr Stockell said: “Residents are very worried about their quality
of life in the future, with theA274 andA229 approach roads from the south and south-east of the town already at gridlock – evenbefore the 2,500 houses proposed on both sides of the Sutton Road out of Park- Wood are built – let alone the number of housing sites proposed in Headcorn, SuttonValence, Staplehurst and Marden etc. “Langley looks to become swallowed up in urban sprawl and talk
of a Leeds-Langley Bypass through farmland to the M20 will blight the area and attract more traffic.” The meeting will be chaired by BBC's JohnWarnett and will be attended by the leader of Maidstone Council Cllr Fran Wilson, planning chief Rob Jarman,KCC’s cabinet member for growth and transport Matthew Balfour, CPRE Kent and the Joint Parishes Group, Maidstone KALC and Paul Carter, leader of KCC.
Council tax facing bigger hike
THE cost of caring for elderly and vulnerable adults in Kent means ratepayers will have a4%increase in theirKCC council tax bill fromApril. KCC is taking advantage of new legislation allowing it to increase council tax by 2% to meet the costs of funding this sector. That’s in addition to the 1.99% general increase already proposed to help meet the costs of other services,
such as education, social services and highways. The extra 2% will raise about
£11m, but the county council spent almost £350m on adult social care last year and says it needs a further £42m this year to keep social care at its current levels. The average bill for a Band D property will rise from £1,089.99 to £1,133.55 from April.
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