News
Mill site homes plans unveiled
PLANS for a mix of housing and business use were among propos- als for the former Aylesford Newsprint site unveiled at a pub- lic exhibition. Residents, councillors, firms and community groups were invited to give their views on three options for the 100-acre plot on New Hythe Business Park. The scheme, designed by Pell Frischmann Architects on behalf of administrator KMPG, could see up to 550 homes built on about quarter of the stite with another half occu- pied by businesses and about 11 acres of open space. The organisers of the two-day ex- hibition at Church Hall Farm, New Hythe Lane, said the exact number of houses involved would depend on feedback from the community. Another display is expected to take place in the summer once more de- tailed plans have been drawn up. After public consultation, a mas- terplan for the site, which is valued at about £30m, will be submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Council. Established in 1922, the factory was one of only three mills of its
kind in the country and produced an average of 400,000 tonnes of re- cycled paper every year. Itwent into administration in February last year with its sudden closure resulting in the loss of 300 jobs. KPMG, the company in charge of
selling its assets, said the plant would be demolished next summer. The sale ofAylesford Newsprint’s business assets, through online auc- tions and private treaties, brought in £8.74m and the site’s energy gener- ator, valued at £2.5m, is up for sale. The newsprint manufacturing line was sold to China and two pulping machineswent to Egypt. Another mixed use proposal and
a commercial option are also being put forward.
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FREE 12 Malling March 2016
TONBRIDGE and Malling Council has agreed an increase of £5 in its share of the council tax for the next financial year. This works out at an extra 10p a
week for a band D property, taking the annual rate up to £192.51. An increase of £5 or 2%, whichever is the higher, is the most an authority can set without trigger- ing a referendum. The council said its decision was
based on the wish to protect core services and would help to achieve this aim in 2016/17 while building a foundation for the future through its 10-year financial strategy. Government finance through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA) will drop by 65.1% over the next four years. In the forthcoming year, Tonbridge and Malling will continue to receive the lowest SFAof the 12 district councils in Kent.
downsmail.co.uk Council tax hike agreed
Cllr Martin Coffin, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “Our overriding objective this year is to protect the key serviceswe pro- vide at a borough council level. This has proved very challenging given the substantial reductions in central government funding, but the coun- cil is well aware of how important public services are to our residents.” Cllr Nicolas Heslop, leader of the council, said: “This budget is about protecting key services as well as providing value to the taxpayer. The weekly cost of our services from April 2016 will be £3.71. The council is developing a corporate strategy which will set out what we need to do to maintain and improve those services which are most important to our residents in the face of a period of considerable change.” Council tax bills are being sent out
in March. NewmumTracey thanks midwives
AYLESFORD MP Tracey Crouch is the first Conservativeminister to take ma- ternity leave fromthe House ofCommons, after the birth of her son, Freddie. Ms Crouch, who is sports minister, paid tribute to medical staff who had supported her through her pregnancy and the birth at TunbridgeWells Hos- pital in Pembury on February 18. She also thanked well-wishers for sending messages and gifts, including constituents who had knitted clothing for the baby. Her partner, Steve Ladner, is on three months paternity leave from his job as a BBC radio presenter.
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