News Speed clamp
VILLAGERS are clamping down on speeding drivers withnewmonitor- ing equipment and tougher high- way controls. As part of the clampdown, Staple-
hurst Parish Council has bought speedwatch equipment with a grant from county councillor Eric Hotson. It has also persuaded the county council to reduce the Knoxbridge speed limit from 70mph to 50. Council chairman Rory Silkin
said: “I know that some Knoxbridge residentswanted a 40mph limit, but this is a start.” He hopes the speedwatch camera
will help slow traffic further.Onone evening, in half-an-hour, 23 mo- toristswere recorded at speeds over the limit in Station Road – including one at 50mph. Strongly-worded let- ters have been sent to four drivers.
Youth scheme
YOUNGSTERS in Staplehurst are invited to get involved in running the village. It follows a call from the parish council following a request from a teenager to form a Youth Parish Council to get more views from youngsters in the area. Cllr Sam Lain Rose is leading the initiative and is calling on those aged 11 to 18 and interested in getting involved to email him at parishcllrsam@iain-
rose.me.uk byAugust 31.
downsmail.co.uk
‘Quality’ homes agreed on Grafty centre’s land
PERMISSION for a planned hous- ing development on the site of the old Grafty Green garden centre, near Ulcombe, has been granted. Councillors previously could not
agree on certain ecological aspects of the proposal for high-quality houses and a small industrial unit but have been satisfied enough to approve. The schemewas met with local ap-
proval and impressed some mem- bers of Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) planning committee. Ron Galton, vice chairman of Boughton Malherbe Parish Council, said his authority strongly sup- ported the application. He told a recent meeting: “It will
have less impact than a low-cost, high density development.” The homes have been designed by Kent-based architectGuyHollaway. Quinn Estates, which bought the
site on the Headcorn Road in No- vember 2014, will demolish the old greenhouses but plans feature glass widely in the 14 detached homes it hopes will replace them. There will also be a two-storey office block. Mark Quinn, of Quinn Estates, said the development would “en-
courage families to live where they work”. Some neighbours havewelcomed
the application, saying the site has been a magnet for vandals. Others expressed concern about the devel- opment’s entrance via Crumps Lane which is “notorious for near misses”. MBC’s planning officers had rec- ommended refusal on the grounds the scheme did not fit into the local plan’s exceptions to rural building. Cllr Shellina Prendergast asked:
“Herewe have the opportunity for a good housing development on a brown field site, so why?” Colleague Cllr Martin Round said: “This satisfies a market need aswell
All LOADS Ltd Loose or Bags 01622 873 231
Specialists in supplying aggregates Turf • Top Soil • Sand & Ballast
Free Delivery All Bags £40
Bulk Bag Waste Collection
www.allloads.co.uk email:
aggregates@allloads.co.uk
12 Maidstone South August 2016
One of the planned homes (left) and Guy Holloway
as a rural need.” The development is expected to generate over 50 vehiclemovements a day but Kent County Council Highways did not object. There were concerns over the use
of greenbelt to the west of the car park, which was bought separately. Natural England also fears an ad- verse effect on the nearby woodland. The four and five-bedroom houses would have garages incor- porating further living accommo- dation above. The applicant offered £350,000 to-
wards off-site affordable housing, broadband and improvements to the village hall, if permissionwas given.
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