downsmail.co.uk
News
Housing total 900 ‘too many’
THE number of houses that need to be built in Maidstone has been overestimated by the borough council, according to a govern- ment inspector who has slashed the target by 900 homes. The ruling is included in a 35-
page interim report which has just been released on the borough’s Local Plan following a seven-week examination in public at the end of last year. After hearing objectors, includ-
ing parish councils and individu- als, the inspector, Robert Mellor, mainly dismissed their claims and said the borough had acted prop- erly. But he said that the borough’s choice of5%to boost its objectively- assessed housing need as a counter to house price increases was arbi- trary. He considered therewas no indi-
cation the figure would have any effect and therefore ruled it be deleted, resulting in an estimated need of 17,600 new homes by 2031. MrMellor ruled against two sites
in Boughton Lane – one for 180 homes on the playing field at New Line Learning and another plot nearby for 75 dwellings. He con- sidered that extra traffic from those sites would add to congestion at the Swan and Wheatsheaf junc- tions, and rejected the council’s
claim that it was possible to im- prove either to mitigate the added congestion. Mr Mellor said: “The A229 al-
ready carries more traffic than the A274 and is also likely to attract ad- ditional movements due to devel- opment at villages to the south of
Maidstone.Alack of capacity at the Wheatsheaf junction is likely to contribute to queues obstructing the Swan junction. Moreover, Boughton Lane is itself already an- ticipated to carry significantly more traffic due to school expansion.” He ordered that both sites should
be deleted from the plan, but al- lowed a third site in the area, for 25 homes at Boughton Mount, to be retained. The inspector said this was a brownfield site and the in- crease in traffic would not be sig- nificant. He said that another site for 40 dwellings at the junction of Church Road and Heath Road in Boughton Monchelsea might also generate additional traffic on Boughton Lane. However, he felt that site should be retained as traf- fic from there had the opportunity to disperse to other routes. Mr Mellor said his interim report provided a “broad overview” to in- dicate where main modifications should be made. His full report is expected in several months.
Professional Cleaning Company
Experts in Cleaning Your Home Stone and
Our truck mounted systems can clean… Carpets... Driveways... Upholstery...
Ceramic Floors..
Conservatory Roofs..
Decking & Garden Furniture 07920 840972
Happy with our work? Add us to your status on Facebook
Patios... Windows...
EQUIPMENT HIRE Diggers/Dumpers & Rollers
PLANT &
Towers & Ladders Lighting & Heating Breakers & Wackers Mixers & Sanders Powered Access & Cherry Pickers
HYDRAULIC HOSES
All other building tools & equipment including garden & landscaping equipment
FLO GAS
01580 891234 Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm & Sat 7.30 - 1.00pm
Lodge Road, Staplehurst
www.acornhire.com
soft
furnishings
Family firm based in Coxheath, offering all aspects of soft furnishing from curtains and blinds to knitting wool and haberdashery
Personal 1-1 service
Nearly 40 years of experience
Available to every budget
Knitting wool and haberdashery
Plaque marks ancient tree
A NEW plaque has been unveiled in Headcorn near the parish church to commemorate the village’s historic oak. The tree, which King John is said to have sat beneath to watch bull- baiting, was badly damaged inside by fire in April 1989, but continued to grow until 1993 and is thought to have been at least 1,000 years old. The plaque was funded by the parish council. Chairman Lyn Selby said: “The old oak is something most of the older residents of Headcorn will be very familiar with. The original plaque needed to be replaced and the parish council was happy to continue marking its historic significance and the value it has to the village.” An acorn from the tree was planted some 50 yards away in 1940.
Unit 2, The Oast, Clockhouse Farm, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4PB
01622 744265
www.aquariussoftfurnishings.co.uk Email:
aquarius.1@btconnect.com
Maidstone Weald January 2017 5
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