Where I live...


East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council Local Plan Review


The period for responding to the Borough Council’s "The Way Forward" document, setting out how planning officers suggest the need for 6,000 new homes across the borough can be met, ended before Christmas.


The parish council managed to get in all its responses concentrating on seeking an extension of the green belt eastwards to protect the countryside between East Malling, Larkfield, West Malling and Kings Hill. We repeated our opposition to developing Broadwater Farm for housing as an extension of Kings Hill. We know many local residents also wrote in and we would thank them for their efforts.


The responses are due to be put on the Borough website and we look forward to seeing what everyone has said.


Kent Messenger Site, Larkfield


When the KM Group left Larkfield, part of the site was developed for housing and the rest left undeveloped for possible offices as, at that stage it was proposing to return. However, we were later informed this was no longer the case and we suggested this as a brownfield site also to be developed for housing, as it is currently a bit of an eyesore surrounded by boarding. The borough council did not support this as we were not the landowner but the new landowners have now submitted an application for new homes. A meeting is being held to discuss the proposals.


Development at Hermitage Lane, Aylesford


Developers have also lodged a pre-outline application with Tonbridge and Malling Council to develop the big field bordered by the A20, Hermitage Lane, and the


railway at Aylesford for up to 841 homes (40% "affordable") plus land for a doctor’s surgery, local centre, school, and open spaces. This is part of the much larger site suggested by planning officers for a big new housing area on either side of Hermitage Lane towards meeting the 6,000 figure for the borough.


The parish council has responded, expressing its concern as an adjoining parish to the traffic implications of this proposal and also asking about the capacity of the Maidstone East to Victoria railway, as it is thought many new residents would commute via nearby Barming station.


The papers support the idea of a new road down to the A20/M20 to serve the development and address existing traffic problems in Hermitage lane but at this stage the developers are not required to give details.


As a parish, we feel this is rather premature as the responses to the whole concept of the area being developed have not been published or the borough council responded to them. It does, however, underline the pressure that exists to develop new sites in our general area at rates not seen since the 1960s.


Aylesford Newsprint Site


This site is shown on the current approved Local Plan as for employment purposes and is now vacant following Aylesford Newsprint going into administration. The planning application for part to continue for employment and part for new houses remains outstanding as the vast volume of reports in support are commented upon. More recently a separate application has been made to cover the demolition and removal of the buildings which is due to take place later this year.


In planning law terms, that


part of the application for housing is a "departure" from the current Local Plan and it is likely that, in due course, the whole application will be decided by full council at Tonbridge and Malling Council for this reason. If passed, the 450 homes would count towards the 6,000 (that figure again!), but there are issues to be addressed of dealing with any contaminated land, access, flooding risk from the River Medway and noise from the railway and M20.


Some have suggested there should be an access into and out of the site onto the M20 from and to the coast-bound lane. This would have to be agreed by Highways England - a government agency - and it seems it is not keen on such an idea. In any event, the developer would have to pay for such new links and it seems this is unlikely to be economical.


Most recently, the applicants’ proposal to include a site for a primary school has been rejected by KCC as they feel it is not the right location and this will mean a possible rethink of the layout plan. The developer could pay for existing schools to be extended.


The parish view is that it being an allocated


employment site so some form of development will take place eventually. We must


concentrate on seeking to get the best form of development making sure any conditions and legal agreements and planning gain are all attached to any approval These should cover such things as highway access roads, keeping Ditton stream through the site open as a feature, protecting and improving the existing public footpaths, landscaping, a possible bus service and retaining the old Millhall Mill pond.


The paperwork can be inspected via the borough


website under reference TM/16/3025 or in person at the borough council’s Kings Hill offices during office hours.


Blue Bell Hill Picnic Site


Last year, the parish joined with others in objecting to Kent County Council after it advertised by a public notice an intention to "dispose" of this site. We felt it was an important local open space and viewing point of the Medway Valley with the North Downs Way running through it. It should remain in KCC ownership to keep it protected in the long term.


It was pleasing therefore to hear just before Christmas, KCC has decided to keep the site...and four others they proposed to dipose of too....and it has been transferred back to its countryside department. We have asked to be kept informed and that we hope the interest of Kent Wildlife Trust, who have been managing it, will be kept.


Litter Pick


A litter pick is being organised on Wednesday, January 25, from the parish office at Church Farm. Please contact David Thornewell on 01732 840804 if you are interested in helping.


Clare Lake awarded £10,000


The project restoring Clare Lake, East Malling and its surrounds has been awarded £10,000 as part of the Tesco "Bags of Help" scheme. This means the team can purchase equipment to help deter algal growth in the lake through which runs the East Malling stream, and for contractors to remove tree stumps. The group arranging all this thanks everyone who used their tokens to vote for this community project and to Medway Valley Partnership for its help with the application plus continuing support for the project.


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