News


downsmail.co.uk Fruit firm ‘outgrows’ village


A PLAN that would bring hundreds of extra cars and lorries into the Weald is being backed by Maidstone Borough Council’s planning officers.


In spite of traffic concerns from


Linton and Hunton parish councils and Kent County Council, they are recommending approval of a mas- sive steel-clad packhouse and cold- store atWares Farm, Linton. Conservative estimates suggest


the eight-bay fruit packing and dis- tribution centre, off Redwall Lane, would create 762 extra car trips, 92 by HGV and 244 LGVs every 24 hours. The joint application, by Berry Gardens and Alan Firmin Ltd, would relocate Berry Gardens’ fruit- packing operation and HQ (cur- rently at Five Oak Green) under one roof. A central objection has been the increase in traffic on rural roads, and nearby Linton crossroads, adding further pressure on drivers entering the town from the south. However, officers say traffic meas-


ures will mitigate the problem; the crucial question being when they will be delivered. One condition, being offered by officers, is that any approval should include the transfer of land to the south west of Linton crossroads to KCC for a new left turn lane to ease congestion on the A229. The appli- cant also proposes highway im- provements to Redwall Lane. But local parish councils say the business has outgrown its rural set- ting – a point rejected in the officers’ report, which states a “robust” but unsuccessful search has been made


Custard pie


title decided COXHEATH “brought it home” in the World Custard Pie Champi- onships – taking the most “scalps” with their pies. Following a battle involving some


30 teams, with contenders from France and Japan, Coxheath Till I Pie were declared the winners – regain- ing the title they lost six years ago. Event organiser Mike Fitzgerald


said: “It was a colourful, fun after- noon for all the teams whowere in- tent on winning this 50th anniversary event.” The day also saw locals inter-


viewed by Penelope Keith for Chan- nel 4’s upcoming seriesVillage of the Year. Coxheath is one of the 76 places shortlisted in the competition. Mike described the celebrity as


“warm and friendly”. He added: “She asked her own questions and probed the way the community has contributed to sup- porting each other and providing the services and facilities that are available today.”


8 Maidstone Weald July 2017 24-hour working


at rural location WARES Farm industrial estate has been given various permissions to expand. The latest application will be for a warehouse with a floor- space of 18,533sqm. The new warehouse – 144m


long by 97.5m wide - would have parking for 232 cars and six HGVs, plus 12 loading bays. Thewarehouse, which will be set


to find alternative premises, includ- ing at Lenham, Staplehurst, Marden, Eclipse Park and the proposed Woodcut Farm. Linton Parish Council says Berry Gardens needs an area with better infrastructure, adding: “Linton is a rural community and if this pro- posal goes ahead, it is going to change the character of our village forever.” Hunton Parish Council says the proposal will mean a loss of coun- tryside and a significant increase in traffic across Maidstone. A report to Maidstone’s planning committee concludes that while the application represents a departure from the development plan because of its size; the rural development will secure jobs and benefit the rural economy.


The report states: “Although the scheme will result in harm to the countryside, this will be reduced by landscaping…the other impacts of the development including the local highway network can be addressed through direct interventions or con- tributions towards highway works.” Economic benefits and a lack of


other sites tip officers in favour of planning consent. Maidstone borough councillor


Emily Fermor warned councillors, whowere due to consider the appli- cation on July 6, about the gravity of their decision, adding: “Residents in Hunton and Linton are already tor- mented daily with HGVs on their country lanes, disrupting journeys at all times of the day. “If Kent County Council High- ways find no reason to object to this


into the hillside, will include two access points and an internal road to create a one-way systemfor lor- ries.


Berry Gardens, which employs


434 people, provides packaging and storage facilities for local farms, such as Clock House, at Cox- heath, but most of its fruit (83%) is imported. The site currently operates 24


hours a day.


application, the authority needs to have a long hard look at itself. “Decisions affecting our villages


are being made at KCC with no re- gard to cold hard evidence of the im- mense stress to our roads, let alone local concerns. “Residents deserve better from


KCCHighways officers and Conser- vative Cabinet Members in their ivory towers. “It has gone on long enough.”


Stars come out for Danielle’s charity ball


AWOMANwho suffered horrific burns in a campsite fire has organised amasked ball which raised more than £13,000 for the charity that helped her. The event at the Tithe Barn, Lenham,was a star-studded affair with celebrity couple Vic Reeves and Nancy Sorrell running the auction. High-profile burns victim and charity boss Katie Piper attended with her husband, Richie, and the Katie Piper Foundation team. The eventwas organised by Danielle Branch, hermumJan and her husband Gez Clark, whowere all injured when fire hit their motorhome onNew Year’s Eve 2015.


Daniellewas left scarred for life by


the blaze at Addington and spent a month in a coma, followed by months in hospital. Her stepdad, Gez, who is Lenham’s


town crier, said: “The Katie Piper Foundation visited Danielle and made her less self-conscious,


stronger and more determined than she had ever knownwas possible.” The ball included a champagne


reception and a speech fromKatie Piper about the foundation. Auction lots ranged froma bottle


of vodka to VIP X-Factor tickets, and a holiday in Normandy. Barclays Bank offered to match funds raised up to £5,000, and the auction raised £4,000 with ticket sales and donations making up the rest. Danielle received a standing


ovation for her heartfelt speech, outlining her gratitude to the foundation and the medical treatments she has received. Since leaving hospital, she has been involved in the pilot scheme for the UK’s first scar rehabilitation centre. The family thanked “everyone who


donated auction lots, bid at the auction, all who bought tickets and made donations, and the bar staff” for their help in making the event such a success.


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