downsmail.co.uk MalMalling Editionling Edition


Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper


July 2017 Martha’s lile lamb a star of show


MARTHA Connolly has a little lamb! And Wilma certainly at- tracted plenty of attention at this year’s Kent Show. Wilma was making her first ap- pearance at the show, which this year attracted over 80,000 visitors. The purebred Romney has been raised to walk to heel with Martha (12), who has developed her farming at Cobtree Young Farmers’ Club in Sandling. Martha said: “Young Farmers’ is a great way to socialise and to learn about the countryside.”  See our show report and pictures on page 34


Lakeside plans could result in 1,000 homes


DETAILS are emerging of a plan to create a new housing development in Aylesford - sparking worries of even more traffic in Hermitage Lane. A “toe in thewater” proposal for


146 lakeside homes on 12 acres around East Lake atAylesford Her- itage Ltd’s quarry, off Bull Lane, is expected to be submitted this sum- mer. But residents fear this could be just the tip of the iceberg. Aylesford Heritage, which says


the 100-year-old quarry is reaching the end of its commercial life, says the development is uniquely placed to extend the existing vil- lage and deliver benefits for the community. The main access would be on to Rochester Road, with space for a GP surgery and small-scale commercial premises. However, the would-be devel-


oper concedes: “We are also look- ing at a potential longer-term vi- sion of up to 750 homes for the wider East Lake area, which could further expand the lakeside com- munity, provide full public access with associated leisure and recre- ational value, as well as delivering local services and infrastructure.” That development suggestion is


being presented to the borough council as a potential addition to its Local Plan by Aylesford Heritage Limited, which bought the site a few years ago. It could take the number of houses around the three lakes on the 240-acre site to nearer 1,000, with the offer of a circular


lakeside walk linking it to the far smaller riverside village, with its 60 or so houses. MP Tracey Crouch said she


would be opposing the develop- ment, which – coupled with plans for another 840 homes at the bot- tom of Hermitage Lane – will “worsen the nightmare experi- enced by residents in and around Aylesford village”. She said: “I could not think of a


more inappropriate area to build a further 840 homes than right next to the junction of Hermitage Lane and the A20. “Neither do I find proposals to build at Aylesford Quarry accept-


able, which would simply worsen the nightmare.


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“I will, of course, be opposing both applications, and residents should contribute to these consul- tations to let Tonbridge and Malling Council and the developer know that these proposals are sim- ply unworkable, given the current pressures on our


4 webexpand.co.uk


A GARDEN was opened during a tribute afternoon tea at the East Malling Centre to celebrate the life of community volunteer, Irene Scott. The four-page supplement inside by Malling Action Partner- ship supports people and events in Malling.


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FREE No. 243


News Park cafe raid


THIEVES remove a safe and cash from council-run Cobtree Manor Park snack bar.


12 Green bin fee


RESIDENTS in Malling face pay- ing £30 a year for garden waste to be collected


Last orders


TIME is called at a village’s 200-year-old pub which is set to become a house.


Boating birthday


A CHARITYthat provides river trips for disabled people has steered its way to success.


16 14 12


Crime Reports 20 30 32


Comment Obituaries


Parish Councils 42-43


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