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Village allotments are saved from developers


TALKS to secure the future of land owned by St John Ambulance are “progressing well”, according to Lenham Parish Council. It had been feared that the organi- sation’s meeting hall and the allot- ments on its land in Ham Lane might disappear under a housing development, after plans were re- ceived for 33 houses on the site. However, those at the Ham Lane Allotments group invited Lenham Parish Council to negotiate a deal to secure their site, and now the parish council hopes not just to have safe- guarded the future of the allotments, but also to have spared the entire site from the future risk ofdevelopment. The parish councilwona commu-


nity asset listing for the site, which has limited access, and says if it is able to buy all of it, it would wel- come suggestions as tohowit might be used. Ideas so far include almshouses, a bowling green, a nursery, or even a swimming pool. Aspokesman for the parish coun-


cil said: “This site is pretty much land-locked, and while we have agreement thatwe can buy the allot-


News


Station plan for library


PLANNING consent is being sought to temporarily move Bearsted library to the village train station. Themove comes after the county council struck a deal with Network Rail to lease the Station Master’s House. While a planning application


will need to be approved, it is un- derstood the county council is working to open the outlet as soon as possible. A KCC spokesman said: “Be-


Allotment holders are celebrating after their plots were saved


ments, we would like to secure the whole site and remove the threat of development forever. “At this stage, it is fair to say that discussions with St JohnAmbulance are progressingwell. “St John has agreed to sell us the allotments at an agricultural land price, so these will be safe. Whatwe would do with the remaining part of the site would be for villagers to sug- gest in time.


“Unfortunately, asbestos has been


found on the site, whichwould need to be cleared and paid for, and the old St John hall is past its best and it would probably be cheaper to bull- doze the site and start again, but that would have to be discussed. “As a charity, St John needs to be


seen as getting the best value and will, no doubt, be putting its toe in thewater shortly to test the price that can be achieved.”


cause the new venue is a grade II listed building,KCC’s property de- partment is also determining the work needed to enable the site to provide a library service of similar quality to the current building on The Green.” Bearsted Library has been closed


since April 15, as part of an on- going KCC investigation into the extent and cost of what it describes as “extensive repairs”. It is understood the county coun-


cil intends shortly to circulate more details about the interim arrange- ments to key stakeholders and res- idents. In the meantime, the library at Madginford will continue to pro- vide services, while Bearsted re- mains without its lending service.


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