News


Hermitage Lane scheme will cause ‘uer chaos’


A PLAN to ease pressure on Her- mitage Lane’s traffic congestion has met with a lukewarm reception. MP Tracey Crouch haswarned of


“utter chaos” while a dedicated lane is installed at the retail park. The Kent County Council scheme


aims to provide a “longer dedicated lane” turning into the retail site. This will allow an “uninterrupted straight ahead lane to be provided for through traffic heading south through the junction”. KCC hopes a left lane will ease delays going north. The work is due to start in Sep- tember and will last until December. Signs will be erected to keep the public informed of progress. Chatham and Aylesford MP Miss Crouch said: “These works will pri- marily address part of the problem caused by the poorly-designed junc- tion into the retail site. “They will take a few months until completion and will cause utter chaos in the interim period. When they are done they should create a better flow towards the hospital. “What I am not clear on … is whether it will make any difference heading down Hermitage Lane to-


Keith Young with protestors from the New Allington Action Group at the Hermitage Lane junction


wards the A20. “I hope all who saw my post on


the proposal for development on the corner land have registered their op- position at theTMBCplanning site.” Allington resident Keith Young, a founder member of the pressure groupNewAllington Action Group (NAAG), warned that despite the improvement work “much, much worse is to come” if Tonbridge and Malling Council decides to build in the area. Wendy Tinsley wrote on Face- book: “Nothing will solve the prob-


lem of an overcrowded road due to the vast number of houses being build and the extra lorries heading to and from the quarry.” Lib Dem borough councillor Dan


Daley said: “The whole thing im- pinges on the hospital, with prob- lems for patients, doctors, nurses and the clinics. In the morning, it’s hell. If there’s any kind of problem it’s gridlocked in five minutes.” KCC said: “Our works will be carefully managed during this pe- riod to keep any additional delay to a minimum.”


downsmail.co.uk Fitness scheme


LARKFIELD Leisure Centre has unveiled plans for a £1millon ex- tension which will include a bigger gym and two new exercise studios. The investment by leisure trust, tmactive, will involve knocking through the store next to the free weights area into the existing exer- cise studio. Half the studio will form part of an extended gym with a functional rig and additional equipment; the other half will be made into a tiered spin studio. Two exercise studios will be built


on the garden next to Larkabout. Work on the scheme, which is subject to planning permission, should start in the autumn and will be completed early next spring. TMBC will then invest £250,000 on fitness equipment.


Pavilion raided A 17-year-old boy has been ar- rested following a burglary at Lark- field Football Club. It follows the release of CCTV images by the sports club after a second break-in at the pavilion. The youth was arrested on July


20 on suspicion of burglary after al- cohol was taken from the New Hythe Lane pavilion. Anyone with information can call


01622 604100, quoting reference YY/020141/17, or Kent Crimestop- pers on 0800 555 111.


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Malling August 2017


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