downsmail.co.uk


Developer’s bid to buy up homes ‘upseing’


RESIDENTS have been outraged by approaches to sell their proper- ties to adeveloper looking to access a potential development site be- hind their homes. The site known, locally known as


as the Old Pea Field, runs behind homes in Broomshaw Road and Rede Wood Road in Barming. It has been used by walkers for years, but is now earmarked on Maidstone Council’s Local Plan for up to 187 new homes. Borough councillor for the area,


and Barming Parish Council chair- man Fay Gooch, who lives in the area and is pictured in the field, says manyof those approached byTaylor Wimpey have lived in the area since the homeswere built in the 1960s. She said: “I appreciate the devel-


oper is doing nothing wrong in of- fering to buy these homes for a secondary access, but many have been left really upset about the im- plication of leaving their homes of many years.” She understands no one has yet agreed to sell, but says offers of up to 150% of market value are being


used to tempt homeowners. “This site is pretty much land-


locked without a secondary access, referred to specifically as a require- ment in the Local Plan, and this could prove to be a nut the devel- oper can’t crack,” said Cllr Gooch. The main access would be off Oakapple Lane, leading to Her- mitage Lane. The secondary access would be for emergency vehicles and buses. Cllr Gooch said: “None of these


roads are capable of taking the amount of vehicles another estate of 187 homes would create. This area is already being heavily developed and I intend to fight any suggestion of a secondary road whenwe have a good bus service withinwalking dis- tance. I will resist any option that brings more cars through these nar- row residential roads.” ATaylorWimpey spokesman con-


firmed that while no planning appli- cation had yet been submitted, an agent working on its behalf has ap- proached a number of homeowners on both roads to see if they would be willing to sell. She added: “There are a number of different options to deliver a sec- ondary vehicular access point/emer- gency access to the site.At this stage we are exploring all of those options, with the purchase of a property along either Rede Wood Road or Broomshaw Road being one of them.” No deal had, as yet, been con- cluded. TaylorWimpey is currently carrying out an ecological survey of the proposed development site.


News Knife aacker


robbed in lift ANARMEDrobber from Maidstone who threatened a man with a knife and demanded money has been jailed for six years. Carl Garwood (50), of James


Street, pushed the victim, aged in his 50s, in the chest when they were alone in a lift. Garwood (right) pressed a knife to the man’s throat and shouted for his wallet. He took cash, threw thewal- let on the floor and ran off. The vic- tim left the building in Lower Stone Street and alerted officers. Garwood was seen on CCTV ap- proaching the victim shortly before the attack in February 2017. The two men thenwalked into the building. Garwood was later arrested and charged with robbery and possess- ing a knife. He was found guilty on both counts and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. Investigating officer Detective Constable Alexander Davies said: "Garwood waited until his victim was alone and vulnerable. He had nothing to saywhenquestioned and showed no remorse for his actions. “I hope this sentence will be of some solace to the victim."


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www.ns-flooring.co.uk Maidstone September 2017 13


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