News


Villagers bid to freeze out packing business


CONFLICT between rural development and its impact on residents has come ‘bumper to bumper’ in Chart Sutton. HGVs serving Church Farm in


recent years have been the subject of increasing concern, but with plans by Bardsley Farms to extend its cold store operation again, vil- lagers are suggesting enough is enough. Both sides have put forward their


case, with Ben Bardsley saying his vision to turn his Chart Hill Road site into the “biggest top fruit pack house in the country” is almost at fruition. However, residents say traffic,


loss of amenity, noise and light pol- lution and the risk of flooding in the areamake this an inappropriate rural setting for the business. The cold store and packaging op-


eration already provides storage to around 30 apple and pear growers in the area and supplies the four major supermarket groups. But residents and those repre-


senting the villages of Staplehurst, Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton stand united in suggesting that the latest extension to the business be refused by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) – in line with the recommendations of its Local Plan and national planning guidance,which indicate the busi- ness should look elsewhere to grow. CllrDoug Smith, chairman of the


planning committee on Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council, said:


HGVs need to cross ancient bridges to gain access to Bardsley Farms


“We feel that Bardsley Farms Ltd should be making their long-term intentions clear toMBC. “The site is an industrial, rather


than agricultural facility and is wholly inappropriate and unneces- sary in this rural location.” Of particular concern is access to


the farm, which is via two ancient narrow bridges, crossing a Site of Special Scientific Interest. However, the applicant states the


extension will make “little, if any, difference to traffic movements”, adding: “With the new controlled


atmosphere stores in place many lorry movements will be obviated asmany journeys can be avoided. “Furthermore, the application


also includes a juice-making facil- ity, which will reduce the need to transport spoiled fruit off site.” It is understood Kent County


Council, which raised highway concerns, has still to respond to the applicant’s latest supporting infor- mation. Planning officerswill then make


their recommendation to MBC’s planning committee.


Staff redundancies at private hospital


THE Benenden Hospital in Cran- brook is shedding “dozens” of jobs as part of a cost-cutting pro- gramme announced to staff before Christmas, the Downs Mail has learnt. The private hospital, with an


“outstanding” Care Quality Com- mission rating, will send out re- dundancy letters setting out terms early in the new year. We understand staff are being


lost from most departments after a reviewof itsmedical, IT, theatre, administration, business develop- ment,marketing, communications and nursing functions.We also un- derstand the number of matrons will drop fromthree to one. Amember of nursing staff told a


patient: “It was pretty grim get- ting the news just before Christ- mas. People have either resigned or will get letters in the new year. “Some may not be replaced


4 Maidstone Weald January 2018


when they leave. It’s difficult to knowhowmany therewill be over- all, but the number of departures will be more than the redundan- cies they make. It’s likely to be in the dozens.” The hospital recently spent at


least £45m on a major redevelop- ment of its Goddards Green Road site, which included brand new rooms and entrance. The patient added: “In fairness,


the company has done the best deal it could formost but they’ll be worried if the patients are con- cerned by the redundancies.” Accounts filed to Companies


House show that in 2016 The Be- nenden Hospital Trust Ltd made a profit of less than £9,000 on an in- come from all sources that amounted to a little over £32m. According to the accounts: “The


board of governors considers the small surplus…to be acceptable.”


The company spent some £24m


on buyingmedical equipment and IT to “meet the needs of its bene- ficiaries”. The hospital trust received lega-


cies in 2016 of £800,000, four times those of 2015. Admission numbers were down


slightly year-on-year in 2016 but outpatient consultations rose by just under 2,000 to 46,500 in the same period. A BenendenHospital spokesman


said: “Following the opening of our new multi-million pound redevel- opment, some areas have partici- pated in planned reviews to ensure they are equipped to continue to meet the high standards of care andmaintain our outstanding CQC rating. “The reviews have resulted in


new team structures in some areas, with minimal impact on staff andminimal redundancies.”


downsmail.co.uk Police probing


theft of plants POLICE are appealing for informa- tion after a spate of plant thefts in a Maidstone village. Kent Police have received four re-


ports of plants and shrubs being taken fromCoxheath. Most of the incidents have hap-


pened during the hours of dark- ness, and include flowers and shrubs, both planted in the ground and in pots. Nine shrubs were taken from an


address in Murdoch Chase be- tween 11.45amonWednesday,De- cember 6 and 2.30amon Thursday, December 7. Between 6pm on Wednesday,


December 6 and 3pmthe following day two plants were stolen from a garden in Chaffinch Close. Then, between 9.30pmon Thurs-


day, December 14 and 8.30am on Friday, December 15, eight shrubs were taken from an address in CricketersWay. And between 12.30am and 1am


on Friday, December 15, several plantswere stolen froman address inMurdoch Close. Anyone who has seen anybody


or any vehicle acting suspiciously in the Coxheath area, or who has any information that may help the investigation is asked to contact Kent Police on 01634 604100 quot- ing reference YY/37824/17 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Work payback


COMMUNITY Payback (CP)work- ers have helped create a team- building facility in woods at Yalding. TheCP teamdedicated 180 hours


to make two clearings, suitable for team-building activities that will enhance the Kenward Trust’s con- ferencing facilities. Lisa Derwent said the offender


service project in October had proved valuable and those in- volved had been courteous and helpful, attracting positive com- ments fromstaff and visitors. The Kenward Trust project aims


tomake the site a destination, along with its Sage and Time cafe, alpacas and conference centre.


Fake firearms


POLICE are investigating the theft of a number of imitation firearms fromStaplehurst. TheAirsoft rifles, used for sport-


ing purposes, along with flash grenades and body armour, were taken from storage containers at a property offWilden Park Road, be- tween November 1 and 4. Anyone with information is


asked to call the Kent Police ap- peals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference YY/032790/17, or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.


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