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News


downsmail.co.uk Out-of-townM&S approved


PLANS to create a new Marks & Spencer store at Eclipse Park, near junction 7 of the M20, have been given the go-ahead following a unanimous vote byMaidstone Borough Council.


But opponents claimthe decision


flies in the face ofMBC’s Local Plan and national planning rules. M&S and building giant Gal-


lagher will create a new store with 7,808m2 of floor space, selling clothing, household goods and food, plus a cafe. Work is expected to get under


way towards the end of this year and opening in 2019. It will pro- vide 300 full and part-time jobs. The retail giant had been consid-


ering five locations in the Maid- stone area, including the former BHS store in the Mall, but Eclipse Park was decided on as it fitted its size criteria. Other business leaders, espe-


cially those in the town centre, are unhappy at themove. County town retailers have been


hit by traffic congestion and hikes in parking charges while national chains are deserting the high streets or going bust. Andrew Davy, general manager of The Mall, said: “We’re disap-


fordrugdealer AWOMAN known for drug deal- ing in theMaidstone area has been jailed formore than five years. StephanieGreenleywas arrested in the town centre after she was seen a p p r o a c h i n g known drug users in Jubilee Square. When stopped


on July 31, 2017, and searched for drugs,


the 34-


year-old handed a wrap of heroin over to officers and said there was a packet of heroin under her top.At the police station,Greenley handed the officers a plastic tub containing 17 heroin deals.When her home in Bow Road, Wateringbury was searched, two mobile phones and scaleswere seized. Greenley pleaded guilty to


charges relating to possession and supply atMaidstoneCrownCourt in August, and was jailed for five years and sevenmonths. Investigating officer, PC James


Arnold said: “Greenley has been bringing misery to our communi- ties through her drug dealing. Her lengthy sentence should serve as a message to other heroin suppliers that we know who they are and theywill be brought to justice.”


32 Maidstone October 2018 The vision for theM&S store, which has been approved at Eclipse Park


pointed with the decision to ap- prove permission for the develop- ment of an out-of-town M&S at Junction 7 of the M20, which is in contravention of both the Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).We are currently reviewing that decision with our advisers.” One of the main focuses for the store’s location was to have the it


up and running by 2020, so that the chain would be able to deal with the expiration of the lease on its women’swear store inWeek Street in 2022. A Gallagher spokesman said:


“Throughout the whole process, we have had overwhelming sup- port from the local community, which has culminated in the unan- imous vote and reinforces Eclipse


Park’s importance to the Maid- stone economy.” The decision will see M&S join


NEXT Home & Fashion, which opened a store at Eclipse Park in 2014. CllrDenis Spooner, ofMaidstone


Borough Council, said: “I’msure it will be a great success…but I am concerned about the future of Maidstone town centre. “There are many sites in town


needing redevelopment that just aren’t being looked at, but this store was impossible to refuse, be- causewe had previously given per- mission on the site for aWaitrose. “Plans for sites atMaidstone East


or the PostOffice depot don’t seem to be being looked at, with esti- mates that it could take five to seven years to do anything. “But the council has its beady lit-


tle eyes on other sites. Hopefully, the town can carve out a niche for itself. It is currently moving to- wards the social side, with the shopping side nowin a decline.”


Five years jail REVIEW: Austen triumph Woman driver


CHAPTERHOUSE Theatre Company has built a strong reputation as an excellent outdoor theatre company – and rightly so, if this delightful adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility is anything to go by. The story of Elinor andMarianne Dashwood is one of Austen’s richest


– the characters are rounded, mak- ing poor judgements and leaping to conclusions while the story of love lost andwon has enough twists and turns to create a genuine problem. It begins with the death of Mr Dashwood senior,


jailedfordeath AWOMAN who caused the death of amotorcyclist has been jailed for two years after driving the wrong way on a one-way road. In the earlymorning ofOctober 13


forcing his


daughters and first wife to leave their beloved home. Elinor iswooed by the dashing Ed-


ward Ferrers, but their relationship is ripped apart by themove.Mean- while, during a walk,Marianne falls and sprains her ankle. She is picked up by the handsome Willoughby, who, after days of attention, disap- pears. Will the ladies find love, de- spite having no fortune? Chapterhouse’s company of


eight performed with wonderful energy. Adding music and singing – Alexandra Lansdale’s voicewas angelic – and even a sword fight kept the audience at the Mercure Great Danes rapt throughout. Director Antony Lee’s sparkling touches included juxtaposing a genteel dance with the revelation ofWilloughby’s bad behaviour. The companyworked hard, doubling roles seamlessly.Natalie Reedwas


wonderful asMrs Dashwood andMrs Jennings, while SeanMulkerin was a dastardly Willoughby (as well as a sullen Mr Palmer and John Dash- wood). However, this piece was performed brilliantly by the whole cast. If you get a chance, book tickets when they return to Kent later this


month at Rochester Cathedral and Walmer Castle. More details at www.chapterhouse.org.


Lesley Finlay


2017, Andrea Dagi (30), of Lan- cashire Road,Maidstone, drove her Volkswagen Polo along Tonbridge Road,Maidstone, entereda one-way section and headed in thewrong di- rection towards the town centre. At the junction with Vine Mews


she collidedwithamotorcyclistwho was travelling towards Barming. The 60-year-old motorcyclist was


taken to a London hospital, where hediedof his injuries onOctober 31. Dagi admitted causing death by


dangerous driving when she ap- peared before Maidstone Crown Court at an earlier hearing, and on Friday, August 17, she was sen- tenced to two years in prison. Shewill also be bannedfromdriv-


ing and will have to take an ex- tended retest. Police Sergeant Peter Greaves


said: “Dagi could offer no explana- tion as towhy shedrove in thatdan- gerousmanner. “I hope today’s sentencing is a les-


son for others to drive responsibly, pay full attention to road signs and remainmindful of other roadusers.”


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