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Vicar criticises council’s plans


AN OUTSPOKEN vicar has re- tired from his rural parish with a parting shot about Maidstone Borough Council’s massive house-building plans. In a clear refer-


ence to Liberal De- mocrat-run MBC’s bitter legal dispute with Kent County Council


(KCC)


over road levies, Rev Steve Hughes (69) said it will be “nice to get out of a place where joined-up thinking seems to be a thing of the past”. Rev Hughes,


pictured, who was the minister for Otham, Langley, Broomfield & Kingswood and Leeds until mid-August, said it is “fine” to build more houses – as long as the infrastructure and serv- ices are there to support them. He andwifeMandy aremoving


to northWales,where she is to take up a senior NHS role. In his final column for the Leeds


and Broomfield parish magazine, RevHughes payswarmtributes to the communities he served. He adds: “Locally,we have some


very good councillors (parish, bor- ough and county), but it will be nice to get out of a place where joined-up thinking seems to be a thing of the past, especially where housing, infrastructure and traffic are concerned. “Fine, buildmore houses if need


be, but only as long as the infra- structure, schools, dentists and medical centres are there to service the newhousing. “I certainly will not miss one lit- tle bit the traffic on Church Road and other, similar rat runs, and this is not going to get any betterwith the impending con- struction of the Bicknor Park Es- tate, between the White Horse pub and Gore Court Road.” MBC intends to 17,600


build


homes, many of which are in his former parishes,


as part of the Local Plan. The council has become locked in


a disputewith KCC over the use of developer contributions being used to pay for studies into the viability of a Leeds-Langley relief road. MBC chief executive Alison


Broomclaims the taxpayer-funded High Court battle will bring “clar- ity” to the issue. County councillor Gary Cooke


said: “Steve and I got on incredibly well and there was a really good understanding between us. “He always made the church


available to me or anyone who needed it. He is a real man of the people and we were very lucky to have him. “I wish him every happiness in the next phase of his life.”


Staplehurstplanner is nowready


THE Staplehurst Calendar will soon be available in local shops. The community yearly planner


features illustrations by local res- ident Ken Collins, who has de- signed it for the past 15 years and has helped to raise more than £20,000 for worthwhile local causes. This will be the 15th edition,


with nowover 100 different draw- ings of local places and views in Staplehurst. The theme for this year is ‘meeting places’ with ten new pen and ink drawings. The calendar will be on sale at multi- ple village events. On Saturday October 13, it will


be available for purchase at the Staplehurst Photographic Soci-


ety’s exhibition.OnNovember 18, it will be on sale at The French Market. On Saturday, November 24, the calendar will be on sale at the United Reformed Church Christmas Fayre andCoffeeMorn- ing. It will lastly be available on Saturday December 1 at the All Saints Church ShepherdsMarket. Proceeds this yearwill go to help


young people at the Staplehurst Youth Club, Staplehurst Scout Club and Staplehurst District Guides. Mr Collins said: “Wewould like


to thank our sponsors for their support and to you all for your help by buying calendars which has helped to raise £21,000 for Sta- plehurst organisations to date.”


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