News


downsmail.co.uk Council ‘wishing away’ car crisis


CAMPAIGNERS have calledfor residentialdevelopmentswithout sufficient parking to be barred, asMaidstone grappleswith a car crisis.


Members of the borough’s plan-


ning committee were told the streets are “at bursting point”. And, ina swipe at the authority’s


solution,modal shift –where resi- dents are encouraged to ditch cars for alternative transport – planners were accusedof “wishing away the problem”. The damning assessment was


made byCouncillor JonathanPurle who, along with parking cam- paignerTiaRose,was lobbying the borough to have a private devel- opment in Fant thrown out. He said: “It seems to be recog-


nised that planning applications have insufficient parking, but the problemis somehowwishedaway on the basis that Fant is close to town, or there are some buses, or there is a train station. “No amount of purely theoreti-


cal abstraction about sustainability alters, one jot, the concrete reality


Barn dance


RESIDENTS in Barming are plan- ning to save lives at sea…by stag- ing a barn dance. The fundraiser, for theRoyalNa-


tional Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), will feature the callingandmusicof John and Karen Sweeney and the £10 entry feewill include food. The event at Fant Community


Hall in Fant Lane starts at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 30. Contact Alan Cocks on 01622 761004 to book tickets andmeals.


Funeral costs


THE borough council spent more than£6,000onpaupers’ funeralsbe- tween 2017-18. The costs are covered by the au-


thoritywhen there is no one left to make arrangements. Maidstone Borough Council


spent £6,296 on so-called “public health” services, which are simple ceremonies with a funeral director and a coffin but little else.


Teddy talk


BARMINGHistory Society invited members and guests to turn up to its February 12meetingwith teddy bears. Theunusual requestwasmade to


support a talk byMelanie Gibson- Barton on the history of the popu- lar toys.


4 Maidstone March 2019 Listed Sunley House and right, Cllr Jonathan Purle


of a century or so of real people moving to Fantwith their cars and finding the houses have insuffi- cient parking…the cumulative ef- fect is streets that are literally at bursting point.” The councillor’s intervention


came just days before auctioneers soldSunleyHouse, an iconic grade II listed office block in the centre of Maidstone and suggested it could be converted into apartments, de- spite having no parking provision. Sunley House – designed in the


1950s by “the father of town plan- ning” SirWilliam Holford – went under the hammer for £430,000. The building, which originally


housed Barclays’ regional head- quarters, is sandwiched between High Street and Bank Street. The ground floor is still desig-


nated for commercial use, but the three storeys above have the po- tential for conversion, bidderswere told. Auctioneer John Stockey said:


“The accommodation might be suitable for conversion into resi- dential units, as long as all neces- sary consents are obtainable. “This listed building fronts both


the High Street and Bank Street and the three storeys on offer have previously been used for offices. “But with a premium on resi-


dential accommodation, the new buyermightwish to try converting it.”


Delays as Brockwork starts


A MONTH of disruption, diversions and delays started on February 9 as Britain prepares for life after Brexit. Overnightworkwas being carried


out to get ready for the Operation Brock contraflow system on the M20. Thiswill last until aboutMarch 11


and the A20 will bear the brunt of traffic which would normally travel fromjunctions seven to nine. There will be 50mph speed restrictions for most of the day on theM20. Cones and signs are in place to


stop HGVs using Bearsted or New Cut Road to get to the M20 and drivers are warned of continued de- lays on the A20. It is hoped Operation Brock will


keeptraffic flowingif thereareprob- lems after Brexit.


At best, itmeans that vehicles can


move in both directions,while lorries can be stacked coastbound if there are disruptions to Port of Dover or Channel Tunnel services. Few critics give Operation Brock


much chance of success, as they be- lieve the system is too fragile and likely to falter with the slightest prang in either direction. But Highways England claimed: “The arrangement is part of a pack-


age ofmeasures, known collectively asOperationBrock, thatwillhelpim- prove the resilience of the county’s roads. They also include Manston Airfield and theM26.” Highways England Chief Execu-


tive Jim O’Sullivan said: “The steps we are putting in place on theM20 are based on our extensive experi- ence of working with partners to keep the road network in this region operating safely and reliably. “They incorporate lessons learned


from our experience of Operation Stack in 2015 and techniques from major constructionschemes inother parts of the country. "They will make a significant dif-


ference to reducing the congestion and disruption to both theM20 and thewider road network.”


Theftwarning to drivers of 4x4s


POLICE have advised 4X4 drivers to bemake sure that their vehicles are secure after anumber of recent thefts inKent. Cars have been stolen in Five


Oak Green, Tenterden and Mar- den. The latter was later found


burned out inHollingbourne. Police areworkingonthe theory


that the 4X4 vehicles are targeted for possible use in ram raids on stores after attacks in Headcorn, Lenhamand Staplehurst. However, these recent thefts –


whichhappenedbetweenDecem- ber and January – are not thought to be connected. A police spokesman advised that owners park in a garage, se-


cure car park or awell-lit location. He added: “Don’t leave your


keys on display in your home, near doors orwindows. It is better if theyare somewhere inaccessible to unwanted visitors.” Drivers are reminded not leave


valuables insideormake sure they are left in the boot and to ensure that the alarms are functioning.


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