News


Taxpayers’ £48k bill for borough’s court action


MAIDSTONE Borough Council spent almost £50,000 of taxpayers’ money on its doomedHighCourt actionagainstKentCountyCoun- cil,we can reveal. Leaked papers seen by Downs


Mail says the bill at thepoint of set- tlementwas £48,554. It is not yet known how much


KCC spent on its lawyers, but it is thought to be a similar amount. MBC critics say the Liberal De-


mocrat-ledborough authority’s ac- tion will have to be met from the public purse. MBC launched proceedings


againstKCClast summer to secure a judicial review over the county council’s use of £200,000 in devel- oper contributions for studies into a Leeds-Langley relief road. The borough’smanagement and


Lib Dem leadership wanted the cash (known as S106 money) for changes to the highways in light of a massive house-building pro- gramme in the area.


Lib Dem leaderMartin Cox and


MBCchief executiveAlison Broom (above) said the action was to achieve “clarity” on the spending of the S106 dividends. There are concerns southMaid-


stone’s road will not be able to cope with the extra traffic when 25,000 homes are built. County councillor Gary Cooke,


whois standingintheDownswood and Otham ward at the local elec-


tions, said: “They have wasted 10 months and tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money for what?Nothing. “Whathas beenagreedto should


have been agreed round the nego- tiating table. But I am glad it is going forward at long last.” When MBC backed down from


theHigh Court action, the author- ities agreed a list of outcomes. They include both sides agreeing


to bear their own costs and KCC agreeing not touse S106money for relief road studies but for high- waysmitigation. Also in the pipeline is the estab-


lishment of a Maidstone Strategic Board to discuss major projects and the employment of a “trans- port planner” funded byMBC but working for KCC. Despite years of poor relations


betweenMBC and Tory-run KCC, the two authoritieswillwork “col- laboratively”, particularly for the Local Plan review.


downsmail.co.uk Meet traders


RESIDENTS in Headcorn are being offered the chance to meet local businesses ranging from plumbers, electricians and gas en- gineers, to travel agents, cleaners and dog groomers. Organisers say the meet and


greet event will link the parish’s tradespeople with potential cus- tomers. The session at the Andred Hall


on Saturday, April 20, runs from 10amto 2pm. There will be exclu- sive offers, aswell as cake decorat- ing and play activities for youngsters. Businesseswishing to attendcan email jamie@revellstravel.com.


Homes protest


CAMPAIGNERS fighting propos- als for 2,000 homes inMarden are staging a protestmarch. Marden Planning Opposition


has earmarkedMay 18 to demon- strate its oppositionto theproposal by Firmins Carpenters and Mar- den Turf. After amass Zumbaworkout in


theMemorial Hall, protestors will set off at 12.30pm along Marden Main Street towards Southons Field,where theMarchwill finish.


T. 01622 433163 M. 07854 529 434 20 Maidstone Weald April 2019


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