Malling Mail
WEST Malling Parish Council is launching a crowdfunding appeal to fight off a controversial planning proposal. Villagers are being asked to contribute whatever they can afford to cover the costs of mounting a legal challenge to proposals that would impact on green fields between West Malling Abbey and the railway station. Developers, Bellway, are seeking approval to build a housing estate of up to 80 homes, with a new access onto Swan Street which will require removal of a line of established trees to provide clear visibility for drivers.
These new houses will also damage the quiet, rural setting of nearby St Mary’s Abbey, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the rural setting of the railway station, and open fields on the eastern side of West Malling. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council did not make a decision on the application within the required six week timescale, saying it was awaiting responses from other consultees, including KCC Highways.
This failure meant that Bellway was able to bypass the borough council and go, instead, straight to a planning inquiry before a government-appointed inspector. The inquiry is set to open on August 20 and last six days, including a site inspection. Trudy Dean, chairman of West Malling Parish Council, said: “This planning inquiry is crucial. It involves plans to build on fields which are part of the quiet rural setting of the abbey and the station. “The tree lined approach into
West Malling along Swan Street would be ruined to create the new entrance to the estate, and people
July/August 2019
Serving local people, businesses & events in Addington, Birling, East Malling, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Leybourne, Mereworth, Offham, Ryarsh, Trottiscliffe, West Malling
Crowdfunding fight against homes plan
will be able to see into much of the grounds of the abbey and the Pilsdon community. “The site is also part of what is planned to form part of an extended green belt when the Borough Council’s Local Plan is approved. To lose the site to development now undermines the arguments for extending the green belt. “Planning Inquiries are very much like a court of law, and the parish councils must match the arguments put by barristers and expert witnesses on behalf of Bellway. “We expect the costs of the inquiry to be at least £60k and so we need all the help we can get if we are to protect the site from the bulldozers.” To support the crowdfunding appeal, visit www.
crowdjustice.com/case/protectlavendersroad and please share the link on social media and with friends and family. For further information, contact Parish Councillor David Thompson at
david.thompson@
westmallingpc.org
Have your say at the inquiry
WEST Malling Parish Council understands the Inspector is likely to have an ‘Open Session’, probably on the first day, when she will invite any member of the public to give their views to the inquiry. you would like to do so, please contact Claire Christmas, clerk to the
If
parish council on 01732 870872 or on
clerk@westmallingpc.org to give her your details. Although the council cannot guarantee who is called to speak, it can ensure you are informed if the inspector does hold one of these sessions.
A Malling Action Partnership publication
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
