Action over New Road speed limit
THE number of incidents involving Malling School pupils has prompted student Aaliyah Kennedy to carry out a survey. Opinions polled showed support for the 40mph limit on New Road to be lowered to 30. Through county councillor Trudy Dean, Kent County Council was asked to lower the limit, but so far has not done so. An application for 110 new houses off New Road created an opportunity to lobby developers in the autumn. Just before Christmas, Tonbridge and Malling borough councillors approved the application and county councillors confirmed that they would consider changing their minds on the speed limit.
Cllr Dean said: “The main approach road to the most popular secondary school in the Malling area and the local shopping facilities at Twisden Road should have a 30mph limit and I am continuing to press highways officers to approve the change. Anyone who would like to be involved with planned Speedwatch sessions in East Malling should email
michelle.tatton@aol.com.
Late changes to Forty Acre field application
THE application by developer Wates to build 250 houses on Forty Acre Field has been changed to remove the planned new road access through the estate from London Road to Winterfield Lane. Parish councillors had objected to the road, saying it would funnel new traffic into the narrow approaches to East Malling and West Malling.
Only a cycleway and emergency access are now proposed. East Malling & Larkfield and West Malling parish councils have both welcomed the change but continue to maintain their objection to the application. Parish council chairman David Thornewell said: “We emphasised again we did not want a connection to Winterfield Lane which would increase traffic in Lucks Hill, Clare Lane and the lanes to the south including Broadwater Road and Well Street. But if this development is permitted, it will once again cut into the fields which separate local villages from one another and from Kings Hill.
“It is also part of the proposed extended Green Belt which forms a very popular part of the borough’s Draft Local Plan which is still awaiting government approval.” The site lies on fields between London Road, Winterfield Lane, Lucks Hill and the bypass.
Larkfield Community Church is in talks with Wates about their offer of a community building.
US companies set sights on Kings Hill and Aylesford
LIBERTY Trust is expected to agree a buyout by Prologis, a warehouse and distribution company based in San Francisco. The sale will include Liberty’s interest at Kings Hill, subject to any consents or options which KCC may have under the original development agreement.
This is the latest change from the original American developers Rouse. Pannatoni, also based in California, is reported as having agreed a deal worth £75 million to buy the former 100-acre Aylesford Newsprint site.
What’s On
Pannatoni is said to be the world’s largest privately-owned industrial developers and specialise in ‘multi-functional build to suit warehousing’.
The Borough Local Plan sets aside this brownfield site
for employment, and recognises that it will generate more traffic than the highly automated paper mills, which have now been cleared.
An extension of Bellingham Way connecting Leybourne Way with Station Road is proposed to minimise the extra traffic on the A20.
Malling & district clubs, societies & activities
IT IS never too late to make a fresh start by taking up new activities or making new friends. The many clubs and organisations in the Malling Action Partnership area cater for a wide range of interests and offer a warm welcome to newcomers, so why not give them a try? Details of regular meetings are listed on this page. Mary Rayner collates our community diary with details of various groups and is also compiling a list of special events
January 1-31
Jan-U-Fit challenge The Heart of Kent Hospice and Aylesford’s JAN-U-FIT challenge, which runs until the end of the month, aims to improve your health and hospice funds.
Get more details and sign up at www.
hokh.org/support-us/events; by calling fundraising on 01622 790195, or email
events@hokh.co.uk.
Every Saturday
Join a 5km park run at 9am on Saturday, at Leybourne Lakes Country Park, in Malling Road, Larkfield.
in the area in 2020. So if you would like your group or event to be included, please send her all the information, includ- ing your contact details.
Please let her know as far in advance as possible so that it may be possible to avoid clashes and maximise the atten- dances at each event.
Details should be emailed to maryrayner@btinternet. com or call 07772 318330.
It’s free to take part, provided you register at
www.parkrun.org.uk before your first run. Just take along your printed registra- tion form – with the barcode, so your run can be timed. Email
mallinghelpers@parkrun.com to help.
January 31
A compered comedy night at The Wheat- sheaf, led by Paul McCaffrey, will bring some levity to life at the start of the new year. The evening runs from 8.30pm to 11.30pm, with the bar serving until midnight. Tickets are £12 or £14, and are available by calling Richard on 07976 637804.
February 12 Parish Chairman David Thornewell will lead a walk around East Malling on Wednesday, February 12, starting off at 10.30am from the car park in the High Street. The circular walk will head out to Manor Park, taking in Well Street and Mill Street.
January 26 West Malling Farmers’ Market is back for the first time in 2020 on Sunday, January 26. Cards with the dates of markets across the rest of the year will be available from stall- holders. Offham farmer’s market returns in March.
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