News


downsmail.co.uk


School dropped as plans change for garden village


THE latest version of the housing development at Lenham Heath will have 1,000 fewer houses – but no secondary school, no high-speed railway station or new motorway junction.


The Maidstone Borough Coun-


cil backed “garden community” scheme was progressed by nine votes to six by the policy and re- sources committee on July 21. MBC has now teamed up with


government-backed Homes Eng- land as joint “master developers” in the Lenham project. The housing numbers have also


been reduced by 20% to 4,000, re- flecting the overall changes, al- though the plans are still at the early stages and could alter. A joint HE/MBC document


states: “It was always the aspira- tion of the borough council that it would secure a promotion part- ner for (Lenham) Heathlands. “We are delighted that Homes England has committed its back- ing to the project, including match-funding financial support,


Robbery case


A MAIDSTONE teenager has been charged with robbery offences after threatening two men with a knife.


Harry Law (18), of Grebe Way, allegedly demanded money from a man in Chatham on July 15. The victim was able to walk


away and get help from a member of the public. The suspect then left without taking anything. Later, in the early hours of the morning, he allegedly threatened a man with a knife before stealing a phone and a set of headphones. Law has been charged with rob-


bery, attempted robbery and pos- session of a bladed object in a public place. He will appear at Maidstone Crown Court on August 13.


Murder charge


AN EAST Malling man has been charged with the murder of Frank Bulbrook. Mr Bulbrook (34), was found


with fatal injuries in a park area off Belmont Lane and Imperial Way in Bromley just before 9pm on Friday, July 24. Alfie Tullett (32), of Catlyn Close,


was charged with murder and vio- lent disorder on Thursday, July 30.


10


Marden’s new vicar will be Nicky Harvey, who is currently a curate in Hadlow


Vicar’s role ‘an honour’


THE Reverend Nicky Harvey will be Marden’s new vicar. Nicky (49) of Cherry Orchard Road, Hadlow, is looking forward to life in the village and says she feels privileged to have been given the role. The former primary school teacher, who is currently curate at St


Mary's Church in Hadlow, has three adult children, David (23), Alice (21) and Lucy (18). She will take over the post on October 13. She said: “It is such an honour and a privilege to be selected for this


new role. I am really looking forward to meeting the people of Marden, not just in the church but in the community, too. She said some parishioners were still struggling with Covid-19. Rev


Harvey added: “Although there are restrictions on allowing people in the building, I think having an online presence over lockdown was very positive and will be here to stay. Nicky, part of the Benefice of Mereworth, Wateringbury and West


Peckham, studied at St Augustine's College of Theology and was or- dained deacon in September 2017. She said: “One thing I would really like to bring to Marden is to have


a presence in church. Obviously because of the current situation we can- not do anything radical, but I think food banks, community events and shows are so important. “Fingers crossed we can get back to some normality soon.”


Fears over ‘dual’ road


THE new “Heathlands” new mas- terplan agreed by MBC members contains: • 4,000 homes, including 40% af- fordable housing; • 770 acres in total; • 27.4 acres of employment land; • land for gypsies and travellers; • two primary schools; • 117.3 acres of country park ; • new train station/halt; • safeguarded area for a potential motorway junction. Protest group Save Our Heathlands (SOHL) said: “This time last year the masterplan promised a high-speed station, new


and a ‘letter of intent’ from them is provided with this submis- sion.”


motorway junction and a new sec- ondary school. A year later, these have all been dropped.” But SOHL claims the latest ver- sion of the project would mean the “at capacity” A20 will have to be du- alled, an “impossibility” at locations such as Harrietsham where the road has housing on one side and the M20 the other. MBC is committed to 17,600


homes in the 2017 Local Plan, but a review imposed by central Gov- ernment could see a further 10,500. Political leaders are pressing for a reduction in those figures.


It adds: “MBC acting as master


developer, and in partnership with Homes England, will deliver


a development strategy that, to accelerate delivery, will encour- age diverse housing tenure op- tions and a wide range and type of homes attractive to the entire spectrum of the housing market.” With an emphasis on affordable housing is driven an expected rise by 20% in the younger population by 2037, says the paper. The older population will surge by 54%, it claims. Critics wonder why an esti-


mated £30m secondary school has been shelved and few believe the much-improved but small VIAT- run Lenham School has the ca- pacity to take the number of pupils generated by such a large development. HE would deliver 40% (1,600)


of that total, some 70% (1,120) would be available for social rent.


Sports blow


DW SPORTS in Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre is to close, fol- lowing a slump in trading caused by Covid-19. The store employs 10 full or part-time staff. The news was bro- ken to staff following an early morning phone call from head of- fice on Monday, August 3. A spokesman said: “It came as a complete shock, but the team are OK about it. We’ve been told they will try and find us alternative em- ployment with the company.” The firm operates 43 Fitness


First gyms, which will not be im- pacted by the retail closures.


Bogus police


FOUR bogus police officers have been arrested in Maidstone for fraud offences against vulnerable people across Kent. Police made the arrests at around 3.30pm on Wednesday, July 15 at the M20 Maidstone ser- vices after a van, believed to be linked to the offences, was found. A 35-year-old man from Can- terbury, a 33-year-old man from Loughton, Essex, a 26-year-old man from Maidstone and a 24- year-old man from Ashford re- main in custody.


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  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48